Floating Fancies among the Weird and the OccultHolmes, Clara H.
Science
Floating Fancies among the Weird and the Occult
Holmes, Clara H.
American fiction -- 19th century; Paranormal fiction; Short stories, American
They at once retired; Henry sank immediately into a profound slumber,
but James lay for a long time troubling over an idea which had taken
possession of his mind. He did not believe Henry guilty of stealing the
money, but he believed that he was shielding the person who did take it.
Could it be Marjy? The thought made the cold sweat start out on his
face; the next instant, when he remembered Marjy’s frank eyes as she
appealed to him to try his hypnotic power over Henry, he felt ashamed of
the thought; her idea was merely to tease Henry for his strenuous
opposition to it, if he could be made to succumb to the influence; but
James had an altogether different idea, which he did not mention; as I
have said, he believed that Henry knew more about the money than he
professed to know. Now, after his experiment, he was completely at a
loss; he could form no opinion. He was surprised that he found him so
easy a subject; it was perhaps owing to his mental depression, and
consequent relaxation of will power.
James had said to Marjy that afternoon, “Perhaps Henry did take the
money!”
“I know that he did not!” she answered hotly.
“How do you know that?”
“Just because I do know; I cannot explain how I know, but I know it!”
James, watching the flush in her cheek, was thinking how becoming a
touch of anger was to her, but he laughed gayly as he replied: “Woman’s
reason; logical of course; just because!”
This returned to him as he lay there too perplexed to sleep. “She is
right about it; he did not take the money, or else he would have
betrayed it; and this knocks my theory all to pieces, as well; he would
have told if he knew who did take it. Confound the whole business! What
is it to me, that I should worry over it?” He turned restlessly in the
bed, trying to get to sleep.
Presently Henry began to mutter. James grumbled at this fresh annoyance.
“I had best have stayed at home,” he said.
Henry lifted himself upon his elbow, whispering rapidly.
“That confounded combination!” exclaimed James in disgust, as he turned
over to look at Henry; he caught his breath in surprise.
Slowly, slowly Henry arose, his lips moving rapidly, as a child repeats
its lesson to impress it upon his mind. His eyes were widely opened, but
with a curious introverted look; he stepped slowly forward, a look of
concentration on his ghastly features; he walked to the center of the
room exactly where he had before stood; there he paused as though
listening: “Aunt Hattie! Aunt Hattie!” he called clearly and distinctly;
although the tone was very low, as one speaks who is desirous of being
heard by none save the person addressed.
James jumped out of bed, bringing his hands together softly. “I wonder
if it is possible!” he cried, quivering with excitement; he hurried on
his clothes and fairly flew down the stairs, and let himself into Aunt
Hattie’s house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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