The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-10
MEsMERIG EXPERIMENT.

How a StrOng-Minded Girl Married
Against Her Will
Thirty Christmas nights have come
and gone since that one, so memorable
in my life, and yet, sitting here in my
solitary room, a gray-haired lonely wom
an, the whole scene rises as wildly be-
fore me as though it had occurred but
yesterday I can see the comfortably
but plainly furnished, low-ceiled, old
fashioned room, with its dark wains-
coted walls, and its dim corners, that the
feeble light of a couple of composite
candles could scarcely reach; can see
the half circle of faces gathered round
the hearth looking glowing and pleasant
in the ruddy glare of the firelight-all
except one, that of a nan who sat in the
corner opposite me.
/ could not keep my eyes off that face,
which had for me the fascination of ug-
illness; as the lights and shadows made
By the Pickering flame touched the
shock of bristly hair that half concealed
the low, narrow forehead, the cavernous
eyes, sunken cheeks, and huge mouth,
half open with cynical smile that
showed the tusk-like teeth, could COM
pare it only with shifting series of gar
goyles from some old monlish ruin.
We were all members of the company
of the Theatre Royal X, and, it being
a non-play night, we were assembled at
the lodgings of one of our members,
lady, TO do honor to her birthday. Our
usual theme, the affairs of the theatre,
past, present and future, being exhaust
ed, the conversation, cannot remember
how, had turned upon mcsmerism and
clairvoyance, and / was stoutly declar-
ing my utter disbelief in either, my
scepticism being greatly intensified by
| 81, hot
man have just described and who was
one of the low comedians of our compa-
ny-took the opposite side. There had
always been an antagonism between us,
aud, although / had no actual cause for
such a feeling, positive dislike upon
my part, which l believe was pretty
! strongly reciprocatef:.
Although was scarcely twenty at the
| time, / was what people would have
called a strong-minded girl, with opin-
| ions of my own that | never shrank
| from asserting with an obstinacy thai
| no argument could overcome; and OF
this night, excited by a spirit of defiance
| to my cfs-G-rfs, l expressed them with {
bigotry and contempt that was anything
but polite 10 those who differed from
| me.
"By your positiveness, Miss Grace,
SuccISu AluOtu, pISSuLuS you AdSs
| had very large experience in the trick
cries of mesmerists."
@Oh, indeed / have not" l replied
sharply,"I was never at any exhibition
of the kind in my life, and never intend
to be. | should not have the patiencI
even TO witness such a Transparent i'm
/ posture"
.Suppose,' he said, and there was
CLEAN in his eyes which indicted rising
temper-ssuppose could give you ocu
lar demonstration that you are wrong
by placing some one in this room unde
mesmeric influence; have done tn
thing often. If l did this thing be
fore your own eyes, when you wevid b
quite assured there could not be tricl
or collision. would you believe J
then 81
81 don't know that should" answer
swered doggedly. "If you have such
power, l added, with contemptuou
smile, s'why don't you try it upon me |?
Arnold was evidently taken aback.
do not think he dreamed Of my takin
up his challenge He regarded me 70
some seconds with doubtful waveriD
! glance, which met defiantiy and moci
ingly.
Il would prefer any one else in tn
room,'' he answered hesitatingly.
COuTcc L VII
malicious laugh; Il am not goo
, subject; the mystic influence is powe
less over disbeiievers- Oh, know a
the jargoni''
! And cast a triumphant glance roun
, the company, who were exceedingl
! amused at our discussion.
I Arnold turned alternately white an
) red with rage and modification.
at is not that" he answered quickl.
> then paused, but evidently stung N
! c0ntemptuous laugh, he added Instant,
! | s.Very we'll, be Il so, since you desire It,
5 The prospect of having the discussio
I SO summarily tested and adjuged create
: an immense excitement, and could fei
my own cheeks burning. and my pull
gaiioping at fever heat as Arnold pr
ceedel TO make preparations for the e
: pertinent.
anticipated the usual passes az
hand wavings Of which had heard &C
!. read, but soon perceived that his met
cd was going to be entirely difIeren
J He began by placing two chairs exact
opposite to one another, in one Of whit
!, he requested me TO be seased; then
7 ,iraped a large black cloak round me
that olly-mY face rose above 1t: then
lamp. borrowed from. the landlady .
3 the house, was set N such q poslsl9
e fhat the light should focus upon 4
E. face; after which he took the chair o
/ posife to mine and desired me 10 tx q
g EYES firmly upon his, and not reno
Z fhefn for q snrofld