Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-12-21

VIII not Ii MN make me do any
thing ridiculous
my dear Leona, how can you
imagine such a possibility? But II
you have any fear
"Fcar.w echoed his wife scornful-
Il in a stage whisper. "You will
see that he cannot MAKE the slight
est impression OH mo" And she
went back to the parlor and found
one of her guests climbing the pi-
ano TO escape an imaginary bear
that was pursuing him. A few
passes and he was restored TO his
normal condition, looking very fool
ish.
There were some amusing and
some perpfexing exhibitions of the
professors power; then the compa-
ny followed host and hostess to the
dining room, where a generous
spread awaited them. Mrs. Darl
was rather silent. Her test would
be the next one, and she watched
the why hands of the young pro-
fessor as if his secret lay in them.
But they were harmlessly busy with
the sandwiches. His face was quite
noncommittal too. What was the
power he held of reducing the will
to mere blank? She would soon
know.
Back in the parlor, Mrs. Darl
seated herself under the brilliant
chandelier.
"Not there" said the professor.
But she did not intend to yield to
any command Of his and said quiet
ly:
81 prefer to sit here"
"Then l cannot hypnotic YOU"
"Oh, you acknowledge that it is
only under certain conditions that
this great power can be displayed"
Certainly, there are conditions
that must be complied with. am
positive, and you are negative, but
you are a very difficult subject be-
cause you are resisting me with all
your might"
Mrs. Darl looked reproachfully at
her husband and said in the dumb
alphabet of the married, "You have
told him."
He flashed back in the same lam
guage, 81 have not" and she moved
in accordance with the wish of the
professor and sat with her back to
the light, Some of the company
were removed to remote parts of the
room, but few, including Mr.. Darl,
stood near
"Look into my eyes," said the
professor "Permit me-" And he
took her hands and pressed the
thumbs gently.
ut is like being in a dentists
chair" said Mrs. Darl, with little
forced laugh. Then she attempted
to rise, struggling slightly but con-
tinued to look into the eyes of the
hypnotizer until in the place of two
eyes she saw twenty. Then she as
serted her will and shook herself
free.
"I-told--you-I-could-not be
-hypnotized," she said. Her voice
sounded strange and far away.
"How queer l feel Staring so long
has made me dizzy"
Drink this" said Mr.. Darl, CIV
ing his wife a glass of water.
She drank it, then rose to her
feet and said she felt as well as ever.
"Where is the profesSor?" she
asked 81 expect he has lost faith
in his science
ale was here moment ago"
said her Cousin Fanny anxiously.
"He thought he had succeeded in
hypnotizing YOU, Leona. Were you
not unconscious:
"Not for one moment" said Mrs.
Darl triumphantly. "He held my
thumbs until they were numb
why-where-Ned"
"What is it, Leona ?" he asked in
surprise at her peculiar tone,
'fWhere are my diamonds 2"
There was a startled exclamation
from every one present. Mrs. Darl
stood there bereft of every jewel
she possessed. Not single one of
her gems which had flashed on her
fingers, at her throat, in her ears,
was now visible. Dazed, she held
up her ringless hands and said:
as this a joke? What does it
mean? Where are my diamonds ?"
"Where is the professor"
"Search the house~
"Send for the police!'
But the professor had left for
parts unknown, and with him went
Mrs. DarPs diamonds, and neither
the police nor the Darls ever saw OF
heard of them or him again, But
one thing was in his favor. Not
only had he successfully hypnotized
Mrs. Darl, but, as Mr., Darl admit
ted, he must have hypnotized the
whole company in order to bring
his hypnotic scheme to such a eli
max.
And Mrs. Darl is at last a convert
to both the theory and practice of
the occult science and firm be-
lever in the power of the hypnotic
will.-Mrs. NJ. l.. Rayne in Free
G~-"
l.sar.en E;okkare Eat Mat