Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-21


ing, and do a little open-air preaching
to the rustics. Things were becoming
very unsatisfactory; even the girl seem
ed getting weary of her work, and was
beginning to think that it would be bet
ter TO turn the whole affair up and start
something else. than to put up with the
airs of people whom | had picked out
Of the gutter, when my thought was an
ticipated sooner than | counted upon.
I'VE were exhibiting at Spalding one
night to a very bad house. and just as
Judith was in the middle Of her perform
ance--a young fellow was upon the pat
form, answering questions in the mes
merle sleep--two or three swells stroled
into the front seats They We're highly
amused at the manner in which the fell
low seemed compelled to answer all kinds
of absurd questions; evidently regarding
the whole thing, however. as a sell AS
soon rs the yokel was dismissed. one
Of the party, in spite Of the renon-
strancrs of his companions, rose from his
seat. and bounding upon the platform,
expressed wish to be mesmerized. The
event caused a great connection in the
room. as he and his companions were
known to be gentlemen of position. At
the first glance Judith could perceive
that he was one of those strong willed
beings over whom she could exercise no
influence. She declined. He insisted,
and declared the whole thing was
swindle. The people began to hiss, not
him. but us.
i cannot mesmeriZe you, but / can
your friend there said Judith. point
ing to the dark-eyed. weqk-looking young
man who had accompanied him.
"He objected but his companion cried
ont, But you shall. Jack. No. hang it.
fair play for Zenobia! We have called
her an impostor, and we will give her
chance
He jumped down off the platform,
and whispered TO Jack as he called
him, but not in 81 1w tone but what
] could catch the ords, Go up--don't
be d fool; she can no more mesmerize
you than she can me. 1t is only a put
off, thinking the challenge won't be &C
cepted.'
~ cry reluctantly the young man
mounted the platform and took the chair
indicated by Zenobia, very much to the
delight of his friends, who clapped their
hands. shouted Bravo" and laughed up
roariously.
judith. who always had the temper
o. iend, was boiling with passion at
the ridicule cast upon her; but her rage
was manifested by no word or sign, only
BIS her iivid face, and by those awful
eyes. that looked for all the world like
some brilliant metallic surface. upon
which strong light was shining. She
cast one disdainful glance round the
-, i 81, T. 81.
DUNG the uproar, and set herself to her
task
I'm two minutes he was as rigid as a
corpse and as helpless as a child. The
expression of her eyes was something
fearful; the whole audience, including
even his companions. were hushed irto
! silence: even / shuddered as l looked at
| her She used her power mercilessly,
asking him questions of the most sacred
nature to all Of which he replied undis-
| guisedly The moment her eyes were
off him. the young fellow fell down in
strong commissions
There was an awful CONSERVATION in
the room. People rushed upon the plat
form to tender their assistance. Judith
stood aloof. leaning upon the piano,
gloating Indignantly over her work
Well. rs soon as he recovered. they put
him into Il 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 10 our hotel with us. He not only
confessed that no blame could be attach
ed to the young lady for what had oc-
cured. but very handsomely apolociled
for his rudeness in doubling her power
"He came into our private room and
summed with us. He was remarkably
! curious about mesmersm. and asked us
| m infnity Of questions concerning its
powers and effects. 1t struck me that
he had some motive underneath these in
terrogations beyond mere idle curiosity.
/ for he seemed to ponder over our an
swers and revolve 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 to say. the young
nan who had caused the sensation came
| every night. and persisted in desiring
| to be again mesmerized. although he
/ still looked shaken and pale from the eff
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
Il shadow But she would scarcely deign
to look upon him; she seemed always TO
feel a great contempt for those who were
amenable 10 the mesmeric influence. To
our other friend, her behavior was very
different. He came pretty often to the
hotel. and | frequently found them in
private confab together. | could not I'M
| derstand what a handsome swell like
that could find to admire in bony. cd
Haired judith.
well the last night came. | had Lift
| the hotel about > O'Clock in the after
noon to walk round the town with our
| bill poster. When the time came to
| open the doors, the checkers came TO me
! to say that Mr.. Stokes, who was money
! taker. had not arrived. | knocked at
! Juditls dressing room door. She was
not there In an instant it darted unon
! my mind that / was sold-that they
| had bolte1
II went off To the hotel Ny suspi-
cions were veris ed. They had left, bag
and baggage, i'm nediately after / had
gone out. went to the station, and
| found they had booked for Peterborough;
| bat there all traces ceased. and from
! that time to this / have never heard Of
| then. It will be warm for them If ever
/ | do, for they completely broke me up
| after saving them from starvation.
( too.
| Mr.. RodweIl-that was the swcll's
name-aHd his friends disappeared At
the same time. Then = discovered that
they were strangers in the town--had