St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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frail body was in that word, Turn l Nay, he did not, although both of the others did, and then - she fainted. In the morning, Mademoiselle could not rise. Word was sent to the manager, and he went quite out of his mind for a short space of time, forgetting in his rage to be polite. What was to be done P - Weary at last with his storming, the dying woman promised to appear, and not to disappoint him. Night came, and the mesmerist stood by the old box, with the blended moon and torch light shining upon the manager's stand, where he shouted orders to several men, and in the midst of the group stood her man ! Suddenly a chill-a shudder-passed through the tiny figure, as she saw the manager stop and slap her man on the shoulder, saying, with a coarse jest: He's a good mascot, ain't he, boys P and they all cheered. What could it mean ? Why did he not raise his hat and cheer with the others ? Mademoiselle only waited, and soon everyone was gone except him. He stood facing the box with his back to her. The moon shone brightly on her ashen face as she stag- gered to where he was standing, and rested her trembling fingers on his arm. Not moved yet P I am dying, she said, softly, look at me, and walking in front of him she gazed up into his face-the face of a 'wax figure. , 169

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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

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ommeneement jay. wednesday, June 76115, 7897, at 70.50 JL .921 ORDER OF EXERCISES. MUSIC. PROCESSION OF CANDIDATES EoR DEGREES. ALUMNI. Hrs EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR LLOYD LOWNDES, AND TIIE BOARD or GOVERNORS. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NAVAL ACADEMY, AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. THE FACULTY AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE. R S . . EADING OF CRIPTURE Reverend A. L. Royce, Chaplain, U. S. N. PRAYER..... . Music. SALUTATORY ADDRESS . . . . Charles I. Flory, Reisterstown, Md. MusIc. ' PRIZE ORATIDN . .... . Lewis C. Boehm, Snow Hill, Md. ' Music. CONEERRING or DEGREES. ADDRESS T0 THE GRADUATING CLASS ....... . Governor Lloyd Lowndes. ' ' Music. ' AWARDING CERTIFICATES OF DISTINCTION AND PRIZES. Music. VALEDICTORY ADDRESS . . . . . W. Thomas Kemp, Trappe, Md. Musrc. ' , ANNUAL ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI . . Rev. F. W. Clampett, D. D., Baltimore, Md. BENEDICTION. . u 170