The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-12-06

indistinctly. 1t was like vision
saw! Oh, cannot describe what it
was, but the impression is horrible
horribler'
Her eyes dilated with sudden fear
and horror; and turning toward Clar-
ence Stanley, she fixed on him keen,
almost menacing look, which affected
him more than he would have cared to
acknowledge even to himself. For
several seconds her gaze met his,
sternly, de6antly. At last she said:
"Mr. Stanley, you must never again
make use of this singular power--if
you possess ito hypnotize me. 1t
may be dangerous; and even more
dangerous to you than to me-"
"Why so?" exclaimed Stanley, un-
able to restrain a slight start of sur
prise.
because in this hypnotic state, !
may be clairvoyante. I have read
something of the sort. though [ don't
understand it. And you may be one
of those people of whom clairvoyant
revelations might be fatal"
A CLEAN of mingled anger and ter
ror shot from the young mans eyes,
and his slender, white hand went
quickly toward his mouth, which it
concealed for some moments as he
seemed to caress the long ends OF his
blonde mustache. Then, with q
slightly mocking smile, he answered:
"I think I have no cause to fear the
Senorita Mendoza. If I don't much
mistake, we are far away cousins, and
our lives will often run in the same
channels"
Dolores looked greatly perplexed as
we'll as astonished, and Mary fastened
to explain Stanley's words on first
hearing the name of Dolores Men
dozs.
ssThat would be strange indeed, "
she said in reply II thought my
fathers branch of the family extinct,
except for myself. But, even if you
are correct, I cannot congratulate you
in claiming kinship with the Men
dozas. We are fatal family, except
under special conditions, particularly
the men of our family. But, pardon
me, Mr.. Stanley; am afraid you will
think me very rude. I hope the curl
ous circumstances of our first meeting
will serve to excuse me- Maruia,
dearest, may I go to my room? This
singular scene has affected me so
much that I feel almost ILL.,"
.You shall do just as you please,
Rita, darling, at all times" said Mary
Hamilton. "Come I will go with you,
and you will entertain Clarence till l
return, mamma"
Not word or even a looked was ex-
changed between Mary and Dolores
till they were alone in the latter's
room. Then, indeed, the Spanish girl
impulsively clasped her companion in
her arms and in voice OF thrilling
intensity said:
"Oh, Maruial I hope you do not
love that mani"
Glove him? No-yes! I hardly
know exclaimed Polly Hamilton,
very pale from suppressed excitement.
"You remember what I said to you,
Rita; and, oh, T did so long to know
your impressions of him! But now
that they seem to be so far from what
I had hoped for think would rather
never hear them"
"They are not pleasant, truly-they
are far from pleasant-and yet can
not remain silent, Maruis, even though
that seems to be what you would pre-
fer. cannot tell you why have this
great and sudden antagonism to Mr..
Stanley-it may be caused by the
dream or vision while I was uncon-
scious-butI I have always had faculty
that some people call intuition, sort
of second-sight-I don't know how
best to describe it-but it has never
deceived me. Perhaps inherit it
from my Scotch ancestry through my
Highland mother, or perhaps the mys-
tic faculty that belonged to the Indian
princess of whom I told you has de-
scended through all these generations
and lives again in me. Some day soon
we will read that manuscript together,
and then you will understand better
what am trying to explain, Maruja;
but whatever this faculty may be,
whatever it is now telling me of the
character and of the unknown past of
Clarence Stanley"
"Loritar' exclaimed Mary Hamil-
ton, with sharp accent OF pain IN her
fresh, young voice, "suiely-oh, no,
it cannot be that you are going to bring
me unhappiness, misery! will dot
Il dare not believe any harm of the
man I love!" 49,.
She turned quickly as she wronched
herself from the half-embrace of Do
lores; and, as she rushed from the
room, the door closed after her with
harsh and angry sound.
"Ehe man she loves!' repeated Do
ores, gazing blankly at that closed
door. "Ah, now she knows her true
feeling, and I have only precipitated
matters. I had better, far better, said
nothing"
Mary Hamilton had fed blindly
along the corridor to the solitude of
her own room, the door of which she
had closed and locked impatiently in
the face OF her anxious wsitiIg-maid.
"What have I said?" she questioned
herself, urconsciously speaking aloud.
ssrhat I love Clarence? Well, then,
it is true. I have loved him from the
first, though I didn't know it; and
now am olad to have the knowledge
forced upon me-that is-if he loves
mel"
She started from the chair into