The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-11-24
Bound by Spell

Sigpora Zcnobia the ragged. sloveniy Ju-
dith Stokes OF n few days back. For my
part. l stood In W OF those terrible
eyes. and she grew as proud and hnugh-
q ~ a duchess.
For two years we Travelled the n
try pretty comfortably together. and dur
ing all that time Judith scarcely ever
made q failure. In the meantime. old
Stokes was growing discontented -hc
considered that he was too much kept
In the background. The strangest thins
Of all was that he took 10 religious
books. and 90 attending the meeting
h"uses. by and by he used 90 disap-
pear regularly every Sunday for the
whole day. AZ last I discovered his Ne
cret. lie would 70 a few miles away
from the town where we were exhibit
Ing. and do a little open-air preaching
20 the rustics. Things were becoming
very unsatisfactory; even the girl seem
ed getting weary Of her work. and I was
beginning TO think that Il would be bet
ter 90 turn the whole affair up and start
something else. than to put ur with the
airs OF people whom I had picked out
OF the gutter. when my thought was an
ticipated soone than I counted upon.
I'VE were exhibiting NJ Spalding one
night 10 a very bad house. and just m
Judith was In the middle OF her perform
ance--a young fellow was upon the pat
form. answering questions In the mes
meric sleep-two or three swells strolied
iuto the front seats. They were highly
amused at the ann In which the fell
low seemed compelled to answer all kinds
Of absurd questions: evidently regarding
the whole thing. however. m a sell. As
soon rs the yokel was dismissed. one
OF the party. In spite OF the renion-
strances OF his companions. rose from his
scat. and bounding upon the platform.
expressed a wish 10 be mesmerixed. The
event caused q great commotion In the
room. as he and his companions were
known to be gentlemen Of position. Al
tho first glance Judith could perceive
that he was n Of those strong willed
beings over whom she could exercise no
influence. She declined. He Insisted,
aud declared the whole thing was a
swindle. The people began TO hiss. not
him. hut us.
~ cannot mesmerize you. hut I can
your friend there said Judith. point
ing 10 the dark-eyed. weak-iooking young
man who had accompanied him.
He objected: but his companion cried
out. But you shall. Jack. No. hang IL!
fair play for Zcnobia! We have called
her an impostor. and We viii give her a
chance
HE jumped down OF the platform.
and whispered TO Jack an he called
him. but not In 40 low n tone but what
l could catch the words, Go up-don't
he a fool: she can no more mcsmcrize
you than h can me. Ia In only n put
on. thinking tho challenge won't be ac-
ccpted.'
Very reluctantly the young man
indicated by Zenobia. very much TO the
delight of his friends. who clapped their
hands, shouted Bravo. and laughed ~
rcariously.
Judith. who always had the temper
o, n fiend, was boiling with passion at
the ridicule cast upon her: but her rage
was manifested by no word or sign. only
by her iivid face. and by those awful
eyes,. hat looked for all the world like
some brilliant metallic surface. upon
which a strong light was shining. She
cast one disdainful glance round the
rom. which had the effect OF partly sub
DUNG the uproar, and set herself 20 her
task.
In two minutes he was as rigid as a
corpse and NJ helpless AZ a child. The
expression OF her eyes wal something
fearful: the whole audience. Including
even his companions. were hushed into
silence: even l shnddcred az I looked nj
her. She used her power mercilessly.
asking him questions OF the most sacred
nature. 10 all OF which he replied undis-
guisedly. The moment her eyes were
OF him. the young fellow fell down In
strong commissions.
There was an awful CONSERVATION In
the room. People rushed upon the plat.
form 20 tender their assistance. Judith
stood aloof. leaning upon the piano.
g~loating Indignantly over her work.
Well, as soon as lac recovered. they put
him into n cab and sent him home, one OF
his companions accompanying. But the
challenger. who had caused the commo
ton, remained behind until all the peo-
| pie were dispersed. and then walked
home to our hotel with Us. He not only
| confessed that no blame could be attach
! ed 20 the young lady for what had oc-
Il curft1, DUk NcFg uonuspuieig hpolokiNfu
for his rudencss in doubling her power.
re came into our private room and
suppcd with rs. He was remarkably
curious about mcSmerism. and asked IN
m inhnity OF questions concerning It's
powers aud effects. IL struck me that
he had some motive underneath these In
terrogations beyond mere idle curiosity.
FOR he seemed 20 ponder over our an
swers and rcvolve them in his mind.
We'll. OF course the sensation In the
town was something marvellous. For a
week We turned crowds away from the
doors nightly. Strange 90 say. the young
man who had caused the sensation cnme
every night. and persisted In desiring
To be again mesmerized. although he
still looked shaken and pale from the cf-
fects OF the first experiment. This, how
ever. | would not permit. Judith seemed
TO have acquired some strange fasci-
nation over him: he followed her like
a shadow. But she would scarcely ieign
10 look upon him; she seemed always TO
feel q great contempt for those who were
nmonable 10 the mesmcric influence. To
our Other friend. her behavior was very
different. He came pretty often 10 the
hotel. and | frequently found them In
uriyate coufab toeether. could not nm.