The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-17

quietly. Struggling his shoulders. He
looked fatigucd, and staggered as no
crossed tho room.
"Arcn's you wcll:'' asked.
'Quito we'll, thanks" he replied.
"but these experiments weaken mo for
tirle-it is nothing. Good night"
So saying, he sank into II chair, and
we left hin. to finish hi; cigar bv tho
fireside while we wendell our ways to
bed, all wondering how he would con-
vince me that | was hypnotizcd.
intended to turn in ut once; but. to
my dismay, L could not do so. tried
to undrcss, but was by some strange
force lmpollea to open my trunk and
take from II acuriou. old hunting knife
once frequently used as a property.
never use it now. I cxertcd all tho
Will power possessed and underworld
to replace the weapon, for sense of
impending danger was upon me, but
my will seemed paralyzcd, 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 nv slippers
and creep stealthily to my sisters bed
room. hundred times tried to re-
trace my steps, but still the awful force
lmpelled mo forward until l silently
entered Fero's chamber. Closing the
door noiselcssly behind me, advanced
on tiptoc to the bedside The room was
i'll scniidarkness, but the light of the
shaded lamp on the dressing table
showed ne 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 mantclshclf pointed to 10 min
utes to 2.
Good heavens 1 thought, 'why
am here? What dreadful influence is
it that dcprives me of my will?''
Then i'll u flash knew that my pur-
pose was murder-to murder my own
sister!
"Why Toes she not awakc?" thought
i'll my agony why does not her hus-
band save her from this death and mo
from this Crime?
Her husband! That was the solution
of the mystery. He had hypnotizcd mo
after all, and was tho agent of his
will. But why was to kill his wife,
my darling sister Vcrc?
Then L remembered the words he had
whispered to me during my brief hyp-
motto sleep.
you doubted my power, " he said or
rather Missed. Fool! But greater fool
to think to win Alcida. She is for me-
Go 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 lovc-and Alcida.''
All was plain to me l knew that |
was compelled to shed my innocent sis
tcr's blood. All this l knew. yet had no
power to stay my OWL murdcrous 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 coverlct, |
raised the knife to strike Then tho lit
tic clock on the mantelshelf chimed 2.
had regained my will. With cry
of infinite relief flung the knife from
mo and rushed out of tho room. Hathcr-
leigh was still seated beside tho fire
when burst, breathless, into the smok-
ing room.
called him by name. But he return
ed no answer. Ho was dead.
No doubt my brothers law had died
at o'cloci1 precisely, his death being
due to the intense excitement conse-
qucnt 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 l am more than
thankful that something between hcav-
on and earth, until then undreamcd of
III my philosophy, saved me from COM
uniting crime Of which my moral i'll
noccnco would have awaited me little in
4 court Of justice.
What became of the Senorita Alcida? |
Oh, She is now my wife -London Tit
Bits.
a Bad Use For the Doctor.
BODDS ALWAYS WAS n uuicl< Iyiftn1 |