The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-21

quietly. slarugging his shoulders. He
looked fatigued. and staggered as hs
crossed theSroom.
Aren't you well?'' I asked.
quite well, thanks, = he replied,
but these experiments weaken me for
. time 1t is nothing. Good nighti''
So saying. he sank into chair, and
we left him to finish his cigar by the
fireside while we wended our ways tu
bed, all wondering how he would CON-
vince me that Twas hypnotized
I intended 10 turn In at once; bnt "a
my dismay. Icould not do SO / tried
60 undress, but ! was by some strange
force impelled to open my trunk and
take from Ii curious old hunting knife
Tones frequently used as q property. =
Inever nse 10 now. exerted all che
will power Iposseased and endeavured
20 replace the weapon, for sense OF
impending danger was upUd me, but
my win seemed paralyzed, and I care
fully drew the knife from its sheath.
feeling its keen edge with my thumb.
BY the same mysterious influence I
was next forced 10 remove my slippers
and creep stealthiiy TO my sisters bed
room. A hundred times tried 70 re-
trace my steps but still the awful force
impelled me forward until siIently
entered Vere's chamber. Closing the
door noiselessly behind me, I advanced
ON tiptoe to the bedside. The room was
in semidarkness, bat the light OF the
shaded lamp ON the 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 In stamped
upon my memory, and Isremember mo-
ticing that the fingers Of the Tiny clock
ON the mantelsheh pointed 10 10 min
mites TO q.
'.Good heavens,'s I thought, ''why
ann I here? What dreadful influence is
IL that deprives me OF my wfil7a Y
Then iaFa fash; Iknew that myspurs
pose waa anurder-te murder my own
sisterl l Il. st
, why does she not awaks?n Thought
In my agony. ''Why does not her hus-
band save her from this death and me
from this cirme?
Her husbanai That was the solution
Of the mystery. He had liypnotized me
after all and Kswas the agent OF his
will Butlwhy was l. 20 kill his wife,
my darling sister We're?
Then i remembered the words he had
Whispered to me during my brief hyp-
MOTTO sleep.
Y You doubted my power, = he said or
rather Missed 'Fooli But greater fool
20 think TO win AIcida. She is for me-
do yoa hear?-for me- Your pulling.
white faced sister must be removed and
you shall do it, Yea, you shall hill her
and suffer for the crime, leaving me
free for love--and Alcida. -
All was plain TO me. / knew that /
was compelled TO shed my innocent sis-
ter's blood. All this I knew, yet had no
power 20 stay my own 1nurderous hand.
Think Of my position and imagine. IL
you can, the mental agony II endured
Advancing closer 20 the bedside and
carefully drawing back the coyerlet, I.
raised the knife to strike. Then the lit
tie clock ON the mantelshelf chimed q.
] had regained my viii. With cry
Of infinite relief flung the knife from
me and rushed out Of theroom. Hasher4
leigh was still seated beside ths FIRE
when burst, breathless, into the smok-
ing room
] called him by name. But he return
cd no answer. He was dead.
No doubt my brother-in-law had died
at ? o'clock precisely, his death being
due TO the intense excitement consel
quent upon the strain he had, by hyp-
nae, put upon himself. III %,
the reason Of my sudden recoveeyoe
will power is.plain enough, forwithhis.
death his influence over nay will natur-
Ally ceased. Anyhow 7 am more than
Ehankful that something between hear
% and earth until then undreamed of
- my philosophy. saved me from com
cxfne of which my moral In
npcenog woaid' haye avaiIed me iitslS in|
y court ofjnssice.
What Sbecame of Tho EenOiks Alcidas
Oh, she is now nay wifa Lsondon Tit
Hits II; ii. IN.
a. xsssasYra@ wa~ a. vsnaA..E tss