The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

all, her future might be greatly
changed. Esther had always under
stood the power which beauty bestows
upon a woman. She would have been
untrue to her sex had she not wished
very much in her heart that the Doc
tor might succeed. His experiments
already interested her beyond her
hopes. Her curiosity had been ava
kened, and she would have been very
sorry to have drawn back.
The half of an hour passed in these
silent meditations, and at the end of
that time the attendant returned and
invited her to go to the lavatorium.
Here the Japanese girls were waiting,
and they at once took possession of
Esther; and placing her beneath re-
freshing spray of lukewarm water,
they began to massage her. Esther
had not understood until that time
what massage meant; but she quickly
became aware Of it's beneficent results,
and of the skill of the operators. MIN
BILE fingers chafed every muscle of her
body. Flasks of perfumed oils were
opened and rubbed gently upon her
skin. The face especially interested
those about her; and one Of them, ap-
parently chosen because of her greater
cleVerness, sat down at Esther's side,
and bidding her shut her eyes, she en-
tered upon the task like an artist who
has a picture to make. For a full
hour, at least. the work went on. Es-
ther did not fret at the delay, nor find
the process tedious. Her body was
now in warm glow, like the body Of
one who has been engaged in active
and healthy exercises. She felt stronger.
capable of exertion and mentally alert
A second glass of the milk being ad-
ministered to her, she was then led to
that which her attendant called "the
chamber Of lights" Here electricity
proved to be the agent of those expert
ments in which the Doctor had so
greatly interested himself. Esther per-
ceived that the walls of this room were
toned to a delicate shade of green. A
single armchair, placed in the center OF
the apartment, had for It's neighbOr
that which looked like a giant magic
lantern. From a switch board attached
TO one Of the walls many electric wires
fed little lamps in shape like telescopes.
All the attendants grouped themselves
about Esther when she entered this
room, and began to fix the lamps on
iron stands and to focus their rays
upon her. Presently she sat in a. very
bath Of light. Beams of intense bright
ness. like those from miniature search
lights, warmed her flesh and seemed to
pierce her through. The exquisite col
ors which dazzled the eyes were in
themselves a pleasure to behold. Es-
ther thought that all the hues of the
spectrum were shown to her while she
sat there. Now golden, now deep pur-
pie, anon a radiant blue, bewitching
shadows of pink, the whole gamut of
the beauty Of color revealed itself to
her. When her eyes were dazzled by
the light they covered her head with a
silken veil, and so played with the
beams upon her neck and arms She
was conscious of great warmth, but
never of temperature that was hurt
full. A stimulating current Of cleo
tricity coursed through her body and
acted upon every organ Mentally. the
effect was bewildering in its swiftness.
Esther felt that she could face any
peril, dare any venture by the help of
that unseen force which now animated
her. Her natural timid and retiring
disposition gave place to a courage and
self-reliance most welcome to her. And
this was the remarkable thing that
these attributes did not at once pass
away when the bath was finished. Up
stairs in the frigidarium, the young
girls dressed her anew in a long morn
ing gown from Paris. They gathered
up her hair, and bound it with a gar
land Of flowers. A jeweled brooch, with
the word 'remerciments'' set in bril-
liants, she received without question,
although she knew it was the Doctors
morning gift to her. By what process
of reasoning 1t came about, she could
not say; but she began to have a great
delight in the very risks OF those ex-
periments. The luxury, the exhilara-
tion of it all cast a spell for good or i'll
upon her. The long mirror above the
figure Of Cupid showed her a face she
never would have known. She began
to say that Doctor Xavier might yet
make good his words, and confer upon
her a gift whose price she did not care
to estimate.
In the frigidarium she rested for a
full hour. 1t was twelve o'clock when
they opened the bronze gates and told
her that the task was over. She had
not breakfasted, and was very hungry;
and she heard with pleasure her atten-
dants final instructions.
Breakfast is served in your own
room, mademoiselle. The rest Of the
day is your own. Doctor Xavier is
away to-day-you are your own mis-
tress."
Esther crossed the sunny garden,
scarcely knowing If she were awake
or dreaming. No one appeared, and
the absence both Of the Doctor and the
loquacious Julia confirmed the attend
ants words. In her own little room
she found harvest OF roses no less
rich than Of yesterday. The fountain
still murmured and cast a refreshing
spray upon the cooling breezes. But
more welcome still was the breakfast
set out on its snowy cloth-the golden
wine, the lucious fruit, the snow-white
bread. Esther sat at the table and be-
gan to eat with healthy appetite. The
scene, perhaps, was still unreal TO her