Catoctin clarion., 1895-05-02
No. J.


est and Widest sensations. I can hard
ly talk. I feel that am going, going
AS a matter Of fact, TOMS eyes closed
while he was yet talking,an in another
moment he collapsed, helpless and pow
erless in the chair.
u have never been so successful
cried the girl, clasping her hands de-
lightedly. He has passed beyond the
suggestion stage, and now must be in
the somnambulistic STAGE Then turn
ing the limp form Of Bransford, she
commanded: Stand up. You are COM
pletely in my power. Stand up and
open your eyes,
But Bransford did nothing of the sort.
On the contrary his legs and arms be-
came rigid, his teeth clenched, and his
breathing labored..
Estelle turned pale. He is in tie
cataleptic stage; but I think had bet
ter wake him up, don't you?'
by all MEANS assented Vanderveer,
whose face had assumed an almost green
ish hue with fright.
But IN vain did this fair disciple of
Mesmer resort to passey, command and
finally fearful entreaties.' Btansford
could not be aroused, and his condition
seemed to become more serious every
moment.
Oh, Mr.. Bransford, do wake up.' If
you have the slightest regard for me,
beseech of you to wake up cried the
girl, anxiously: 'Oh, Mr.. Vanderveer,
do you please say something to arouse
him, your voice will be more familiar
than mine
TOM cried Charlie, at the top of his
voice. wake up, old man. Then shak-
ing him by the shoulders, he pleaded
with him wildly. Tom, old friend,you
are all right. Wake up, Tom, if you
love ME wake up Then reproachfnlly
to Estelle He told you he had a weak
heart
,Yes,' she replied, now crying hys.
terically, but thought he was joking.
Do please go for doctor as quick as
you can
But | cant leave him here, he'll fall
on the foor,' said Charlie. Don't you
think | had better carry him to the
lounge?
Pray do. and then l can bathe his
forehead with some extract and fan him
while you are gone
Branslord's remalns-for they hardly
seemed to be more. were then laborlons.
ly half lifted half dragged from the
chair to the lounge, and u daintily en-
broldered pillow placed under his head.
Estele had in the meantime supplied
herself with all available restoratiyes
ard took her place by his side, while
Charlie hurried away for medical aid.
Left alone with her unfortunate vic
tim, she unburdened her soul aloud.
oh, what have I done Perhaps he
will die. And I heard SO much about
him. Twas sure we were going to be
good friends. And did like him from
the moment ! saw him this evening"
and now | have probably killed him.
Oh, how could do it, how could | do
it =
A sort of spasm passed over the un-
conscious form before her, and she
thought his breathing had ceased.so put
her hand over his parted lips to see if
she could feel any breath, when to her
horror and surprise, the trembling hand
was kissed in most life-like manner,
and Bransford's dark eyes looked into
hers with humorous twinkle.
>R,memher,' he said quietly, u am
not responsible. | am hypnotized,
you know Then, still keeping her
hand in his own, he sat up and asked
gravely: Don't you think thaS you
have had pretty good Lesson in the
danger Of playing with edged tools and
dabbing in occult arts you do not know
anything about"
v think it was perfectly abominable
and cruel for you to give me such q
terrible fright she cried pulling away
her hand.
1t might easily have really occurred.
Come, now. You have said you like
me, then forgive me, but promise to be
bewtching woman and not woman
witch in the future. The day of witch.
craft has long since passed nineteenth
century witches have no excuse for ex-
isting. Is it bargain p 1885,.
Rather one sided bargain ; but |
think you ale right and promise
When Vanderveer returned an hour
later after calling unsuocessfully, OH five
physicians. he found Tom and Eselle
chatting as cozily together as though
they had been friends for years.
YES Tom Sal on his way home, Ut
was hard enough 70 lay there and stim.
ulate unconsciousness while she was
orvino and Won were carving on like a