The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-29

ne with an anxious, but sa44sfed, 1ools-
The other fellows had returned, and
hey began asking me all sorts OF
questions
But had nothing to tell had no
unpleasant feeling seemed to have
been DOING, that was all The clock,
100, showed that the experiment had
asted but few minutes
well" asked HAtherIeigh, show
Rave you succeeded?"
Beyond my most sanguine expecta-
tions, he replied, with deep meaning
IN his tone. How do you feel?"
s'Oh, pretty well, . I answered. Il
don't want to hurt your feelings, Ed
nond, but I don't feel hypnotized a
bitr'
mo? Well, we shall see,'' he said,
quietly Struggling his shoulders and
swallowing q glass Of neat brandy.
He looked fatigued. and staggered as
be crossed the room
Aren't you well?' I asked.
quite we'll, thanks" he replied;
''but these experiments weaken me
for a time-it is nothing. Good night"
So saying, he sank into chair, and
we left him to finish his cigar by the
Preside while we wendell our ways to
bed, all wondering how he would
convince me that 1 was hypnotized.
I intended to turn in at once, but,
to my dismay, I could not do 90.
tried to undress, but I was by some
strange force impelled to open my
trunk and take from it a curious old
hunting knife 1 once frequently used
as property" never use it now.
I exerted all the will-power pos
eam~aI and 80 ~a,T1O@ ho
weapon, for q sense of impending
danger was upon me; but my will
seemed paralyzed. and I carefully
drew the knife from its sheath, feel
ing its keen edge with my thumb.
By the same mysterious influence
was next forced to remove my slip
pers and creep stealthily to my sis
ter's bedroom A hundred times I
tried to retrace my steps, but still the
awful force impelled me EDWARDS I'M
til I silently entered Vere's chamber.
Closing the door noise1ess1y behind
me. advanced on tiD-toe to the bed
side The room was in a semi-darh-
ness. but the light of the shaded
lamp on the dressing-tab showed
me that my sister was s1ee ping peace
fully, though there were traces Of re-
cent tears upon her pale face.
Every 0Gbdll1 OF L4G GOOn1 ID SJauDG0
upon my memory, and remem Der
noticing that the fingers of the tiny
clock on the mante1 shelf pointed to
ten minutes to two.
GOOD heavens" 1 thought, ''why
am I here? What dreadful influence
is it that deprfves me of my wil1?'
r. Then, in a flash, I knew that my
purpose was murder-to murder my
own sister,
why does she not wake?"
thought, in my agony. ''Why does
not her husband save her from this
death and me from this crlme?"
Her husband-that was tho solution
of the mystery-he had hypnotized
me, after all, and I was the agent of
his will But why was I to kill his
wife, my darling sister We're?
Then / rememb ered the words he
had whispered to me during nay brief
hypnotic sleep.
'sYou doubted my power he said,
or rather Missed s'FoolI But greater
fool to think to win Alcida She is
for me-do you hear?-for mel Your
pulling, white-faced sister must be re-
moved, and you shall dc it, Yes. you
sh all kill her and suffer for the crime,
leaving me free for love-and AlcidaI'
All was plain to me. I knew that I
was compelled to shed my innocent
sisters blood All this I knew, yet
had no power to stay my own muir
derous hand. Think Of my position,
and imagine, If you can, the mental
agony l endured.
Advancing closer to the bedside,
and carefully drawing back the cover
let, 1 raised the knife to strike-then
the little clock on the mantel-
shelf chimed o.
I had regained my will With O
cry Of infinite relief 1 flung the knife
from me and rushed out Of the room.
Hatherleigh was still seated beside
the fire when burst, breathless into
the smoking room
I called him by name But he re-
turned no answer-he was deadi
No doubt my brother-in-law had
died at o'clock precisely, his death
being due to the intense excitement.
consequent upon the strain he had, by
hypnotizing me, put upon himself. If
SO, the reason of my sudden recovery
Of will power is plain enough, for
with his death his influence over my
will naturally ceased. Anyhow, am
more than thankful that something
between heaven and earth, until then
undreamed of in my philosophy. saved
me from committing crime of which
my moral innocence would have
availed me little in court of justice.
What became Of the SenOrita Alcida2
Oh, she is now my wife.
A Fable.
A certain monarch of violent and
hasty temper became ofEe uded at an
injudicious remark of his court fool and