The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-02

quite remember. / was growing sleepy,
l guess"
The mists were now dissipating In
my brain. i saw that had been made
the subject Of a huge hypnotic practical
joke--a little more severe, perhaps, than
had been intended, owing TO my tenn
permanent. But new fear entered my
heart. Elsie had this vile wizard dared
TO plant his Lideous delusions amid the
bright imnginings of her soul?
Surely" j cried, you were not hyp-
notized-while / was put out of the
way, chained hand and foot in that hor-
rble trance?"
"No! MOI" she said, with just the
ghost of smile. ~ didn't play any
Halloween games-except in your fan
cy, poor boy. / just sat still and waited.
/ don't remember a single word he
said. Only feel.so sad and sorry" she
cr!ed,with a sudden sob. 81 has thought
we would be so happy together"
"Why, Elsie What is this?"
She flung her arms about me-for the
first time in her life. / dropped the
reins; the horse first walked, then
stopped short.
She kissed me-my betrothed-upon
both eyelids. Il owe it TO them," she
said; "they have been so abused to-
night, through me; and they will shed
so many, many tears before another
Halloween"
The next morning was early at her
door. She met me dressed in black, nor
could l prevail upon her to make any
change.
81 must wear mourning for our love-
she said. IL shall be dressed in white
only too soon"
Her face was wan, and all her eX-
ubcrance lost; she was perfectly ra-
tional except on this one point-that
she would die before the year had past.
Nothing that or anyone else could say
had any effect upon this conviction
She knew that she must die; it was use
less to deceive ones self. How she
knew, she could not say, but she knew
it absolutely. If we would wait we
would see. That Runestane had any
thing to do with il she insistently de-
MED. He had told her nothing, she
said. She just knew.
This we did not believe, but we were
thoroughly frightened. Such delusions
are all too likely TO fulfill themselves.
| told her the whole story, and that aft
ernoo. we drove hastily over to the
professors headquarters. 1t was as
feared. He had already departed, and
we could learn nothing of his where
abouts.
Things went from bad to worse. The
doctors were helpless, for there was no
organic disease. My beloved simply
sank in gradual decline, the victim of
4 fixed idea which nothing could reach
---unless, perhaps, the voice of the hyp-
notist who had imposed It,
had now come to regard him as n
murderer-a very fend. At last, hope
less of any other means of cure. l left
The town and spent several months in
blind and feverish efforts TO find him.
IT was a vain search; no clew could be
| discovered.
The fatal year had almost passed, and
another Halloween was approaching,
when was recalled by the news that
Elsie was failing fast and constantly
asked TO sec me. i arrived, but just In
time; and in my arms she sank into
What seemed gentle slumber-only
there was no awakening.
II was long before could believe hcI
! dead. For days she lay in marble
beauty in the chamber of mourning
but her heart was still, and no breath
ever clouded the mirror that we SO
often held to her lips. Finally it was
felt that there could be no more delay
The day Of the funeral was set; it was
Halloween.
AsI stood, with feelings that no per
can portray, before the open grave into
which the caslxet cnshrining all that
loved had just been lowered, l saw
among the sad faces gathered there one
hid II risen from the earth? Was i
another Illusion? 1t was the face O
Runestane. At any other moment
should have sprung at his throat.
lie was stopping, end us he rose HI
cast a little clod of earth upon the cof
fin. Hands were outstctchcd to checl
him. voices were raised in protest; bu
his rang loud above them ell.
"Thc girl is not dead he cried
"Rnisc up the casl<ct!"
They shrunk back; they thought hin
mad.
81 tell you she is not dead" he shout
cd. "1le quick: already she is walSiri
from her trance" His face was livid
"Do not make me murderer" he cried
and pressed forward.
A sudden recollection surged through
my brain. spra~-y 10 his aid, and to
gs.her we lifted up the caslSct.
"You must open st." he said. "Sh
must see you first"
Others were helping row, with shal'
ing hands, and the lid was soon off.
bent overmy loved one; her face shove
color. and her lips were parted. He
eVpiffs lA.iiarad.- then they o;cne