The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-09-16

been assured that the likeness was only
a coincidence, that 1t could be nothing
more; for the Photographic photograph
it was had been 10 my possession for
more than twenty years, while this girl
could not possibly be over twenty years
old. But, in my surprise and agitation, l
did not consider THE, and to me she was
the creature 10 flesh and blood Of my
youthful dreams.
The fakir himself was an old man,
thin almost to emaciation, yet Of power.
ful frame. His hair was sparse and
gray; his sallow face was hali-covered by
a struggling beard, and bis eyes we're
deep.sunken, but msrvelously brilliant.
He wore the American evening dress;
but this conven tionality Of attire could
not hide the real personality Of the man
"a personality that struck me ut once
az being sinister and repulsive.
He performed numerous feats of leger.
domain snd magic, to which, however. I
gave little heed, my attention being alb.
sorbed by his fair assistant. Finally, he
announced. in bis BROKEN English, that
he would give an exhibition Of bis power
10 telepathy. mile. Vaisys," as he
called her, should be put into a trance
or hypnotic sleep; il, then. dozen or
more persons 10 the audience would each
write on clip Of paper number, a
name. date or sentence, and hand
the same to him, the young lady. con-
trolled by bis will, and without receiv.
ing any other communication. would
move along the aisles and reproduce for
each Que the identical number, name,
date or sentence that had been written.
The girl seated herself in q chair. and
be made several passes with his hands
before her face in the approved manner
Of Mesmer, with the result that her ey %
quickly closed. He then went among
the audience with hat. collecting the
slips OF paper from nearly score Of
persons in various parts Of the theatre,
myself amoog the number, and reading
each clip as received.
Standing then il front OF the foot
tights, he made commanding gesture
with bis arm, and the girl arose, still
with closed eyes, and descended the
steps from the stage. Watching her
closely, noted that her face was pale,
but could not tell il she were actually
10 q trance. She moved AZ one is sup
posed to walk in sleep, listlessly and
aimlessly.. AZ she advanced along the
aisle. she stopped suddenly, az it i'm.
PEELED by some unseen force. and. en-.
ploying q pencil and small pad Of
paper she carried, wrote something
which che handed to the person by
whom che stood. Then she continued
her way, up ono aisle and down another.
pausing and writing frequ unity, Actual
cd, apparently, only by an occasional
sweep OF the arms on the part OF Naka
Narayana. When she came aud stood
by me my heart beat violently, and l
gazed up into her mobile face with an
intensity OF excitement that could hard
ly have escaped the attention OF those
around me. Without an instant's hest
tation che wrote, handed me the sheet
Of paper. aud pasted on. What read
was this, in free, running hand:
Kismet-what must be, shall be.
They we're the same words that had
written on the paper taken by the ma
gician. Nevertheless, coming from her
to me. they seemed to have q new and
tremendous Significance, and in the ex.
travagsnce OF my delusion half fsncied