The Argosy — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Thought-Reading at Lady Clanjamfry’s. II5 ‘He has made me to fall upon my knees to this young lady, and offer her a declaration of affection, and now he denies the influence, and would shake the life out of me as well! Atmmel und Erde! I will have satisfaction for this ! ” The situation was so strained that the tension seemed almost unbearable. ‘Dear Herr Professor,” said Mabel, coming forward, holding out her hand, and with her soft, low voice perceptibly trembling, ‘I must ask you to forgive Colonel Lyndhurst and overlook his excitable temper. I think he has been quite overcome by the extraordinary exercise of your gift, for you must know ”—here she looked bravely and steadily at the astonished Colonel—“ he and I are just engaged, and perhaps we are both a little upset to find you know all about it! Isn’t that so, Frederick ?” “Herr Von Boschmann will now proceed to the original test of the evening,” called out Lady Clanjamfry. And accordingly Von Bosch- mann, having resumed his bandage, was triumphantly conducted, by means of the clerical celebrity’s white fingers on his forehead, to the centre chandelier, whence, amidst ringing cheers, he detached the carriage umbrella. ‘And now I am sure we are all ready for supper,” said her lady- ship. And if it occurred to anybody that a carriage-umbrella suspended in the middle of an evening party of the highest rank, might well have attracted the notice of the Professor during the interval of uncovered eyes which followed his first attempt, and might have possibly influ- enced the accuracy of his movements, they were either too polite or too hungry to mention it. Miss Barrington’s engagement was announced in the Jforning Post two days afterwards, and Lyndhurst is still in so soft and yield- ing a mood that he allows Mabel to maintain that there is a ‘“ great deal in it,” without opposition. Herr Von Boschmann, after his début in Lady Clanjamfry’s drawing- room, of which varied accounts got about, but which all combined in proclaiming ‘‘ eminently successful,” 1s sure to have a great run among the Bayswater and South Kensington salons in the half-season. No- body would venture to doubt his great gift now, though some have whispered that the German’s pronunciation becomes curiously nasal when he is excited, and might almost be taken for pure Yankee. Tom Barrington, though he was not at Lady Clanjamfry’s famous party, could perhaps tell as much about him as anybody, but he is delighted at his sister’s engagement and says no word. Some day, if Mabel gets too uppish, and insists upon the importance of occult influences, he will perhaps give his brother-in-law a hint which may restore the balance of power. G. B, STUART. COnniclooolkks (CO)