The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-09

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knee. ana he snifrcd aud,ply but tho
answer Wrought my heart into my
throat tor 1 knew who made Il, be-
You'd the Possibility OF mistake.
Yea dear Mrs. Tabor said quiet
~. What is IL -
II wAnted---to see you-r-W'hy didn't
YOU come last time.---I get-loncly
som etime1-4-"
= couldn't come before. Aren't you
happyT' n She might have been speak
ing To a child CRYING In its bed.
Il want to-~come back---sI want
you. mother dear--Im very happy.
but went away too soon"
But I've seen you every day At
home. dear child"
1T isn't the the same--I cant talk
Ito you--there7-Youre afraid Of
som ething--I See fear--in your heart
frighteus me-
You mustn't be afraid, Miriam
you mustn't Nobody shall take you
away.'
A flush and wave of nausea went
over me- and felt nay hair bristllng,
not With merry business. bat with q kind
OF anger. The EMBELLISHMENTS OF
the whole scene was too sickentng--
the poor mother hysterical fondness.
tae utter sincerity of her emotions, and
the sentimentaism that whined in re-
ply, SO perfectly calculated to irritate
the element OF distorted love made It
and control the crippled mind. And
all the worse, a beauty turned sour.
thought of the dainty little lady that
had fenced with words 80 deity; and
only the need to understand once for
all made me endure to listen.
Ask something that no one, but
Yourself can know" the professor
put In Perhaps even he felt some
embarrassment.
Mrs. Tabor hestitated. II wonder
if / ought" she said, half to herself.
Il do SO want to know"
The voice grew steadier: Ask me
what YOU wiil--mother darling
know already-what you fear"
Miriam. did l understand what
what ! saw the other day."
] grew suddenly cold, and felt an
IL the door We're sinking under me.
THE other day Fix your mind
upon Il, mother dear--I see YOU now
II see you very much frightened
You thought a new trouble was COM
ing --=Another trouble like the first
not for yourset t-but--"
''Oh, 1t wasn't myself" The dry
terror Of the tone was dreadfully like
something / remembered. 1T was
for her--you know 1t was for her.
They looked as if-Does she love him,
Miriam? Does she love him?"
That vas more than l would bear.
The whole unnatural dialogue had
been profane enough: but this new
sacrilege-The switch Of the electric
light was In the wall behind me. and
before the spirit voice could speak
again, my fingers had found and
pressed It,
The medium gave a tearing scream
that was horrible to hear, twisted her.
self out of her chair, and terked and
wriggled on the floor, choking and
gurglinG. In the sharp yellow glare.
the whole room was one hygterical
confusion, men and women scram-
bling TO their feet, or sitting dazed.
their hands before their eyes. The
professor cried angrily: "confound 1t.
man. you're crazy! You're crazyI You
may have killed her. Don't you know
how dangerous Il is to turn on light
that way2" and stopped over the
struggling woman ON the floor. with
soowfing sideiong chances back at
me-. A couple OF other men came
forward. .threateningly, and a bejewel-
hostess, cried acidly: Mercy on US.
who is the fellow? One Of those re-
porters?"
Madam, II can promise you no
publicity" said +. and I STROBE over
to where Mrs. Tabor had sunk for
ward on the table, her head motion
less upon her outstretched arms, Mac
lean came to my rescue just in time.
't0ne moment, ladies and gentle
meni Look there--the lady had faint
ed, you see? Painted before the lights
went on, you see? My friend did
exactly right. Now let's keep this all
AZ quiet as possibie-we don't want
sensation in the papers" Then as
he helped ms to raise Mrs. Tabor
from her chair, he muttered: Darn
you, Laurie, what In blazes was bitin'
you anyhow ?"
Between us. we half carried her
from the room. while the Others
were attending to the medium and at
cross purposes among themselves. She
had not actually tainted away, and
in spite of her shock was able to
walk down stairs with a little help.
The door-heli had been ringing vio-
lentiy as we came into the upper hall:
and we were. still upon the stairs When
a clustered maid opened the door upon
Mr.. Tabor.
rs Mrs. George Tabor" he be-
gan. Then he caught sight of US and
sprang past the maid with a growl.
Its /. MIR. TAbof---Crosby. She's
been to an entertainment here, and
broken down. I'll tell you later. Have
.yeu got the car outside Y sssss =
Yes, thank God. And Sheila's out
there toe. Come"
I'm perfectly we'll Mrs. Tabor
said family Nothing to worry any
one. Why are you all so nervous
about me ?"
I'LL 60 back now, said Maclean,
as We reached the front door, IAN
hush up this gang upstairs. There
Amt goin' to be any disturbance about
this. That crowds more afraid OF
the leadin' dailies than they are OF
the devil, YOU see p
I nodded and the door closed be-
hind tbs. Mr.. Tabor did not say Z
word as we led his wife across the
sidewalk and into the palpitating car.
He motioned for me to follow her.
Not If YOU can spare me, SIR" /
said. IN no out early tomorrow. l
think I've found a key to the whole
trouble, and I've got to see about IT,.
under the white bristle Of his brows.
Grossly he growled. either we've
a good deal to thank you for, or elsa
----or else you'd better not come to-
morrow
.scafitio" fssa 1augek ETAOlN SHRL
CHAPTER XIV.
The C<nY.sy,Ito &<.~> Urwv&x-sHe :.