The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-04-15

Hurrledly drawing down the Nnrlalh
and taking the child in my arms, !
laid her on the sofa, covered hcr with
my travelling wrap and seated myself
al her side, without taking my eyes
from her face. She was as white "a
wax. and her staring. CLASSY eyes
filled me with alarm.
They gradually closed. and she fell
asleep but her breathing was heavy
and her slumber disturbed. After a
while she awoke and. rubbing her eyes
as II trying 20 overcome a nightmare
sat up. looked around and said 10 me:
You cannot imagine the fright that
tho bonfire gave me-
THE bonhre," ! replied what was
there frightful about that2'
And who were the people that Were
moving around it?'
THE people? Only the poor work
men who in spite Of the cold weather.
are hurrying 10 clear tho track so that
we may go on. They are suffering
with cold and perhaps with hunger
while we. after a sumptuous dinner,
can keep ourselves comfortable by
these heaters. What compassion and
even gratitude you should feel for
the disinherited ones OF fortune
That is true, They do indeed move
me to compassion and awaken my
sympathy: but seeing them in the fire.
light confused me and disturbed my
mind An. you little know the scene.
the terrible sce.e that they evoked in
my memory
"A terrible scene? 1 have known YOU
since your birth: your life has giided
quietly and pleasantly along in the
companionship Of loving parents. No
sad or tragic event has disturbed your
/ happy existence"
II you only knew. But no. do not
wish TO tell you; have revealed it 70
10 one. do not know why. but am
ashamed
Ashamed? OF what have you to
accuse YOURSELF"
"Of nothing: the fault is not mine
but that Of my destiny
Your destiny, II is with this word
that we pretend TO justify all our
faults
Il mean that | have committed
none"
"Of what, then, do you accuse your
destiny?"
Very well. I will tell you. | am go
ing to make a confession 10 yOu-tC
you alone. | have always loved yoJ
as If you were my brother. and | know
that you will appreciate the sincerit,
of my words without making them th'
subject Of jest"
Go on"
You must know that suspect-whl
do | say suspect?' | believe firmly
that have existed before in this worl'
and that my soul once belonged to an
ether woman"
What Madness"
Madness? No. it is profound con
viction."
But 10 believe this is a SIM
III il be a sin. | cannot help com
hitting it. for. in spite Of me. an
against my will. | preserve indelibI
the remembrance Of my previous ex
istence."
wild delusion,"
Not at all, On arriving at Orlean
the remembrance of my former lif
came vividly back to my mind. | re
membered my good parents. sad. alon
and abandoned in their miserabl
home: while / weak woman. guide
10y divine inspiration and encounterin
dangers without number. combated tn
enemies Of my country.
"And later when in sight Of the bon
FIRE my imagination recalled the trag
edy Of Rouen. the memory of whic
freezes my blood and sets my hair o
end.
Bound to the dreadful stake. III
butt Of the jeering. scofing multitud
! that filled the place of execution. ! sa'
al my feet the sinister light of the fire
] heard The swapping and cracking {
the wood as 1t mounted the pile, ! sa'
the increasing flames stirred up wit
nendish carerncss by my cruel execu
TONERS. they reached me. they enye
oped me. and l felt the Supreme agon
= of the moment. when. my torture hay
+ ing been completed. my soul was free
from my suffering body.
, Never can | forget the frehtfl
memory OF my former life, There
10 doubt Of i'll was Joan Of Arc.
We arrived at Paris at one ocloc
the following morning. four hours Ian
our aunt. Sonora de Aware. who ia
not seen Dolores since she left that cii
al the age OF five years was anNiousl
waiting for lis al the station
I. She offered us the hospitality Of h
house. which | gladly accepted. a
! since the scene on the train. the col
dition OF the child had caused me q
, greatest alan ana required the care
4 some member of the family
j In spite OF the natural wearinei
/ caused h.--.s -....-s Of railway trave
4 arose early and gave my aunt an a
= count OF the strange mental disturb
u ance from which Dolores was sumo
N ing. and al which the good woman WI
~ in no small degree surprised. ! remen
"A bered that one of my friends. SPANS
y physician. was al that time in Parl
10 and went TO find him at the hospit
70 where he was perfecting his studies
diseases OF the nerve centres. for u