The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-05-10
AN EXPERIMENT.


their sweet distinctive personality. Her
eyes were of blue, and she wore a gray
blue travelling DRESS which emphasized
their radiance. The doctor felt himself
absurdly foolish and romantic, for in
spite of the hustling porters and Shrek
ing trains he experienced in meeting her
the persistent sensation of twilight
wood woven through with the blue of
violets and stars. In. appearance the
doctor was anything but romantic; he
was of the massive build, black haired
and black bearded, robust mentally as
we'll as physically; a splendid head,
that held the most intimate secrets of
psychology; dominant will that over
rode every obstacle But in his student
years at Guys the disease stricken
women and children of the borough had
learned to love his almost reverential
tenderness, while his colleagues of to-
day respected, though they did not al
ways sympathize with, his overscrupu-
lous conscientiousness.
Fate, contrary to her reputation, had
evidently planned this meeting with
extreme kindness and forethought. She
wished we'll to the young people and
determined that the course of their true
love should run smoothly. A Journey
gave scope for many unobtrusive atten-
tions and would doubtless afford happy
opportunity for the all important ques-
ton. If they reached Rotterdam without
pledging Of vows, fate, at least, was
not to blame.
II thought" said Emily, as she set
tied herself among the cushions, "that
should have to travel alone My maid
was summoned into the country only
this afternoon to see her mother, who
is i'll, and | do not join my brother till
I reach The Hague.
1T is more than happy chance, -
said the doctor gravely, "that l should
happen to be crossing tonight. The con-
ference at Amsterdam does not begin
till the 10th, but was anxious to visit
some little Dutch hospitals and to do
some little exploring among the dead
cities of the Zuyder Zee. -
II am very glad you thus advanced
your journey" said Emily. "It is so
very lonely travelling by oneself. What
is the subject of your conference this
year?"
sit is to be meeting of brain special
lists, " replied McLare. 1--WE shall dis
cuss chiefly the bearing of recent inves-
LEGATIONS on hypnotism, animal magnet
ism and kindred subjects. The world is
quite unaware, l believe, how largely
these actual if impalpable influences en-
ter into it's everyday life. But / must
not bore you with my medical chatter.
Won't you close your eyes a little and
take rest? We are some distance yet |
from Harwioh, and you look dreadfully
tired
81 am dreadfully tired, said Emily. !
"My poor maid went off in the greatest
fuster and could not find where she
had put any of my things. There are
disadvantages in having maid, you
see
Presently her eyes closed. DIR. Nc
Lare took out the programme of the
medical conference and began CHANGING
over it. He was himself a hypnotizer
of no mean order. He possessed the
power to remarkable-nay, he some
times thought, to dangerous-extent.
1t is dangerous to be able to influence
mems thoughts and turn them in the |
direction you desire The paper slipped |
from his hand. She lay, more like
flower than ever, in the yellow light, |
Her soft breath came regularly. She |
was asleep. Might he not send into her
mind dream of love, dream all built |
49, i'll
with something of his own personality
woven through its structure? Might he
not reveal his nobler, better self to her
by whisper into her thoughts? The
world only sees the trivial and poorer
sides of men; the veil of the flesh not
only hides, but distorts she could never
love him for his world self-the pros
porous physician, the courted diner out.
And yet she had seemed to care for him
without the Intervention of his sugges-
ton. What if all this time he had been
exercising unconscious hypnotic influ-
ence upon her? What if from the first
moment of his attraction toward her the
power Of his will had compelled her
thoughts to him? Her tender smiles, her
responsive glances, would, on this sup
position, have been purely automatic
And then the cruel injury to her 1t
was horriblel There she lay asleep, like
q flower. Had his oyermastering will
dared to chain any of her delicate, feet
ing impulses-dared to crush out the
bloom and spontaneity OF her PERSONAL
ity? At least-at least. his interference
with her springs of feeling had been I'M
whiting; he had not to face the agony
of conscious guilt.
A sense OF foreboding passed through
Emily's sleep. She reused suddenly
and surprised face of blank misery
staring at her from opposite. What
what has happened?" she murmured,
not fully awake. The startled pain of
her expression confirmed his terrible
theory. Even at this moment he had
conveyed to her mind
sense of hopeless loss. Il think I have
been dreaming, she said as her sur
roundings regained familiarity, 'un-
comfortable dreams. 1t is better to be
awake. You are looking very grave, DIR.
McLare Have you had bad dreams
too?'
eyes, 1 have had bad dreams, Miss
Maitland, said the doctor. GAS you
say, it is better to be awake.
She grew quite white. What cSuld
have happened while she slept to make
his manner so cold and distant? 1t was
as if wall of ice had suddenly risen
between them. She knew instinctively
that all was over.
All night, after he had seen her safe
ly to her cabin, the doctor paced to and
fro on the windy deck. How could he
ask her to be his wife? She would con-
sent of course. She could not do other
wise, sweet soul And he would absorb
the flower of her life into the worldly
chaos of his. He would control the in
most sanctuary of her mind; her
thoughts would flow as he directed, and
as he ordained so would her emotions
rise. Apart from the horror Of this con-
troll Of the lower over the higher, of his
imperfect nature over her pure and per-
feet one, he, on his side, would have
for wife little better than doll,
machine that responded to his wire
pulling without other impulse or law.
1t must never, never be.
About O'Clock Emily came on deck
She could not sleep and desired the sane I
influence of early morning. The steamer
nassed slowly along the river hanks ,