The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-07-18

6%X@ dependence in her
NhNMEidsiSoSsSA naturethat marked
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.
i felt at times that she believed in oc-
cult things just to shock my sense of
propriety. When was fully satisfied
of this, 1 swung around to the other
extreme and indulgently listened to
all of her wild vagaries concerning
mysticism, spirits, mindreaders and
astral bodies.
This was how we came to visit ID r.
Secor, the celebrated hypnotist. l
decided to disarm her of ali suspi-
cion. would not cross her in any
thing. But l soon had cause to re-
gret my approval of this extreme
course. How we'll remember the
words of the doctor when he examined
her as a subject for exhibiting his al
most supernatural power
81 do not wish to use you. You
have in you the making of powerful
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 l 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 l quietly waited the re-
suits.
Selma never did things by halves.
When I saw the books piled upon her
dainty table two nights after this visit,
knew that she was makinga a 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. l was not in an enviable frame
of mind. Things had irritated me
that day, and found myself in the
desperate mood of wishing to bring
matters to a climax between Selma
and myself. If she would not accept
my love would give up the chase. l
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 "a mind
that would conquer her own in the
struggle for supremacy.
Strange that did not think of the
words of DIR. Seeor, as l revolved
these thoughts in my brainl 1 never
once thought of Selma's mind being
stronger than my own. had always
treated her as a half-spoiled, petted
child, that needed master and ad-
wiser. had unconsciously assumed
this function for myself.
Despite my self-possession and self
absorption in one great subject as /
entered her room, soon became
aware of a peculiar sensation. The
articles in the room had all been
changed, and Selma herself looked
strangely bright and fascinating. Her
eyes were never more brilliant and
attractive. She was dressed in an
evening costume which set off her
beauty rather than concealed it. She
glided toward me in a winsome sylph-
like fashion, and extended a warm
hand to welcome me. l shuddered as
I dropped .he hand-why, L could not
say. My eyes wandered around the
room, and then back to Selma each
time. She was always watching me,
with her lips half-parted in smile.
"Why have you changed the furni'
ture so, Selma?" l asked in voice
that seemed somewhat dreamy to me.
"Why? Do you not like itf" she
answered slowly, without removing
her eyes from me.
They were very brilliant i could
almost imagine they were two stars.
They were complete study in them.
selves. 1 wandered somewhat in my
thoughts, and then recalled myself.
''Have you anything new on hypno'
tism?" asked irrelevantly, looking
toward her recent collection of books
Nothing in book form, but
have"
A strange idea flashed across my
mind as if by intuition, and inter
rupted her only to finish her own sen
tenee.
"You have seen DIR. Secor?"
She nodded her head simply, anC
shrugged her pretty shoulders,