Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-08-08
An Unrelenting Fate.


Claud Ramery. a clerk in the colonial
office. 1t was small Buddha, with
the gliding nearly all rubbed off, and dis
figured by blows from the pickaxes of the
natives, who had found it while tearing
down deserted hut in the Laos.
An old schoolmate, who had died there,
had bequeathed it to Claud together
with other curiosities, among which was
a superb tiger skin, now suspended over
his divan. The friends who visited
Ramery greatly admired this savage
trophy, also the statutettes and vases
representing inferior divinities in gro
tesque attitudes symmetrically arranged
on his shelves.
Claud would tell them that they were
souvenirs of his travels, thereby inspir-
ing them with great respect for him.
Thus. though he had never accomplished
any longer journey than his daily trip
from the Batignolles to the Pavilion de
Flore, he experienced the glory that at
taches to great explorers.
But, strange to say, all the visitors,
without exception, evinced toward the
Buddha an ineXplicabie aversion. 1t
day, they thought, singularly sly look.
In truth, this god, with his sneering lips
and eyes vague with beatitude, did seem
tb he uisuulNlHS ana the lnhlllLleS
of their cares. Those strange orbs, full
of smiling contempt for men and
things, made one i'll at ease.
Personally Claud Ramery did not con-
Germ himself with such imaginings, and
felt no uneasiness at giving house room
to such an enigmatical guest. But one
day comrade called who had The repu-
tation of being well read. He examined
the Buddha long time, frowning por-
tentously the while.
do you know" said he, presently.
that you have there a very peculiar
Buddha?'
Just like all Buddhas. isn't it,"
Not at all; it is one of those said to
have the Evil Eye"
OH said Claud, tri1e Disconnected.
why, haven't you observed his hypo-
critical look, and his mouth, so SNUG and
sneering? One would say that he was
meditating some ugly trick?"
Yes, that's truer'
AS for me, / find something very sim
lister about your Buddha. How long since
have you bought him?'
Il didn't buy him; he was given to me
by a friend"
And your friend-where is he?"
Dead"
"The devil! That is precisely what the
natives claim-that Buddhas who have
the Evil Eye bring death to those who
possess them"
Claud. in spite of himself, grew pale at
these words"
You haven't noticed anything wrong,
have you, in your business or health since
yOu got itF' continued the other.
Il don't remember anything At the
office, this year. they have raised my sal
airy to two thousand two hundred; true,
it was my turn. As to my health. we'll
one always has something or other. Do
you think am looking badly?"
"Hum-ml Gland do you know anything
at all about psychological phenomena?
Not very much
1T is thus. you know, that science
calls certain facts that seem Supernat-
ulal."
Does it explain them?''
Not yet but it will come. Who
knows but what the proved influence of
some Buddhas is psychological phe-
nGmenon?'
And you-what do you think of it?"
That. in your place, | would get rid
of that thing.'
That night Clnud Ramery did not sleep
well. His mind, nourished upon posi-
tiViSm. would probably have shaken off
a purely superstitiouS fear. but he dared
not doubt magnetism in the face OF the
affirmation of the academy of science.
This Buddha had doubtless belonged to
'N'A't AHNH VI TUE vast Nubs as all tnG
world knew, were merely magnetizers:
but
Next morning, before going to the Of
fee. Glands first care was to take down
and wrap up his Buddha and start out
with il under his arm. Not daring TO
throw it into the Seine for fear of a fine.
he decided TO leave it at some convenient
corner. mt the discretion of the rac-nick-
ers, il was better than bestowing ii upon
a friend. BY thus putting il back into
circulation, without giving this s'hoodoo'
precise destination. his own response
bility became lost in yagueness-fafe
could choose its own victim.
In front OF a doorway he irorned his
hotEtrSome god But instantly threat.
enlng broomStick appeared and hoarSe
voice cried:
man,
AS at that very moment there was
vision of q bluecoat and brass but
tons looming up the street Claud re-
signedly picked up his Buddha and
walked on. Then, under the pretext of
drink, he who never INDUCED in such
things. entered a cafe, swallowed his
mixture with the most innocent air in
the world and carried his DISSEMINATION
SO far as to ask for the illustrated pa
perS
The account of a recent sensational
crime in one of them set him 70 think
ing of the CRIME that he was meditating:
the instrument of death was there at
hand, lying at his elbow. wrapped in a
winding sheet of newspaper. and his
future victim-there be was, too, the pro-