The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-06-03

~Surely. dear Mademoiselle.y he
said, gently, you must have some-
thing on your mind or. he added.
smiling. II hardly think you would
be 50 Indifferent to the draught that is
passing down the backs Of our necks,
or to the necessarily rafting door, or
the clouds Of Infamous tobacco and
fumes of absinthe which our late fell
Ilow-travelers have left behind them
Y, She gave slight start. II am
very sorry that you are uncomforta-
ble,' she said. please do not stay
with me. Doubtless your means
would enable you to travel in very
different way. am most selfish to
allow 1t. at the very next station
then
sNot for worldsi" cried Arthur.
1T was only for your sake that I
thought of complaining. Please for
give me. cannot help fearing that
something of sad nature is absorb
ing your thoughts. Perhaps ought
not to say SO; it is presumptuous OF
me.
No." said Antoinette. "You are
very good. Yes. you are quite right.
Something is occupying my thoughts
very greatly and most painfully. but
I do not know that can tell 1t to
you; you would perhaps laugh at.
me.
Laugh at you? Good Heavens!
What do you take me for?" he ex-
claimed, hurt.
Have said or done anything to
make you think that could be so
unkind, so unfeeling, and especially
toward you, for whom, since the first
moment I received you into my
charge, have felt the deepest in
terest, the utmost"
He stopped himself, or he might
have said too much; but his eager
face and earnest manner touched her.
Then you will not think me very
foolish?"
"Try me-" he said.
She looked at him doubtfully for
one moment. Then she said: ~Mr.
Denstone, have known you very
short time, indeed, but / am singu-
larly friendless. and you have been
so good to me, it makes me venture
on more, perhaps, than I ought.
Anything in the world that have,
or that can do. is at your service, :"
ne said. quickly.
Thank YOU" she answered,
smile of rare beauty lighting up her
sweet face. "Then will tell you the
strange. terrible secret that over
shadows me not only with its-own
weight, but with the most dire fore
bodings. She paused moment as
If to shake on some feeling OF OPP
preston. drew long breath, and
went on. did you by chance ever
hear of Aymar? Jacques Aymar, Of
Crole?"
mo, ] do not think ever heard of
him; but stay, / cannot be quite sure.
You do not mean the man who was
expert with the diyining rod?s / re-
member reading about him once, ages
ago. If remember right, his power
had this popularity, that In his hands
the rod was not only efficacious in
the ordinary way of discovering the
existence of water in any place, or
minerals, but he pretended that it
also enabled him to point out those
who had committed crimes, and to
detect criminals. My father was at
one time very much interested in
mesmerism and all mysteries of that
sort, and he got together curious
information respecting jacques Ay-
mar, who, after all. believe turned &
out to be an imposter. Can it be
that man you meant
You think he was an imposter?"
she asked, very eagerly.
II cannot say: it is impossible to
judge he said,s astonished at her
eagerness. Il think mediums, and
such people. are sometimes in the
position Of finding their natural gifts
fail them, and then they have re-
course to imposture to hide the fact.
It may have been so with Aynar.n
Il dc. not believe it was imposture,
she said, nervously, twisting her
hands together. sBut Heaven knows
how gladly would think SO If only
/ could. You are astonished; but
perhaps you will better understand
my interest in him when ! tell you
that my mothers name was Jacque-
line Aymar, and that in may cases in
our family, and very greatly fear in
my own. the faculty has proved her
editary."
"The use of the divining rod?"
cried Arthur. rs 1t possible that you
can really believe such nonsense?
Please forgive me for saying So"
Il told you that YOU would mock
mel" she said. sinking back in her
seat with so detected an air that Ar
thur felt the greatest conjunction
for having spoken so hastily.
Il beg yonr pardon he exclaimed,
earnestly. Indeed, the .ea of laugh
ing at you never entered my head for