The Argosy — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

| | | | A Shiritualistic Photographer. 341 At this moment the Professor returned from his inner sanctum, | and, glancing across at me, said: ‘‘ Your turn now, sir.” An uncanny sort of feeling seemed to come over me, and I could not help wishing that I had let the entire thing alone. But I could _ not now draw back with credit to myself or my profession either ; so i ee a I took the empty chair with the air and resignation of a martyr, devoutly hoping that my face gave no indication of the tumult raging within. “Are you ready, sir ?” “Quite ready,” and, with the words, I tried to give myself up thoroughly to the undertaking, keeping my mind fixed upon a brother who had died some years previously in Canada, and of whom (to the regret of us a'l, but more especially of my mother, whose youngest son he was) we had no portrait. The next few seconds I eannot clearly describe. ‘To say that I felt hot and cold by turns, and _ that every vein in my body seemed at bursting point, is nothing com- _ pared with the uncomfortable sensations that seemed to possess me. It was really horrible, and I had to use my utmost force of control to _ keep myself from groaning aloud. Suddenly the welcome click of the | : : : | 1) ; ———— _ — — od _ eap told me I might be “‘off guard once more,” and beating a somewhat hasty and un-soldier-like retreat from my present position, am not _ ashamed to confess that I felt quite glad to see the face of my old friend the Colonel again. He seemed to have quite recovered from the effects of his sitting, as, with a friendly nod, he pushed forward a chair for my use. “T don’t quite like it,” I began—but at this moment I was inter- rupted by the return of the Professor, who, holding a negative in his hand, advanced towards the middle of the room. He held it to the light for a second or two, and then, gently passing his hand over it, addressed the Colonel. “You are quite sure of the person you wished depicted ? ” “Quite sure,” came the decided answer. “Then is this the one you thought of ?” The Colonel took the photograph from his hand deliberately, but after one glance at it, his nerves seemed to have deserted him altogether. The old dazed look had come back into his eyes and the colour fled from cheek and lip as he sank into a chair, muttering hoarsely : “ Merciful Heaven, it is she—it is she! ” That the shock was a great one there could be no doubt of, but as _he still held the photograph in front of him I could not advance to ’ render any assistance, not knowing but that the affair might be one _ he would prefer keeping to himself. I did therefore the next best, _ and, in short, the only thing I could do under the circumstances by _ trying to recall him to the present. * You are ill, Colonel. Can I do anything for you ?” He turned and looked at me as I spoke but gave no heed to the CORINELMOO© SS) (©) am