Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-10-29

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
a time-it is nothing. Good night!'
So saying, he sank into chair, and
we left him to finish his cigar by the
iireside while we wendell our ways to
bed, all wondering how he would COLI
vince me that 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 lmpelled to open my trunk and
take from it a curious old hunting knife
once frequently used as property"
never use it now. I exerted all the
will power I possessed and endeavored
to replace the weapon, for a sense Of
impending danger was upon Inc, but
my will seemed paralyzed, and l care
fully drew the knife from It's sheath,
feeling its keen edge with my thumb.
DJ VIC 5Cluc 1uuuCuSo L
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 I silently
entered Vere's chamber. Closing the
door noiselessly behind me, I advanced
on tiptoe to the bedside. The room was
in semidarkness, but the light of the
shaded lamp Oh 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 is stamped
upon my memory, and I remember no.
ticing that the fingers Of the tiny clock
OH 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 knew that my pur-
pose was murder-to murder my own
sister!
"Why does she not awake?" I thought
in my agony. "Why does not her hus-
band save her from this death and me
from this crime?
Her husband! That was the solution
Of the mystery. He 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 or
rather Kissed. Fool! But greater fool
to think to win Alcida She is for me-
do you hear?-for me. Your pulling,
white faced sister must be removed, and
you shall do it. Yes, you shall kill her
and suffer for the crime, leaving me
free for love-and Alcida."
All was plain to me. I knew that 1
was compelled to shed my innocent sis
ter's blood. All this knew, yet had no
power to stay my own murderous hand.
Think of my position, and imagine. if
you can, the mental agony endured.
Advancing closer to the bedside and
carefully drawing back the coverlet, l
raised the knife to strike. Then the lit
tie clock on the mantelshelf chimed 2.
had regained my will. With cry
Of infinite relief flung the knife from
me and rushed out of the room. Hather-
leigh was still seated beside the fire
when burst, breathless, into the smok-
ing room.
Icalled him by name. But he return
ed 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 conse-
quent upon the strain he had, by hyp-
nothing 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 natur
ally ceased. Anyhow I am more than
thankful that something between heav-
ell and earth, until then undreamed of
in my philosophy, saved me from COM
hitting a crime of which my moral i'll
nocence would have availed me little in
a court Of justice.
What became Of the Senorita Alcida?
Oh, she is now my wife. London Tit.
Bits.