The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-09

her either for deluded crank or a
strong genius. / trembled sometimes
as to which.
/ did not love her for these abnor-
NAL qualities, but more for the beauty
of her form and face, and quiet,
sympathetic personality that slum-
bered somewhere in her nature She
did not look kindly upon my efforts
to reclaim her from her mental fads.
| felt at times that she believed in oc-
cult things just TO shock my sense of
propriety. When / was fully satisfied
of this, l swung around to the other
extreme and indulgently listened to
all of her wild vagaries concerning
mysticism, spirits, mind-readers and
astral bodies.
This was how we came to visit ID T.
Secor, the celebrated hypnotist.
decided to disarm her of all suspi-
cion. / would not cross her iIf any
thing. But / soon had cause to re-
gret my approval of this extreme
course. How we'll 1 remember the
words Of the doctor when he examined
her as subject for exhibiting his al
most supernatural power
81 do not wish to use you. You
have in you the making of power full
hypnotist. Yield to no one, but make
others your subjects
With that he dismissed her, but no
one saw the look of exultation in her
eyes as / did. She was now con.
scious of her power Her eyes were
feverishly bright as we left the meet
ing. / knew that the mischief was
done, and quietly waited the re-
suits.
Selma never did things by halves.
When / saw the books piled upon her
dainty table two nights after this visit,
knew that she was makinga study of
hypnotism. At first she was shy about
her new fad, but she soon launched
boldly forth into her subject. She
was reading everything about the ques-
tion, from the first principles up to
the latest discoveries. / tried to dis
courage her, and to draw her mind
toward other interesting subjects. But
that was not Selma to yield until she
had exhausted her passion, and the
thing itself began to cloy.
One evening l called later than
usual / was not in an envisble frame
of mind. Things had irritsted me
that day. and found myself in the
desperate mood of wishing to bring
matters to q climax between Selma
and myself. II she would not accept
my love / would give up the chase.
would use every legitimate means and
argument TO force her To love and ac
cept me. She could not be won by
quiet, modest wooing She required
the determined opposition of mind
that would conquer her own In the
struggle for supremacy.
Strange that | did not think of the
words of DR.. Secor, as / revolved
these thoughts in my brain | never
once thought of Selma's mind being
stronger than my own. had slway'
treated her as half-spoiled, petted
child, that needed master and ad
wiser. had unconsciously assume 4
this function for myself.
Despite my self-possession and self.
absorption in one great subject az
entered her room, | soon became
aware of a peculiar sensation. The
articles in the room had all beer
changed, and Selma herself looked
strangely bright and fascinating. Hel
eyes were never more brilliant anC
attractive. She was dressed In al
evening costume which set off hel
beauty rather than concealed it. She
glided toward me in a winsome sylph
like fashion, and extended warm
hand to welcome me. / shuddered a.
i dropped the hsnd-why, j could no
say. Ny eyes wandered around tn
room, and then back to Selma eaci
time. She was always watching me
with her lips half-parted in smile.
"why have you changed the furni
ture SO, selma / asked in q voice
that seemed somewhat dreamy to me
"why2 Do you not like it tf' sh'
answered slowly, without removing
her eyes from me.
They were very brilliant coul'
almost imagine they were two stars