Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-27

fortune told and that she had made a
remark which offended the old crone who
girl is very popular in the neighborhood
and her friends came to The conclusion
that the old gypsy woman had done some-
Ting to the girl-"put a spell or her." the
AS the girl grew worse the young men
OF the neighborhood became more violent
In their talk and threats about the gypsies.
Finally a dozen of them got together and
determined to follow the meandering band
and make the old crone release the girl
from the spell that they were sure the
wicked woman had cast upon her. On the
same day the young girls father had con-
Of finding some specialist who could cure
her. The poor girl had now been laugh
Ing for three days and nights and she
was SO very weak that she could not speak
The San Joaquin river was very much
swollen. and 1t was necessary for the
father and his afflicted daughter to cross
Mr.. HolIins is rather an old man, ard
he staggered and dipped the canoe con-
siderably in attempting to reach his seat.
This frightened the young girl. and be-
tween the two, In their efforts TO balance
the boat. they turned it over. The girl
disappeared in an instant and came TO the
surface ten or more steps down the stream.
THE, old man was easily rescued. but
the s boat |a e,p persnir a arom sine dhe S Wos s Wnsa
away by the current. Several Young
men at once plunged into the stream. and
when she came to the surface the second
time. fortunately one of them was within
reach of her. and he dragged her ashore.
This first words she uttered after getting
the water out of her lungs We're:
4 am cured: l could not laugh now II
! Were to try Her parents and friends
were greatly rejoiced when they found
after some hours that she had really re-
covered from her peculiar affection. and
they, were wondering as to the efficacy. of
a cold water bath as a remedy for laughing
Whgn the crowd nf nIn ms u-hn had
followed the gypsies returned with u story
that added a new feature to the girls sud
creme ssn teS and apon i aassti eaa l' Rer t fes Ssl
came convinced that she had put a spell"
on the girl: and two of their number stood
the men Off with Winchesters while one Of
the others brought a rawhlde quirt down
over the old crone's shoulders.
Take the spell off OF her or will whip
strokes the old woman threw up her hands
and implored him to spare her.
She is well now she exclaimed; praise
One of the young men happened to notice
his watch. and he says it was just 10
O'clock when the old crone declared that
Mr.. Hollins' house says that. being anxious
for fear that Mr.. Hollins and his daughter
clock and it was striking 10 When she saw
the sick girl.
And now, more is the mystery. Miss SaIlie
says that she feels no desire whatever to
laugh. and that she would not even smile
for a deed to a gold mine. but she does
not know whether TO attribute her recoy-
cry to the cold water OF the San Joaquin
or the lash that was applied TO the old
gypsy woman's shoulders. Taken alto
gether. it is certainly a remarkable case.
The young lady says that she could not
have endured the awful agony of laughing
many hours longer. and she insists that
when she was struggling in the water and
thought that she was drowning that she
plainly saw the face of the hideOus old
gypsy as certainly as she ever saw any
thing in her life. This. taken in connection
with the old crone's strange words with
reference to the flowing waters" which
could not have been accidental. makes even
the most skeptical regard the case in Won
der and amaZement.