The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1904-10-20

affection for the lady with you. You
need not think beforehand of what to
say. or how TO say it, The words will
come 10 you by my suggestion, al
though, OF course, shall not be pres
ent. anb nothing can prevent you at
that time from asking her hand in
mBrriage. You WILL be for few min
utes at O'Clock under my influence as
completely as you were this evening.
Immediately after you speak the
words that give you will free you
from the hypnotic Influence. The re-
suit depends entirely with the lady.
Our part cannot fail"
The next evening, promptly at s
O'Clock, Edward Grady. with palpitat-
| ing heart, rang the door bell at the
home of Ethel Bayne. Real zing that
he could not bring himself TO Ihe point
of proposing, he wondered il the Pro-
fessor's plan was fake or ioko.
Ethel received him graciously. The
/ conversation turned TO books, and
Grady talked entertaininely. 1t was
only when personal matters brifted in
to their discussion that he stammereb
and lost his self-assurance.
Presently Miss Jennie. Ethel's elder
ister, dropped in monopoiizing tbe
I conI ersation. Grady detested her.She
had way about her that made him
feel insignificant. lie wBs greatly re-
lieved, therefore, when some OF EtheIs
friends called to discuss plans for a
party.
Glancing al his watch he was horri-
fled TO find that it was only five min
utes TO o.
"Great Heavens!" he thcus Int. ..am
l going to propose before all these peo-
pleT' He called the Professors
words ''an uncomfortable impulse to
declare your affection"
In rapidly succeeding intervals he felt
hot-cold-stck. The keen glances of
M iss Jennie intensified his misery He
gropeded about in his bewildered mind
or some plan of es ape, some excuse
for sudden flight; but nothing feasible
occurred to him.
I'm IN for it," he groaned. Again
he nervously consulted his watcn.
One minute to 8.
The guests arose and were saving
good night. 1t seemed to Grady that
they would never go. But now thev
were in the hall. Ethel accompanied
them to the door. Grady breathed
Ugh of relief. He WAS alon with Miss
jennie
81 can. propose to Ethel tonigt at
81 he thought, "for it Is axctly now"
lie wished Ethel was with him alone
He realized that he never loved her so
well, and he wanted TO tell her so. He
looked toward VI ,ss Jennie, aud was
surprised to see tn she was gone,
and that Ethel was in her chair. He
dic not know how 1t happened, but he
was glad il was so. He went over to
her and, dropping on his knee at her
feet, poured out his lOng-suppressed
affection in passionate words.
Pausing for her to reply, he came to
himself with start, like one awaken
ing from deep sleep. For moment
be was dazed. Then lie heard, not
Ethel but Miss Jennie reply:
"Why, Mr.. Grady, this is so sudden
thought it was my sister Low you
surprise me! | must have time to
think"
Instantly the situation flashed upon
him. Under the hypnctic influence he
had proposed to Miss Jennie, whom
,e detested.
There in the doorway stood Ethel,
with startled, panied expression,
which quickly turned to one Of haugh.
tiness when he looked toward her.
81 beg your pardon, said she i n icy |
tones, "iOr intruding. Pray excuse
me, and she disappeared from the
doorway.
Grad y, covered with confusion. aros,
from his knees,