River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-30

no giggling. no whispering, all was 81
lent as death After about minute
my eyes grew riged in their intense
stare, until ii seemed to me that | no
longer had the power 10 move or close
them, or even move n lid; gradually |
could feel the pupils dilate, until they
seemed to become two huge discs glow
ing with lambent and metallic fire
| could see that every nerve Of the
white face was quivering, the breathing
was short and labored, and dull, stony
glare came into the starting eyeballs
a far-away, trance-Eke look, that told
me consciousness had gone, and that
the very soul of the man had passed
over to my keeping. And | felt a cold
cruel, hard triumph in this a desire to
strain my mastery to the utmost |
70 e from my seat, slowly moved back
ward, and imperiously beckoned him,
never relaxing my fixed stare, which
seemed to scintillate and flash. As |
rose, he rose, clutching the
edge ofthe table to guide his trembling
steps. Slowly | moved, he following
seemingly impelled by an involuntary
but restless impulse. stopped sud
denly; he stopped
"What is your name?" / asked inn
peratively.
In forced hollow voice he gave one
that afterward discovered was his fam
lily name, Arnold being only a theatri
cal soDriquet.
At this one Of the gentlemen broke
in, protesting:
mo, no; that isagainst the bargain
no questions.
1t is time to put an end to it.
don't like it, said another.
Oh! yes added a lady, 1t is toe
horrible
The interruption seemed TO exercise
the fiend that possessed me, and cal
me back to myself; with an effort
wrenched my gaze from that CHASTITY
face. As | did so Arnold, as though
he had only been upheld by my eyes
sank upon the floor in strong cOnyul-
sions.
Our experiment in mesmerism spoil
ed the rest of the evening; for although
after a copious outward application OF
cold water, and judicious inward one
of neat brandy he soon recovered and
tried to laugh off his illness, it left a
creepy, disagreeable depression upon
ali, which no amount of hot spirits and
water and forced joity could succeed
in disnelling
As it may be supposed, the effect
was strongest upon me, and 1t chiefly
took the form of intense annoyance at
the part | had played | would have
given anything TO have realized the
past few minutes After Arnold's re
covery, by tact understanding, no
one made any reference to his strange
illness, indeed all seemed DESTROYS for
time of putting it out of their
thOughts-and none SO much as the
principal actor in it, who laughed and
tested in Il feverish manner and never
allowed the conversation to flag for 4
single moment, as though he feared
the subject might creep out again.
Everybody, however, was eagerly
discussing the singular event the next
morning at rehearsal. | avoided the
gossiping groups, for the remember
ance ofthe scene was a horror to me;
so did Arnold, when | studiously at
tempted to avoid, but he took an exact
opposite course, followed me wherever
] went, trying to engage me in CONVEX
satiOn and to cat ch my eye, as though
some of the fascination Of the previous
night still surrounded me-
After a rather late dinner for the re-
hearSal was very long | was doing in
my chair when there came soft tap
at the door, and to my sleepy come
in there appeared upon the threshold
the tall, gaunt figure of the man whom
Of ali others | least desired to see. 1t
gave me quite shock. 1t was the
first time he had ever called Mt my
lodgings.
In common courtesy | was obliged
to ask him to take a seat and draw
near the fire, as the weather was cold.
In Il vague, listless manner he placed
a chair in such position that it exact
" faced mine, dropped into it without
Il word, and tried to fix my eyes. | in
mediately shifted them and gazed into
the fire.
He made no attempt to account for
this visit; he talked very little, and in
an absent manner-1hat betrayed that
his thoughts were not on his tongue
about the business of the theatre. |
felt very embarrassed by the presence,
and presently rose and rang for tea.
What could do but ask him to remain
and take it with me? He said thank
you, and kept his seat | felt quite
terrified by the change that had come
over him-from noisy, testing, rt lick
ing kind of a fellow, who had always Il
gibe for me, to this silent, subdued
man, with 'hese dreadful eyes
ever yearnlngiy seeking mine.
At length he went away, and noverin
my life did | feel so thanked for any
body's departure.
But he came the next day about the
same time, and acted in just the same
manner, until the lights were brought
in; then all at once he rose FROM his
chair, crossed over to where | was sit
ting, and, laying his hands upon my
arm, said, in a hoarsc whisper; Mes
meTiZe me-.
1 started back and answered shud-
deringiy: Not for worlds
"You must he answered passion
ately
And somehow or other, can not tell
how, few minutes afterward We were
sitting rjs-d-rjs staring into each others
eyes In less than a minute there was
in his the duh stony vagueness of in
sensibility.
covered my face with my hands,
but withdrew them as ] heard some
thing fall heavily upon the floor, to see
him huddled at my feet in convulsions,
the froth bubbling upon his lips.
did not call for assistance; luckily |
had some water and some brandy in
the room. llnelt down and copiously
bathed his head and face, and then,
with some difficulty, forced little OF
the spirit between his clenched teeth.
When he recovered | nearly tainted
myself, but rallying by an effort, | told
him very positively that he must not
come any more.
Il can not STAY away; | must come,
was his answer. and again the dilated
eyes began to wander cravingly in
search Of mine.
I cannot describe the horror | felt at
these visits, and at length | begged a
! lady friend had in the theatre. tC
come and stay with me. The following
afternoon he strolled III as usual, but
finding had companion, he looked
very annoyed and remained only few
minutes.
Several days passed, and l met him
only in business. His manner was
sullen, almost rude, to me, at which
was much relieved, for | now began to
| entertain homes that he would perse.