Evening star., 1896-10-31

Are you afraid of ghosts? just as likely
not you'll see one before the night is
over. It's Halloween, you know, and were
tempting them"
Yes. We are tempting them I'm not
afraid of ghosts, for there are none but
I'm horribly afraid Of seeing them
Why. what do you nean?'
II mean that If | saw a ghost / should
feel that | was going mad. The certainty
that nothing was there would only make
IT worse.
we all see ghosts IN our sleep con-
tinued, relentlessly for the words would
ire. We believe in them. 100. The asylums
are full of people who see ghosts That is
real enough. 1t is n wicked and perilous
thing to triiie with those mysterious powers
of brain and spirit OF which We know ab-
solutely nothing
But this she famed. You shan't talk
to me In that wayi she cried. with SPRING
ing tears. You've no right to lecture me
yet And we'll not turn pack 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 | conceded Il am
convinced OF that, or l should never have
consented 10 this visit An attitude OF re-
sIstance Is the next best thing 10 keeping
away altogether. 1 don't doubt that We
snail find him powefless. and probably a
Transparent impostor.''
Prof. Runestane isn't an impos,or" she
protested You won't say that after you
have met him
The professor-so he styled himsaIf-was
standing in the doorway as We drove uo
1 hated him from the first glance: / NOR
than hated-l feared him. His frame was
big and gaUnt and bony, with an intrusive
nose and heavy jaw. He was beardless.
but black. wiry name of impaired hair
fell in struggling masses below his shoul-
ders- He seemed ill at ease, and his ewes
moved r-stIessiy in their cavernous sockets
Nevertheless ne greeted efusively
Ah-ha, he said. you have come And
you have brought John. This is quite as
II should be l congratulate you, sir 1t is
great pleasure TO meet you-though 1
perceive that you are something of a skep-
tie F
I don't deny facts" / answered, shortly.
As Well deny them as defy them"
Il don't acknowledge any debt to hypno-
tlsrn. and don't propose to be hypnotized.
II that Is what you mean" | retorted
You don'tg' There was "a monentsrv
sneer, but he went on, smoothly: We'll
'here 10 cause for uneasiness. No one
can hypnot,ze you against your will OF
course It's pity. though that You have
chosen such an attitude for nature has
made you a most responsive subject And
you have vivid ina :;ination Thai is
something the hypnotist cannot supply.
He can only suggest and set the imagina-
ton at work But yours is so active that
you fairly stand in dread of it, When YOU
NSiS a cHiId you naruly dared close yOur
eyes. because your fancy instantly peopIad
the darkness with its unwecome crea-
tions''
That was true; but how did he know IL?
ieit sudden terror of the man, and evil
IDENTIFY he perceived it,
Sit down.. he said. You are nervousIy
overwrought."
l sank into a chair for a sort of giddf-
ness had come upon me-
That Will quickly pass" he said. Your
nerves have for some time been under ex-
cessiye tension. though you did not realize
IT."
His manner had changed: there was
really some fascination about the follow
though / stiil distrusted him
Don't you see that there Is nothing very
bad about me? / aln a hypnotist. it is true,