St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-04-20

met arranged the potatoes, which were
OF goodly size, in two lines of Eve each.
Now, Ned" she said, ''shall we run
q race with these? We each take q
basket and coffee spoon, and see
which can pick up the potatoes arst in
our respective lines. The one who does
can impose a forfeit on the other"
THAT Sounds" observed Ned, I" as
easy as rolling of q log Ihave your
forfeit in mind, Miss Grace"
Don't be too sure" laughed Grace
Emmct.
They took spoons and baskets and
stood ready for the word .Eo!" But
when Ned began he found the opera
tion more complicated than he had
imagined. The potatoes wobbled and
rolled around unconscionably.
my stars! Miss Grace" he cried II
last. 'You don't mean to say that you
have them in already?" As he mopped
his perspiring brow, surveying his still
empty basket and his five potatoes in
different parts of the hall Grace had
reduced 1t to . science. OF course one
was not allowed to push the potato
against anything to steady it; but she
rolled them sideways, and, holding her
spoon in readiness, caught them as the
impetus carried them upon the bowl
of the spoon.
''Ha! ha! young lady! I see your lit
tie game" Ned exclaimed. going to
work again. But at that moment
Grace deposited her last potato in her
basket and gayly cried out: Mug
gins!"
"And now, by way of forfeit" she
went on, judiciously, II condemn you
to allow me, In the sight of all this
company, to place your finger on your
aose in such 4 way that you cannot
leave tLis hall without removing it.
Do you believe can do it?'
Ordinarily, no." returned Ned. in
much detection; ''but after the potato
episode ! am not prepared to be dog
matte. l will only say to the unen>
liRhtened mind it seems impossible"
Nobody knew how Grace would &C
complish the feat, and we watched her
with much curiosity.
''How many Of you think I can do
it," she asked, laughing. "Affirnaa-
tive, ay; contrary minded, no. Tho
noes have it. Well"
She led Ned to the staircase and seat
ed him on the lowest step. She quick.
ly slipped his arm through the railing,
and bringing 1t round the newel-post,
placed his finger on his nose. There
was q shout Of laughter, as they saw
it was obviously impossible for Ned to
rise without removing his finger.
"Beaten again" laughed Ned. But
in return for this. young woman, pro-
pose to hypnotic you 50 you can't
stand alone"
''Oh, no." said Grace, shrinking back.
Il can't bear that sort of thing"
Try me-" said Alice, good-natured.
ly, knowing her friend was really very
sensitive about hypnotism. Though
fancy shall be difficult subject"
Il think not" returned Ned, with
his head ON one side. You'll do nice
ly. Indeed. never failed yet"
He seated her and made mystic passes
before her eyes.
II don't feel thing" she protested,
at last, as one and another inquired
with much sclicitude how she felt.
"You shouldn't talk to the subject"
objected Ned. However" with q
final grand Aourish-''it Is accom-
plished! You cannot stand alone
try it!.''
Indeed I can" returned Alice,
springing up lightly. ''Behold!"
"Yes, 'beholdv" laughed Ned, with
q low bow; but you are not standing
alone, for all OF us are standing with
you"
''Oh. you wretch! nothing but mis-
erable pun!" cried everybody. while