Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-08-29
M1SGKANAWEeNs.
Willed to Death.

The doctor paled. Decidedly il
was something more than mere en-
barrassment that caused his unwil-
lingness.
81 have given it up, ladies'" said
he. 81 have nothing more to do
with magnetism"
But why, why, doctor ?" the
pretty pleaders persisted. Put us
to sleep-one of us-you must, or
tell us the reason why"
"Well, so be it," said he at last.
still visibly reluctant. 81 will tell
you why. 1t may teach you a les
son.
Eighteen months ago." he began,
" i went into the county to see a
friend. We will call him Paul, if
you please. Though old comrades
and devoted chums,' for long time
the chances of life had separated us,
particularly his marriage, which,
for certain reasons, had obliged him
to locate for awhile upon one of his
properties, situated, as l have said,
In the depths of the country. But
often and often my thoughts carried
me-a trifie enviously in the midst
Of my hard work-tOward that for
gotten 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, Sc
renity, repose, breathed from the
very trees, with their 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 l did not see till later-just be-
fore dinner indeed-a beautiful wo-
man, with dark, brilliant eyes, which
flashed when not shielded by the
long, curling lashes, with the light
OF FURNISHED steel. She had a su-
perb figure and complexion the
texture of old ivory, through which
was flowing vigorously the rich red
current Of healthy blood. Very,
very beautiful she was; but oddly
enough, as looked a. her ] felt a
sense OF deception somewhere under
that fair exterior.
Was 1t fancy? Or was this full,
robust beauty but similar to a too
fervid summer that forces the sap to
rise so fast that the fruit turns sour :?
do not know, only that this wo-
man 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
shatter this setting of peace and se-
renity. Moreover, we were not
alone another 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 In my eyes at my arrival
had calmed; l saw him now i'm his
habitual state, doubtless, little aged
slightly constrained, with that vague,
nervous reserve Of the distrustful
husband who in his inmost thoughts
suspected treachery.
had no time, however, to ponder
long OIL these reflections. Old memo
ries, serious and gay, crowded thick
and fast upon us in the ease and COM
fort of that welI-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 over when a
chance word or question turned the
conversation upon subject no less
absorbing than now, ladies"-and
the doctor bowed courteously to the
circle of eager listeners closely clus-
tered about him-",turned, / say,
upon the subject of hypnotism and
hypnotic suggestion.
i" My friend, from the first discov-
cries, had watched the advance of
these studies with the liveliest inter
est, and many had been the discus
sions between himself and his wife
concerning them, she denying the
phenomena arising from these ex-
periments and stubbornly pronounc-
ing them humbug and charlatanism
and he affirming that strange things
could and did happen, as he knew
from his own experience--a certain
eveningin Paris, when he had offered
himself as subject as incredulous
as she, and had been put to SLEEP
promptly and made to accomplish
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