The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-11-09

tAN NbG "AAoi' III Il "
real to be doubted.
Everywhere our success was enormous
crowded houses, no more ~accomplices,
all genuine, except the ciairvoyance, in
which there was still a good deal of
humbug; but that humbug she and l
could manage together without ether as
sistance than that Of a pianist.
Never was such a change seen as I
wrought in less than a week in both
father and daughter. A good suit Of
clothes gave him quite an air of respec-
liability, and taken away from old asso-
Citations, he became comparatively re-
formed in his habits. In the girl, the
change was still more remarkable. No
one could possibly nave recognized i'm
the neatly dressed. scrupulously clean
SigDora Ienobia the ragged, s~lovenly Ju-
dith Stokes of a few days back. For my
part, stood in awe Of those terrible
eyes, and she grew as proud and haugh-
ty aS a duchess.
For two years we Travelled the coun-
try pretty comfortably together, and dur
ing all that time Judith scarcely ever
made a failure. In the meantime, old
Stokes was growing discontented he
considered that he was too much kept
in the background. The s~trangest thing
Of all was that he took to religious
books, and to attending the meeting
houses. BY and by he used to disap-
pear regularly every Sunday for the
whole day. At last I discovered his Sc
cret. lie would go a few miles away
from the town where we were exhibit
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
or the gutter, when my thought was an
tlcipated sooner tLan | counted upon.
we 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
meric sleep-two or three swells strolIed
into the front seats. They were 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 as the yokel was dismissed. one
of the party, in spite of the remon-
of his companions, rose from,his
scat. and bounding upon the PLATFORM,
expressed a wish to be mesmerized. The
event caused n great commotion 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 a
swindle. The people began to hiss, not
him, but us.
u cannot mesmerize you. but | can
your friend there said Judith, point
ing to the dark-eyed. ~weak-looking young
man who had accompanied him.
He objected; but his companion cried
out, But you shall, Jack. No, hang it!
fair play for Zenobia! We have called
an impostor, and We will give her a
He jumped down off the platform.
and whispered to Jack as he called
him, but not in so low a tone but What
| could catch the words, Go up-don't
a fool; she can no more mesmerize
YOU thar she can me. 1t is only a mt
of. thinking the challenge won't be ac-
Very reluctantly the young man
mounted the platform and took the chair
Indicated by Zenobia, very much to the
Of his friends, who clapped their
hands. shouted Bravo" and laughed up
roariously.
judith, who always had the temper
a hend, was boiling with passion at
he ridicule cast upon her: but her rage
was manifested by no word or sign, only
oy her livid face, and by those awful
Eyes, that looked for all the world like
some brilliant metallic surface, upon
which a strong light was shining. She
last one disdainful glance round the
'oom. which had the effect of partly sub
lung the uproar, and set herself to her
"In two minutes he was as rigid as a
corpse and as helpless as a child. The
expression OF her eyes was someth sng
the whole audience, including
ven his companions, were hushed irto
even | s~huddered as. | looked mt
Ter. She used her power mercilessly.
asking him questions Of the most sacred
to all of which he replied nndis-
The moment her eyes were
IF him, the young fellow fell down in
strong commissions.
There was an awful CONSERVATION in
he room. People rushed upon the plat
'orm to tender their assistance. Judith
aloof, leaning upon the piano.
Indignantly over her work.
Well, as soon as he recovered, they put
into a cab and sent him home. one of
lis companions accompanying. But tie
challenger, who had caused the commo-
ion, remained behind until all the peo-
pie were dispersed, and then walked
to our hotel with MS. He not only
confessed that no blame could he nftach-