The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-30

X
DEAR JOHN. KNOW HE CAN'T
HURT Us UNLESS WE LET HIM.
fectly well. Tn so glad that I'm
ashamed of myself. Are you sorry?
If you're not, you oughtn't to find fault
with Prof. Runcstane."
"Why-darling--wha had he to do
with it?''
We'll. you know how many, many
times you had asked me. And ii was
the very next evening after | saw the
professor that I told you-something
that you said made you very happy,
Don't, Elsie, dear. | can't owe my
happiness to a hypnotist.'
"Of course not. You owe ii to me.
What nonsense, You'd better take
what you can get, and be satisfied.
took what ! could get-warm from
her poulinG lips. 1t was very sweet;
and what is the use of arguing with
your betTothed in the full moon Oh
kisses"
"If I'm to obey you, sir. hereafter
and | shall, dear" she whispered, Il
shall be very old-fashioned, and Just
love and honor and obey you always
when once those words are spoken,
and don't want any of them changed
but if I'm to obey you then, | should
What could | do but yield / loved
her from the delicate little ear that she
wouldn't pierce to the dainty little foot
that she would pinch. So | promised
and we sealed the promise.
BE sure you come early" she said,
as ! took lingering leave. ITS Hal
loween. you know, and there's no tell
ing what may happen if We're not to-
gether. Prof. Runestanc told me
TO be there without fail at . o'clock,
and to bring John"
Bring John?'
"Yes: wasn't it strange? For we
weren't really engaged then you know.
But it couldn't mean anyone else for
there isn't any other John-for me-"
He is a charlatan," l cried; for the
thought made me angry.
HE is interesting she retorted-
and shut the door.
The next evening, as soon as / could
make my escape from the office, drove
out to Elsie's home. This was Il big
stone farmhouse. built by her grand
father and his sons with their own
hands. 1t was nestled in a spacious
dooryard full of trees, and a tall hedge
of lilac bushes fenced it from the road
| found Elsie ready and waiting on the
little Vine-covered 'stoop."
She greeted me with II delightful air
of ownership. scolding a bit because |
was late: and soon we We're seated to-
gether in the light buggy, speeding
through the gathering gloom toward
the village.
Remember, I don't at all approve of
this" | was saying.
"Oh. I'll bear all the responsibility"
she cried, gayly. But what makes
you $3.50 timid? 1t doesn't seem a
bit like you. Are you afraid of ghosts? ?
Just as likely as not you'll see one be-
fore the night is over. It's Halloween,
you know, and were tempting them"
Yes, we are tempting them. Pm not
afraid of ghosts. for there are none,
but I'm horribly afraid of seeing them.'
why, what do you mean?"
Il mean that if I saw ghost !
should feel that ] was going mad. The
certainty that nothing was there would
only make it worse.
1--WE all see ghosts I'm our sleep" I
continued, relentlessly; for the words
would come, and my voice hardened
in spite of me. I'VE believe in them.
too. The asylums are full of people
who see ghosts. That is real enough.
1t is a wicked and perilous thing to
trife with those mysterious powers of
brain and spirit of which we know
absolutely nothing"
But at this she famed. "You shan't
talk to me in that way!' she cried
with springing tears. you've no right
to lecture me-yet. And Wen not turn
back either. I've been there before
and no harm came of it. Dearest, don't
you see that no harm has come of it?''
Her voice softened and a little hand
sought mine. Dear John. / know he
can't hurt us unless we let him." she
concluded.
felt ashamed. "Yes," 7 conceded
Il am convinced of that, or I should
never have consented to this visit. An
attitude of resistance is the next best
thing to keeping away altogether
don't doubt that we shall find him
powerless. and probably a transparent
impostor"
Professor Runestane isn't an i'm
postor," she protested. You won't
say that after you have met him.
The professor-so he styled himself
was standing i'm the doorway as We
drove up. l hated him from the first
glance: l more than hated-I feared
him. His framg was big and gaunt
and bony, with an intrusive nose an6
heavy jaw. He was beardless. but q
black, wiry name of impaired hair fel
in struggling masses below his shoul
ders. He seemed i'll at ease and hi.
eyes moved restlessly in their cavern
Gus sockets.
Nevertheless, he greeted us effusive
1y.
''Ah-ah!" he said: 'you have come
And you have brought John. This /.
quite as it should be. l congratulate
you. sir. 1t is a great pleasure to NEE
you-though I perceive that you ar,
something of skeptic."
Il don't deny facts" I answered
shortly.
LAS well deny them as defy them''
81 don't acknowledge any debt t.
hypnotism. and 1 don't propose to b,
hypnotized, if that is what you mean,
/ retorted.
"You don't!" There was a moment.
ary sneer, but he went on, smoothly
well there's no cause for uneasiness
No one can hypnotize you against youl
will. Of course. Its q pity. though