The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-09-04

4
er, who presently arriving, was re-
ceived with painful lack of cordial
ity, and only by abject promises of
fully disclosing his mystery managed
to restore tranquility. When the
wornout sufferers had sought much
mer darkness with Mansel to smoke
the pipe of peace
May l come, too?" asked Victoria;
and the men made room for her be.
tween them. "Now," said John, tell
US all about it"
Griffith looked at Victoria. Her
' face was white, her eyes shone like
jewels; his voice was husky as he
began:
"Well. about five years ago l fell
in with a man-Jenks-you remem-
Der him. Jack?"
Chap always blathering about
physic forces, and things of that sort,
Fire away, old boy!"
"He lent me books, and held forth
about occult powers, will develop
ment, and so on. until I was wild to
try some experiments myself. There
was dodge he showed me-moving
thing by just willing it to come to
you, and l resolved to do the same"
AND"
Il did it, but it took twelve months
of hard labor,"
could you do it now?" asked John
incredulously.
Perhaps" Griffith fixed his eyes
| intently on book on the window
seat. The silence was tense; then the
volume jerked slightly, moved to the
edge of the seat, and fell to the
ground.
"By Jove!" John drew deep
breath.
you see, I couldn't bring it to
me? I'm losing the power. Shall
lose it altogether-I've always felt
that-by telling about it. Well, /
worked on, living as ascetically as
any hermit, until the idea seized me
of making car, whose motive power
should be the human will. l made
model. and, when the thing proved
possible, came down here and gave
myself up to it. wouldn't let other
hands touch it. Every inch of it was
saturated, so to speak, with my will
power. l allowed no other interest
even to cross my mind; and perhaps
you can imagine what felt when one
night I sped out into the moonlight
with that car-now lying shattered in
the Brast-which obeyed my slightest
wish, as If it had been a sentient
thing
His voice trembled under the in
tensity Of the recollection. Victoria's
hand rested for an instant on his
sleeve and Griffith went on.
Il put that brass disk as a mis-
leader; people imagined the motive
power was concealed by it. l wrote
the name of the place to which was
going, and the hour of arrival, and
kept it before me, to avoid any vacil-
lation, or unconscious change of pur-
pose; for soon discovered that any
irresolution or disturbing emotion in
my mind was promptly reflected in
the behavior of the machine. 1t
started off to-day simply in response
to hasty wish"
"You have been disturbed and ir-
resolute during the last few days?"
queried John.
yes; stronger, more absorbing
power has suddenly dominated my
life"
1T is -?" victoria's voice was
very soft.
"Love!"
A silence fell upon the group, and
presently John left the two and wan
dered out into the moonlight, return
ing to find Griffith in state of &C.
static blessedness, which rendered ex-
| plantations unnecessary.
The nine days wonder over, the
Daily Hustler's account of the acct
dent had scarcely begun when two
notices appeared which effectually d.
verified the current of gossip into an
other direction.
"A marriage is arranged, and will
shortly take place. between His Grace
the Duke of Exton and Mrs. Mansel,
widow Of, ETC., ETC."
"A marriage is arranged, and will
take place in the autumn, between
Miss Victoria Mansel. only daughter
of the late Rupert Mansel. Esq, and
Griffith Griffith, Esq, Of, etc.. etc."
And the noisy waters of the Brast
roared and rejoiced over the
ruins of Gr.fith's masterpiece.-The
| Throne.