The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-13

into my soul. tried TO shut my own
eyes to the sight, but in vain. Those
terrible eyes grew larger and larger
until they seemed to fill the limits of
space, and then awoke to find Hather-
leigh regarding me with an anxious
but satisfied look. The other fellows
had retugned, and they began asking
me all sorts Of questions. But had
nothing to tell. had no unpleasant
feeling. Iseemed to have been dozing-
that was all. The clock, too, showed
that the experiment had lasted but
few minutes "Wsll," asked Hather-
leigh, "how have you succeeded"
Beyond my most sanguine expecta-
tions, he replied, with deep meaning
in his tone. "How do you feel?'
"oh. pretty we'll" answered. ST
don't want to hurt your feelings, Ed
mond, but I don't feel hypnotized
bitl"
"Nof Well, we shall see, he said
quietly, Struggling his shoulders. He
looked fatigued, and staggered as he
crossed the room.
AREN'T you well?'' asked. ----
"Quite we'll, thanks,' he replied,
"but these experiments weaken me for
q tilne-it is nothing. Good nightr'
SO saying, he sank into chair, and
we left him to finish his Cigar by the
fireside while We wended our ways to
bed, all wondering how he would con-
vince me that I was hypnotized
intended to turn in at once; but, to
my dismay, could not do so. tried
to undress, but was by some strange
force Impelled to open my trunk and
take from it curious old hunting knife
once frequently used as property. "
never use 1t now. l exerted all the
will power / possessed and endeavored
to replace the weapon, for q sense of
impending danger was upon me, but
my will seemed paralyzed, and care
fully drew the knife from its sheath.
feeling its keen edge with my thumb.
By the same mysterious influence /
was next forced to remove my slippers
and creep stealthily to my sisters bed
room. A hundred times tried to re-
trace my steps, but still the awful force
impelled me forward until silently
entered Vere's chamber. Closing the
door noiselessly behind mo, advanced
on tiptoe to the bedside The room was
in semidarkness, but the light of tho
shaded lamp on tho dressing table
showed me that my sister was sleeping
peacefully, though there were traces Of
recent tears upon her pale face.
Every detail of the room is stamped
upon my memory, and remember no.
ticing that the fingers of the tiny clock
ON the mantelshelf pointed to 10 min
utes to 2.
GOOD heavens, thought, "why
am here? What dreadful influence is
it that deprives me Of my will?"
Then in flash l knew that my pur-
pose was murder-to murder my own
sisterl
"Why does she not awake2" I thought
in my agony. why does not her hus-
band save her from this death and me
from this oirme?
Her husbandi That was the solution
of the mystery. Ho had hypnotized me
after all, and was the agent of his
will But why was to kill his wife,
my darling sister We're?
Then remembered the words he had
whispered to me during my brief hyp-
MOTTO sleep.
''You doubted my power, he said o,
rather Missed. Fool! But greater foo
to think to win Alcida. She is for me
do you hear?--for mo. Your pulling.
white faced sister must be removed, and
| you shall do it. Yes, you shall kill hel
and suffer for the crime, leaving ms
free for loye-and Alcidu. /"
All was plain to me. / knew that
was compelled to shed my innocent sis
ter's blood. All this knew, yet had NJ
power to stay my own murderous hand
Think Of my position, and imagine, i
| you can, the mental agony endured.