The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-03

few strong wills of DfiueDc cling others at a dis
to concentrate my thoughs-the fret step to-
ward exercising su b n power If, as | hoped, 1t
was latent in ms. | had never heard OF any
attempt to control spirit by such means. but
the Idea did not appear to me fmpraetieahls.
Wnere 90 little 1s known experiments are OF
L there Is spirt-thus l argued with myself.
That wishes to communicates with the owner Of
THIS Tower surelya reciprocal wish on bis part
might render the process easier.
. again. the simplest faGts OF mesmerism show
that one VIII can CONT oil another surely spirit,
lively alive to every influence sxsrted over It,
1t only remains TO be- proved whether have the
needtul strength. and whether I can keep cool
dienee from the spirit.
Having settled my plan Of action, began by
taking long md brisk wa k In the early morn
ing. Before dinner confined my reading to
historical WoI Ks. but In The evening | perllsed
carefully u volume In which had found much
| curious aud useful information on rnesmerism
Soon utter midnight [ seated myself opposite
my open door. having previously placed the
lamps SO as completely to light ID tho space be-
/ fore me.
Two rather Iudicrous difficulties then struck
| me- La the first place did not know the sex IF
lsa NE 70 suppose that man would haunt tbs
Tower. but there was nothing masculine In the
gentle football or the sound Of the trailing robs
Secondly, knew that must keep idea
steadiiy before me. yet could hardly go on re-
peating the same formula, and [ could not think
without words This difficulty however was q
very elementary one and would be easily over
come by practice. fixed nv eyes on tho door
| way. where the eyes OF figure II average
| height would be. aud Don succeeded In making
| myself tht, k an almost uninterrupted Gomez
| Unfortunately the night was boisterous and
stormy. the wind screamed past the easement
ana swept on. as il IL Ii hideous fugne, across
| the gloomy fens; but as my senses grew more
| aud moro keen did not doubt that could dis
tinguish the familiar footsteps even through all
this storm music
After awhile the blood moved faster in my
veins. my Dyes were unnaHraly fixed and hot
m N f RAJ md
rs though every mu4ele WAS atifsnel-n sensn-
ton quite unlike the deep. full inspirations OF
ssvere physical exer ion.
should not have realized how great was the
tension Of my will had not gust of wind made
gate in the garden bang suddenly, when tho
culver with which my nerves responded to the
sound betrayed TO what pitch was excited.
Il WAS close on the hour for the gh9ats, visit.
! passed q my hand across my forehead and eyes.
and at the same instant. distinct through the
Nailing Of the wind heard tho distant footfnli
,grasped the arms Of my chair and naif rose ID
reached the top Of the stairs something seemed
70 give way III my brain. the room and lights
sm v han ndtoie e my eyaa put s sprasE up WIN
saw. against tbs bright background q shadowy
outline 0 figure.
1t was an instantaneous impression and
sank ba tx as helpless and weak rs child all
power OF will entirely gone
laaslfude sufficiently to go to bed; but | slept
that instaad Of bsi1e ftttgued was more active
To Bonds inquiries / merely replied that
was carving ont pla n that hoped would sue
coed IN time. but that could not give him the
details
IL Is unnecessary to describe the experiments
81 each succeeding night soon found that
with every effort. On three occasions saw The
same shadowy outline. but on each chance
sound disturbed me or irresistible fatigue de-
prtYed me d strength Just when ! most needed
it. At length | resolved 10 take one nights I'M
Interrupted rest and to begin my next attempt
more power IN reserve, whom the critical mo-
ment should arrive | was glad to fnd that / /
attained almost Immediately the required state
OF enncentraed Voltion, but / enheavored TO
make my condition more natural than 1t had
over yet been. gazsd, more quietly, and Oh
servanfly Of the spot whore | hoped the spirit |
might appear and mad9 mesmeric passes as II |
before figure faclng mo-
AS O'Clock struck my. senses grew more
Of such subdned aud controlled strength: even
my breathing became deepand regular.
sona not ha p IN mysa for these
light which was almost ecstasy NY hnnda. rs
continued my passes. seemed to feel an op-
posing force, as though ] were drawing q
weight toward me. There WIS none Of tbs for
mer taat and excitement, bat a genial warmth
pervadsd every limb.
Knew had power over the spirit II could
but keep myself steady.
At last i was close on the quarter when /
heard the first step In the passage. | stretched
out my bands in motionless command and OK
peetatian. Az the steps reached the turn Of tha
stairs tho outline became visible lonee more 1t |
grew distinct. came nearar and Dausing n the
doorway seemed to trembie and gathered itself
into he form Of q woman IN cinging robe,
who bent toward me with look tnat / shall
never forget
She was very young. and the misery on her
face might have nude tho hardest heart pitiul. |
In her look was that abiding look If horror
that sometimes remains after Il great mental |
shock-a look almost impossible to describe /
put H HgE ns IT, we're sanpK 2
her emil hands tightly clenehed at her sides.
Although every feature was distinguishable. |
there was no semblanee Of humanity about her.
She WINS a pale, shadoWy figure, and the outline
Of her head and dress remained trem ulous as
though ready to melt again into air.
As she gnzed earnestly at me-, / felt that she I
could communfcate her thoughts to Il certain |
extsnt and read NINE IN this mys erious |
pirit eontae ), | did not speak but thought
thing You wishr' A faint smile auivered ovsr
her face. and she bowed her head and beekoned |
me with one hand. Taking up a email lamp [ |
followed. while she pissed down stairs Her !
movement was exquisite In Its fonting grace,
and rema' ked that her steps were no longer
audible. the sound Of them wa, not needed |
now to plead for her.
She led ne along tho pa sage to u deep win
and pointed to a panel In the oak wanseofing |
| could see nothing peculiar, and glanced to- /
ward the spirit Tor further explanation. Again /
and again she pointed imperiously to the same
spot. / Tired to speak but my voice refused to |
come, so thought the question wished to ask |
Am to search here for somethipg2h
Hst smf answered me. and she then signed |
to me TO open the window aud come ont. Plac- |
ing my lamp on the Fl 1or 80 az to BIS out Of the
draft. [ got over the low sill and stood at tbs |
edge Of the moat. The spirit feated a yard or
two further, and pointing down 10 tbs ground
Wr41ng her hands piteously;,
Dill some one die there?" I asked in 81 whfs- |
per. for felt that my power was waning and |
It was no longer difficult to speak. The pale |
hands pointed to the breast Of the figure, which /
was already fading, Us though her desire was |
accomplished.
Toll me-. / cried, fInglng myself down be-
fore her. II search the panel and this spot |
will you be at rest -
She bent toward me oncs more with a smile /
Of intense peace on her face and melted on Of /
my sight.
Whether I tainted or whether | fell into the |
deep. sudden sleep that somsames follows mes I
merle exerton. | cannot tell: but when came
10 myself day was breaking and my lamp was
burnt ont b low the open window.
After break fast / gave Bond an account Of
good old man thought my BRAN was affected. |
You will help me to searel the panel. Bond |