The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-06-04

conversation became general, Mrs. Darl
slipped into the hall and beckoned to
her husband. who Immediately joined
her. Then she whispered in his ear:
"K-if-by any possibility he should
be able to hypnotic me. you will not let
him make me do anything r~idiculous:"
my dear Leona, how can you i'm.
agine such a possibility? But if you haye
any fear
"Fear!" echoed his wife scornfully
in q stage whisper. You will see that
he cannot make the slightest impression
on me" And she went back to the par
Tor and found one of her guests climbing
the piano to escape an imaginary bear
that was pursuing him. A few passes
and he was restored to his normal con.
dition, looking very foolish.
There were some amusing ar1l some
perplexing exhibitions Of the professors
power, then the company followed host
and hostess to the dining room, where q
generous spread awaited them. Mrs.
Darl was rather silent. Her test would
be the next one, and she watched the
wiry hands of the young professor as if
his secret lay in them. But they were
harmlessly busy with the sandwiches.
His face was quite noncommittal too.
What was the power he held of reducing
the will to a mere blank? She would
soon know.
Back in the parlor Mrs. Darl seated
herself under the brilliant chandelier.
mot there, 5" said the professor, but
she did not intend to yield to any COM
mand Of his and said quietly:
Il prefer to sit here"
Then l cannot hypnotic you"
"Oh, you acknowledge hat it is only
under certain conditions that this great
power can be displayed?"
Certainly, there are conditions that
must be complied with. I am positive,
and you are negative, but you are a
very difficult subject because you are re-
sisting me with all your might"
Mrs. Darl looked reproachfully at her
husband and said in the dumb alphabet
Of the married, lyon have told him"
He flashed back in the same language,
II have not, and she moved in accord
nee with the wish Of the professor and
sat with her back to the light. Some Of
the company We're removed to remote
parts Of the room, but q few, including
Mr.. Darl, stood near.
"Look into my eyes," said the pro-
fessor. 'Permip me-" And he took her
hands and pressed the thumbs gently.
"It is like being in a dentists chair"
said Mrs. Darl, with a little forced
laugh. Then she attempted to rise,
struggling slightly, but continued to
look into the eyes Of the hypnotizer I'M
til in the place Of two eyes she saw 20,
Then she asserted her will and shook
herself free.
"I-told-you-1-could-no be
%hypnotized, she said. Her voice sound
ed strange and far away. "How queer I
feel! Staring SO long has made me
dizzy"
Drink this" said MI. Darl, giving
his wife a glass Of water.
She drank it, then rose to her feet
and said she felt as we'll as ever.
where is the professor" she asked.
II expect he has lost faith in his sci
ence.
lie was here a moment ago." said
her cousin Fanny ~anxiously. HE
thought he had succeeded in hypnotic
ing you, Leona. We're you not uncon-
scious?"
mot for one moment" said Mrs.
Darl triumphantly. HE held my
thumbs until they were numb-why!
where !-Ned!'
"What is it, Leona?'' he asked in sur
prise at her peculiar tone.
"Where are my diamonds?"
There was a startled exclamation from
every one present. Mrs. Darl stood there
bereft Of every jewel she possessed. Not
a single one Of her gems which had fash
ed O her fingers, at her throat, in her
ears, was now visible. Dazed, she held
up her ringless hands and said:
'Is this a joke? What does it mean?
Where are my diamonds"
"Where is the professor
"Search the house,"
"Send for the police!"
But the professor had left for parts
unknown, and with him went Mrs.
Darl's diamonds, and neither the police
nor the Darls ever saw or heard Of them
or him again. But one thing was in his
favor. Not only had he successfully hyp-
Noticed Mrs. Darl, but, as Mr.. Darl ad-
mitted, he must have hypnotized the
whole company in order to bring his
hypnotic scheme to such a climax.
And Mrs. Darl is at last a convert to
both the theory and practice Of the &C.
cult science and a firm believer in the
power Of the hypnotic will.-Mrs. NJ.
L. Rayne in Free Press.