Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-09-23
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around Madame Ada Okolicsanyi, the
mistress of the house, discussing the
subject of reincarnation.
Madame Ada Okolicsanyi, the hand
soonest of them all, lay nonchalantly
back in her easy chair. She was
dressed in a beautiful soft white ma
terial, and had large, dreamy. nut
brown eyes. In her dark hair some
freshly gathered lilies of the valley
nestled timidly.
well who will tell us q story to
convince us allT asked Countess Rol-
la. holding her tiny nez-retrousse still
higher in the air than was its wont.
Il don't believe in reincarnation ;"
said poet. 1T is impossible that one
should ever-not even once during a
lifetime-remember ones pre-exis-
tence-that far away past"
why not?" ventured the fashion
able critic. "If one knew to what end
one was born again, life would cease
to be trial. There would be absolute
ly no sense in the second life, and il
would be nearly impossible to fail
There you are wrong" interrupted
the low, <even voice of Adam Dorosz-
lay. Till now he had remained silent
in his corner, and only listened to the
various opinions of the company. "You
are wrong" he repeated. Just the
fact that one remembers, that in ones
heart of hearts there always exists a
longing for all that was sweet and de-
licious in ones former existence-just
that makes men miserable"
What a curious ideav' said one of
the ladies.
Ada Okolicsanyi laughed hysterical-
ly.
Are you one of those who remem-
ber?' she asked sarcastically.
He looked at her; he gazed into the
fathomless depths of her dreamy eyes,
and let his glance rest fer moment
on the beauty of her rich chestnut
hair.
YES" he answered. after a pause.
Il had an experience which l shall
never forget"
I'll a de raplombv' cried the little
OOulltFS>s ucI
He sits in Lis corner all the after
noon Ike an old grumbling bear, and
now he ridicules us. But mind, sir
she added, turning to him with Albright
smile, ''if you wish to be forgiven for
your reprehensible conduct, it shall
only be on one condition; you must tell
us that interesting experience"
Adam Doroszlay moved back into the
shadow somewhat frightened.
''This is pure cruelty" said he, hest
tating. We have heard so many
thrilling tales on this subject to-day
that mine would surely prove a fail
ure''
"Ah, you only want to get out of it!
But that won't do We have suffered
enough before now because of your
heartless cynicism; now it is our turn
TO make you suffer. Ada, dear" con-
tinued she. turning to the lady of the
house, do make him tell us that
Story!'
please begin it." said Ada, but her
voice sounded cold and hard.
Must 1t be?": he asked play fully.
"Well, be it so, then. Only, | warn
you. Countess Rolla, that my story will
be anything but Interesting"
He left the place where he had been
sitting. and leaned with his back
against the mantelpiece.
The flames thfew small. Pickering
lights upon the foreign weapons hang
ing about upon the walls; the netzkes
of ivory, the sumurai swords, the kris
from Malay and the Scotch claymores
that had been brought home by Ada S
husband from his various travels
abroad.
"A thousand years ago." began Adam
Doroszlay. everything was different
from what it is nowadays The roads
had not been superseded by the rail-
ways; and the air was not dirty from
the breathing of flying giants. Thus
1t happened that l, a knight, found
myself one day sitting upon the back
of a dark chestnut mare. at the en-
trance of a white marble castle, the
many towers of which reached above
the top of the gigantic cryptomerias.
THE great portcullis was fastened;
the drawbridge which had to be let
down from the inside was drawn up,
and the two marble lions near the gate
seemed to have been pctrified just in
the act of springing.
1.-THE people of those days very sell
dom went to pay each other a visit,
and | could give no other sign of my
arrival, so tuned my harp and began
to play and sing. The notes of my
song went flying to the pointed towers
like so many white doves; and as if by
some magic the iron gate rose and the
sliding bridge of the entrance. studded
with silver nails, fell down before me.
Il passed through. three or four court
yards; in each of them a fountain was
throwing its silvery stream. into the
air; then l turned TO the left and came
in view of a large staircase. l re-
leased the bride of my horse and
raised the visor of my helmet. And
this was what saw:
"On the floor in the centre of the
large open hall a Beautiful queen was
sitting amidst her ladies in waiting.
She had dress of soft. pure, cling
ing material that looked dazzling white
in the sunshine. and in her dark, silky
hair a bunch of lilies of the valley
was nesting.
Upon eacn side of the staircase
young cavaliers and knights thronged
Their dresses were beset with spark
ling stones and mine was dusty from
the long journey.
Two servants brought velvet
cushion. and placed 1t ut the feet OF
the queen. / knelt down upon it and
gave Ter the message with which had
been sent to her.
She was very kind to me. She took
my hand in her tiny ones. and babe
me rise from my kneeling position
She had sweet. bewitching voice,