The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-05
WILLED TO DEATH.

ment that caused his unwillingness
II have given it up ladies, " said he.
II have nothing more to do with mag
netism. -
But why, why, doctor?" tho pretty
pleaders persisted. Put us to sleep
one of us-you must, or tell Us the rca-
son why. :"
"Well, so be it," said he at last, still
visibly reluctant. Il will tell you why.
1t may teach You lesson.
Eighteen months ago" he began.
Il Went into the country to sec a friend
We will call him Paul if you please
Though old comrades and devoted
chums, for q long time the chances
OF life had separated u.s. particularly his
marriage, which, for certain reasons,
had obliged him TO locate for awhile
upon one of his properties, situated, as
have said, i'll the depths of the country.
But often and often my thoughts carried
me-a trifie obviously in the midst of
my hard work-toward that forgotten
corner where his hours were passed in the
quiet routine and bliss of domestic life.
Nor was L mistaken in the picture
my fancy had drawn. Peace, serenity,
repose, breathed from tho very trees
with their great moss covered trunks,
against which All old chateau leaned in
the mingled shade and shine of the sunny
Provence woods
Paul met me ut the station. His
wife did not see till later-just before
dinner indccd-a beautiful woman, with
dark. brilliant eyes. which flashed when
not shielded by the long, curling lashes,
with the light OF FURNISHED steel. She
had superb figure and Il complexion
the tint and texture of old ivory, through
which was flowing vigorously the rich
REQ current OF healthy blood. Very.
very beautiful she was; but. oddly
enough, as looked at her felt sense
OF Il deception somewhere under that
| fair exterior.
Was it fancy? Or was this full, ro-
bust beauty but similar to n too feryid
summer that forces tho sap to rise so
| fast that the fruit turns sour? 1 do not
know, only that this woman entered
with difficulty into the idyl l had evoked
| from the shadowy aisles of these old
woods, that seemed always Whispering
and murmuring to themselves.
| Her intense vitality seemed to shat
ter this setting of peace and serenity
| Moreover, we Were not alone; another
guest had arrived-a young man and Il
close neighbor. From the moment OF his
| coming too-or did l fancy that also:
Paul. my friend seemed less genial
The first JOY i'll his eyes at my arrival
had Gained; I saw him now in his ha-
bitual state. doubtless, Il little aged,
slightly constrained, with that vague,
nervous reserve of the distrustful hus-
band who in his inmost thoughts sus-
poets treachcry.
Il had no time, however to ponder
long on these reflections. Old memories
serious and gay, crowded thick and fast
upon us III the case and comfort Of that
we'll ordered dining room, looking ont
upon the lawn. tho soft melancholy Of
the coming twilight slowly enwrapping
us and carrying hearts and minds both
far back into the past
| Dinner was nearly over when a
chance word or question turned the CON
yersation upon Il subject no less absorb
ing then than now, ladies and the
doctor bowed courtcously to the circle of
eager listeners closely clustered about
HIM turned, l say, upon the subject
of hypnotism and hypnotic suggestion
| My friend, from the first discoveries,
had watched the advance of these stud-
les with the liveliest interest, and many
and frequent had been the discussions be
| tween himself and his wife concerning
them, she denying the phenomena aris-
| ing from these experiments and stub
| bornly pronouncing them humbug and
! charlatanism, and he affirming that
strange things could and did happen, as
he knew from his own experience-a GER
| tain evening in Paris, when he had Of
| fered himself as a subject rs incrcdu-
Ions as she, and had been put to sleep
promptly and made to accomplish in his
sleep things of which they tod him aft
| erward.
Bah They dupcd your insisted
his wife. Doctor suddenly appealing
to me, help me to get this rubbish out
| of his head or Paul will certainly go
crazy
Forced to take sides, L was Obliged
to admit that l myself was deeply inter
ested i'll these matters, and had witnessed
things that did not dare to doubt She
was still obstinate, still mocking. She
would believe what she saw--no more,
no less.
If Paul is a subject, as he declares,
| said She, the thing, too, is easy enough.
Convince me-you have done such
things, you say-by trying it here and
now.
Paul was willing looked intently
| at him. His eyes wavered curiously
| away from my gaze. He was marvel
Gus subject and fell Immediately under
my will