But I was too ill, and I had no
money -- nothing. And then," she raised her eyes to his and
regarded him steadily, "then I stole that cloak to get the money
to join them, and you -- you helped me to get away, and -- and"
Winthrop broke in hastily. He disregarded both her manner and
the nature of what she had said.
"And how did you come to know the Vances?" he asked.
After a pause of an instant, the girl accepted the cue his
manner gave her, and answered as before.
"Through my aunt," she said. "she was a medium too."
"Of course!" cried Winthrop. "I remember now. that's why we
called it the haunted house."
"My aunt," said the girl, regarding him steadily and with, in
her manner, a certain defiance, "was a great medium. All the
spiritualists in that part of the State used to meet at our
house. I've witnessed some wonderful manifestations in that
front parlor." She turned to Winthrop and smiled. "So, you see,"
she exclaimed, "I was born and brought up in this business. I am
the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. My grandmother was a
medium, my mother was a medium -- she worked with the Fox
sisters before they were exposed. But, my aunt," she added
thoughtfully, judicially, "was the greatest medium I have ever
seen. She did certain things I couldn't understand, and I know
every trick in the trade -- unless," she explained, "you believe
the spirits helped her."
Winthrop was observing the girl intently, with a new interest.
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