Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-07-26

my nara WOTk-tOWdfu ludU 1OISOGt6A
corner where his hours were passed in the
quiet routine and bliss of domestic life.
''Nor was I mistaken in the picture
my fancy had drawn. Peace, serenity,
repose, breathed from the very trees,
with their great moss covered trunks,
against which an old chateau leaned in
the mingled shade and shine of the sunny
Provence woods.
"Paul met me at the station. His
wife I did not see till later-just before
dinner indeed-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 a superb figure and a complexion
the tint and texture of old ivory, through
which was flowing vigorously the rich
red current of a healthy blood. Very,
very beautiful she was; but, oddly
enough, as I looked at her I felt a sense
of deception somewhere under that
fair exterior.
tfWas it fancy? Or was this full, ro-
bust beauty but similar to too feryid
simmer that forces the sap to rise SC
fast that the frnit turns sour? I do not
know, only that this woman entered
with difficulty into the idyl 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.
ut oil
guest had arrived-a young man and a
close neighbor. From the moment of his
coming too-or did fancy that also:
-Paul, my friend, seemed less genial
The first joy i'll his eyes at my arrival
mad Gained; I saw him now in his ha-
bitual state, doubtless, little aged,
slightly constrained. with that vague,
nervous reserve Of the distrustful hrs-
band who in his inmost thoughts sus-
poets treachery.
81 had no time, however, to ponder
long on these reflections. Old memories,
serious and gay, crowded thick and fast
upon us III the ease and comfort of that
well ordered dining room, looking out
upon the lawn, the soft melancholy Of
the coming twilight slowly enwrapping
us and carrying hearts and minds both
far back into the past
Dinner was nearly oyer when a
chance word OF question turned the con-
versation upon subject no less absorb
ing then than now, ladies and the
doctor bowed courteously to the circle OF
eager listeners closely clustered about
him turned. 7 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 liyeliest 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 subject as incredu-
lous as she, and had been put to sleep
promptly and made to accomplish in his
sleep things of which they told him aft
erward.
"'Bah! They duped you!' insisted
his wife. Doctor, suddenly appealing
to me, help me to get this rubbish out
of his head or Paul will certainly 60
crazy.'
Forced to take sides, was obliged
to admit that myself was deeply inter
ested in these matters, and had witnessed
things that I did not dare to doubt She
was still obstinate, still moeking. She
would believe what she saw-no more,
no less.
"'f Paul is a subject, as he declares,
said she, the thing, too, is easy enough.
Convince me-you have done such
things, you #sy-by trying it here and
now
paul WAS willing. I looked intently
at him. His eyes wavered curiously
away from any gaze. He was marvel
GUS subject and fell Immediately under
my will.
"We passed into the drawing room,
placed him in chair, and I had not
made six passes over his brow when no
was in a sound hypnotic sleep.
"'Well, he is off, said ].
Impossible! MOP
stShe bels5 over him, called him,
pinched him-no movement. Raised his
arm-it fell inert like log.
'''Quiclk, quick Suggest something !
said she, a strange eagerness showing
suddenly in her face.
''You would perhaps feel the proof
stronger, Madame, did you make the
suggestion yourself.
"She appeared to think, murmurine
half aloud, 1T must be an upaccustomed
act, something unusual, that he eapno!
divine, that does not enter into his hab:
it of life
"She looked about her. Near by on 9
table magazine lay opened at recent
article on Hypnotic Suggestion, a slen'
der mother Of pearl paper knife thrust
between the folds. She turned the leaves
hurriedly.
" 'Ah-h, we have it at last!' said she
putting her finger upon certain para
SliPli. ALI 6ApeIl1Helt Juot tHauo SUI
cessfully, they say-at the hospital o.
La Salpetriere. Repeat it with Paul
and shall be convinced.
"The experiment was to suggest tx
the patient at fixed hour a predeter
mined act-the act in this case suicide
with some harmless object that the sub
ject' should be made to believe pon
lard
Willingly 1 responded.
"She handed me the paper knife
This is harmless enough, ISM it?' sh'
said, yielding it to me with a charming
smile. 1T would not hurt fly.
Perfectly harmless. And I held vi
the little pearl dase.e, tfs,:e P,' :.- 500
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