The Progress., 1894-10-06

UNPLEASANT feeling-I seemed to nave
been doing, that was all. The clock,
too, showed that the experiment had
lasted but a few minutes
"\Nell," asked Hatherleigh, NOW
have you succeeded?'
Beyond my most sanguine eXpecta'
TONS" he replied, with deep meaning
in his tone. "How do you feel'' Il
oh pretty WE'LL l. answered II
don't want to hurt your feelings, Ed
mond, but | don't feel hypnotlzed
bit"
No? Well, we shall see,' he said
quietly Struggling his shoulders and
swallowing a glass of neat brandy
He looked fatigued, and staggered as
he crossed the room.
Aren't you well?" l asked.
Quite well, thanks" he replied;
s.but these experiments weaken me
for time-it is nothing. Good night
So saying, he sank into chair, ana
we left him to finish his cigar by the
freside while we wendell our ways 10
bed. all wondering how he would
convince me that was hypnotized.
intended to turn in at once out,
to my dismay, could not 40 So
tried to undress, but ! was by some
strange force impelled to open my
trunk and take from it curious olo
hunting-knife once frequently used
as property" never use 1t now
exerted all the will-power | pos
sessed and endeavored to replace the
weapou, for sense Of impending
danger was upon me; but my Will
seemed paralyzed, and carefully
drew the knife from its sheath, feei
ine its keen edge with my thumb.
Bv the same mysterious influence
was next forced to remove my slip
pers and creep stealthily to my Sis
ter's bedroom. A hundred times l
tried to retrace my steps, but still the
awful force impelled me EDWARDS un-
til I silently entered Vere's chamber.
Closing the door noiselessly behind
me, advanced on tip-toe to the bed
side. The room was in semi-dark-
ness, but the light Of the shaded
lamp on the dressing-table showed
me that my sister was sleeping peace
fully, though there were traces OF re-
cent tears upon her pale face.
Every detail of the room is stamped
upon my memory, and I remember
noticing that the fingers Of the tiny
clock on the mantel shelf pointed tt
ten minutes to two.
Good heavens" l thought, ''why
am here? What dreadful influence
is it that deprives me of my will?"
Then. in a flash I knew that m,
purpose was mnrder-to murder M
own sister!
: why does she not wake?"
! thought, in my agony. "Why doe
| not her husband save her from thi
death and rue from this crlme?'
Her husband--that was the solutio
i Of the mystery-he had hypnotic
Il me, after all, and was the agent Q
his will. But why was | to kill hi
wife, my darling sister We're?
). Then | remembered the words h
had whispere to me during my brit
Ii hypnotic sleep.
l. "You doubted my power" he sai'
y or rather Kissed. Fool! But create
: fool to think to win Alcida. She
s. for me-do you hear?-for me! Yo'
. pulling, white-faced sister must be r
moved, and you shall do it. Yes, W
IL shall kill her and suffer for the Grim
l. leaving me free for love-and Alcida
% All was plain to me. knew that
-, was compelled to shed my innoce'
! sisters blood. All this l knew, y
had no power to stay my own mu
e. derous hand. Think of my positio
and imagine, if you can, the ment
agony l endured.
III Advancing closer to the bedsid
D. and carefully drawing back the cove
let, raised the knife tastrike -th
the little clock on the mant'
!. shelf chimed 2!
l had regained my will. With
cry OF infinite relief ! flung the kni
from me and rushed out Of the roo
Hatherleigh was still seated best
. the FIRE when I burst, breathless II
+ the smoking room.
called him by name. But he
turned no answer--he was dead!
\ No doubt my brother-in-law h
N died at o'clock precisely, his des
NJ being due to the intense excitemt
/ consequent upon the strain he had,
7 hypnotizing me, put upon himself.
so, the reason of my sudden recov'
of will power is plain enough,
ay with his death his influence over
wv will naturally ceased. Anyhow, /
more than thankful that someth
oil. between heaven and earth, until Il
ne undreamed of in my philosophy, sa
lily me from committing crime of VIII
* my moral innocence would h
FOR availed me little in court of just
an What became of the Senorita Alci
9TH Oh, she is now my wife.
my CrawAsh.