The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13

E
sire. and that Violet Carruthers would be
his wife.
Several weeks passed. and then Steer en-
countered Violet Carruthers as he was cy-
cling through the village. He felt impelled
to stop and speak to her. in spite of every
thing. for he longed to hear her voice once
more, and hold her hand in his Her eyes
wore their old trustful. innocent look. and
she spoke TO him with a sweetness that
wrung his heart. remembering as he did
the last occasion on which he had seen
her. and knowing that they were separated
by an impossible barrier. He dare not
speak of love. but he asked her to allow him
to be always her friend. IF you ever in
any trouble or danger" he said land need
a friends assistance. 1 shall deem it my
greatest happiness if 1 can help you"
Thank you. Mr.. Steer" said Violet her
color rising II know you would be true
and loyal friend. 1 am very anxious now"
she added after a pause, about my uncle.
1 fear he is working too hard, and will
bring on a serious illness if he goes on
much longer. He locks himself up nearly
all day in the laboratory. and will hardly
take food or rest. 1 wish you could see
him, Mr. Steer; l feel sure you would agree
with me that he is looking wretchedly ILL
She spoke so nationally, and her eyes
were so clear and intelligent, Steer felt
if he must have been dreaming, and that
the scene he had witnessed at the hall
was only a horrible nightmare, from which
he had Just been awakened; and yet Mr..
/ Carruthers had assured him that after a
short period of sanity another paroxysm
of madness would seize the poor child. He
groaned in his heart he watched the
mobile, expressive face.
II have not seen Mr.. Carruthers for some
time" he replied to her. ut is indeed
pity that he should destroy his health in
the pursuit of knowledge"
THAT is just what l tell him." said
Violet Carruthers, sorrowfully, but he
takes no notice of what 1 say
| Shortly after this Steer saw Mr.. Carruth-
! ers driving through the village, and he
! could but indorse what his niece had said.
! His spare frame looked painfully gaunt and
/ emaciated. His face had a greyish pallor,
! and his eyes a strained. unnatural look.
! as if sleep never visited them or brought
/ rest to an overworked brain. eff he goes on
much longer" said Steer to himself, che
| will undoubtedly break down and have
brain fever or something of the kind" He
i felt uneasy at the thought of Violet left
in charge of this fanatic scientist, and was
! glad that he had made her promise to seek
! his aid should she ever be in need of 1t.
This promise was redeemed sooner than
| he anticipated. After their last conversa-
ton Steer had made UP his mind TO see as
! little as possible of Violet Carruthers. One
day. notwithstanding this wise resolution,
he felt impelled, by an impulse he could
/ not resist to go to the meadow where they
had last met He felt a premonition that
Violet wanted him, and whatever pain
might lie in their meeting for him would
be amply compensated if he could render
her any service, however trifling. He found
her standing by the river as if waiting for
some one.
/ She greeted him with a little cry OF
pleasure
"Oh, Mr.. Steer" she cried, II did so hope
comet
What is n?" he said. Nothing very
serious, I hope?"
1T is my uncle" said the girl. Il fear he
is very, very ill., and 1 do not know what
to do. 1 am afraid" lowering her voice. Il
am afraid he is going mad'-Steer started
doctor. Ny uncle hates doctors, and will
not have one in the house, and L have no
friends but you Oh, Mr.. Steer, if you would
only come up TO the hall with me and see
Uncle Sidney, then, perhaps, you could
persuade him to lie down and have some
food and rest"
Steer hesitated. What if the poor child's
anxiety had made her fancy that her uncle
| nd
not Mr.. Carruthers consider him an i'm
pertinent intruder.
Violet read the hesitation in his face
"Oh, don't refuse, Mr.. Steer! she said, i'm
ploringly Il am so frightened; and if you
will not help me, what shall do?'
Her tears were falling by now. and this
determined him. Whatever might be the
consequences, he would keep his promise to
her.
IF you really think my going with you
will do any good" he said, II am quite
willing TO accompany you to the hall at
| Cnce."
"Oh, thank you" Her face lighted UP as
| if by magic, and the look in her eyes
showed him how much his compliance
gratified her 1--WE will go now, them she
said. And side by side they walked through
| the meadows.
In short time they found themselves in
| side Mr. Carrutherss laboratory, the door
! of which fortunately for them, they found
unlocked. Mr.. Carruthers paid no attention
to their entrance. He was standing at the
| far end of the room. gesticulating and
speaking aloud in a hoarse, shrill voice.
| They stood and watched him silently.
Gentlemen" he was saying, for many
years 1 have devoted myself to researches
in the vast field of psychical science. L
have. with infinite pains and labor, made
myself familiar with the knowledge OF oc-
cult arts as practiced by the Chaldeans and
the Magi of the Egyptians in the days of
old. and l have learnt the secret power
held by the Brahmins of India have wit
! messed. under strictly test conditions the
phenomena of so-caled spiritualism and
! have discovered much that is yet unknown
of the nature and wonderful effect of ami
NAL magnetism, odic force and the power
! of mind over matter / have studied the
whole rationale of hypnotism, and I have
had most conclusive and marvellous tests
as TO the truth and value Of clairvoyance.
or second sight 1 have here, under my
| roof a young girl, who is, when put into
] trance state by me- a marvellous clair
| voyante and seer. When in trance she can
describe any given event taking place, at
no matter what distance of time or space