St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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men on the bench opposite me come and touch my hand. Look I There was a stir, and a dozen or more men rose, and without looking at anyone but the central figure made their way to the platform. Mademoiselle extended a small, refined hand, which looked, as did her body, very out of place in the rough circus tent. It was amusing to see all those strong men crowded around a tiny figure in white, each one striving to touch the extended hand. She had accomplished her object and the farmers looked exceedingly foolish g then a buxom farmer's wife raised her voice and shouted to Mademoiselle, telling her that-nay, she defied her-no one could force her to move l The tired. little woman only arose, and resting herself against the tall pole, fixed her eyes upon the woman. The whole populace turned to look at the dame who had challenged this wonder. Slowly she arose, and almost glided down the many steps to the ground 5 then to the platform. Seating her- self on one of the chairs, madam - appeared quite dazed. Now you may go, wearily said her captor, and the woman stood up, quickly stared round her, and made her way from the tent, amid the furious applause of the lookers-on. The performance was over, and the manager stood aloft in his box, shouting vigorously the many attractions that his Show afforded 5 that tomorrow the rest of his treasures would be exhibited g also that Mademoiselle would make another appearance. Crowds of interested farmers pushed to obtain tickets I and the lemonade boy conversed affably with his rival, the peanut vender. Tired little Mlle. de Gouillet leaned against a large box some distance from this bustling scene, waiting for a dis- reputable one-horse hack-for Mademoiselle and her single attendant lived quite apart from the every-day circus peoplef' She knew absolutely nothing of the manager's affairs, save that the small remuneration for her services was very little, considering her hard life. Mademoiselle Hortense was not bred for the circus. All the superficial show and dazzling gaudiness disgusted and repulsed her, the manager especially, with his overly polite speeches and assumed gallantry. The mesmerist stood there, thoughtlessly looking at the moving crowd, when one face in the blended moon and torch-light attracted her attention. 'Twas not a full face, only a profile, and the owner of it was standing quite close to the manager's box. Sud- denly a desire to see his full face seized Mademoiselle, and she willed that he should turn 3 never for an, instant doubting her power, she only thought lightly of him, but when, after waiting a few seconds, the man remained in the same position, she thought harder, then harder, until all at once Hortense found herself leaning half way over the box in her eagerness. Every now and then the man would take a step nearer the box, but he seemed in no hurry, for always someone stepped in and bought his ticket before him. He shall look l Mademoiselle gasped. He shall ! and, gathering all her strength, she gazed with her whole

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Mlle. de Gouillet BY ONE STEADY GLANCE COMPEL ' ANY MAN, WOMAN OR CHILD TO COME TO HER, OR TO LEAVE HER PRESENCE. 'ie WHO CAN WITHOUT DIFFICULTY BRING ANY PERSON SHE WILLS TO ' THE PLATFORM. ETC. And for two weeks this strange woman- if, indeed, she were a woman -had been the talk of the town. But to continue : The performance had commenced. First, a stately procession of elephants entered, marched around the entire inclosure and retired. These were fol- lowed by half a dozen riderless horses, which galloped around in their free and easy style until caught by the ring masters and conducted to their proper places. They were then bidden to dance, walk, kneel, and to do num- bers of other things equally delightful to the rustic audience. After this the riders pranced in, gaily bedecked in brilliant hues. When the trapeze performers had made their adieux, a stillness fell upon the people, a sudden hush, 'for now she was to enter l Even the lemonade boy stopped, with his foot on a farmer's hat, to look. She came 3 not a large, coarse-looking, masculine woman, with painted cheeks and tousled hair-no. A petite creature, simply dressed, and looking anything but prepossessing. In reply to the almost timorous applause which greeted her entrance, Mademoiselle quietly bowed and took her place on the platform. Indeed, she did look very weak, and here and there all over the tent motherly matrons murmured something to that effect. But Mademoiselle merely seated herself in a chair and dreamily gazed around her. Then in a low and gentle voice she told the people that if anyone doubted her power to rise. The whole population of F redericktown sat like charmed birds and no one moved. Then, continued the mesmerist, I will that all the

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soul in her eyes at him, and then with a despairing little cry she fainted in her faithful servant's arms.' Driving to the hotel, the mesmerist's brain was fraught' with conflicting fears 3 was she going to be very ill? Was she now ill P or, worse than all, was she losing her wonderful power ? That could be tested, and passing through the corridor of the hotel she had ample chance to reassure herself, which she did, and that night Mademoiselle's tired eyes closed only to have troubled dreams of the only person upon whom she had ever failed to work her will l The following night even more difficulty was found in obtaining seats. The performance progressed pretty much the same as usual, and when it came to the mes- merism part, everyone rose as the little woman entered the tent. Her one absorbing thought was that the man should come to the platform. Alas I she was disappoint- ed, baffled 5 no man came g and weary, very weary, the mesmerist retired to her private room. Hurriedly chang- ing her costume, she tried to reach the main entrance before 'everything was packed in shipping order. But even this was not to be. just in time to reach the night train did the circus troupe reach the station, and Madem- oiselle had not a glimpse of the man. at vi 4: ak .ar Town after town had been scratched off the manager's card, and after three years Fredericktown was the next halt. ' Mademoiselle's health had been steadily declining, and the reason ? Other members of the troupe talked con- I tinually about her, and some of the more observant ones remembered that she had not been the same since that first night in Fredericktown 3 not one could explain why. The fact was this : All the mesmerist's power had cen- tred itself on one man. She was striving to exercise over him the same influence she had on others. Never once during her appearances in the large tent did Madem- oisel1e's thoughts wander from her man. He shall come, she always said, but he did not, and each time, she went from the stage weaker than before. And now they were to spend two days at this town. Petite Hortense rallied considerably and conversed quite easily with the attendant until the time for her appear- ance. . There was the same hush, the same expectancy, the same wonder -for the people had not forgotten her. But was there success ? No g all her power was fading 5 it was vanishing, and she wanted to die l Oh l to die l When once outside the tent her eyes involuntarily sought the place where she had seen him, but he was not there now. No ! Ah l yes, away across the field he was walking between two men, but how gracefully he was walking l being carried almost, it seemed to her. He was standing rigid, and they were helping him. Again she leaned over the box, again her soul rose to its starry windows, again she willed that he should turn. But he walked on and on, and was nearing the circus manager. Mademoiselle raised her white hand and spoke - all the intensity of her