Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-09-14


much as cat does with a mouse
She was evidently of the opinion thai
he would make an excellent subject
Cassie fought against the power which
she seemed TO exert over him. but hi:
efforts were unavailing. In his calm
moments he was of the opinion that hi
hated her as cordially as he had once
loved her, but she was evidently of {
different opinion. One day she turned
to hin and riveting his eyes with hel
own, said, authoritatively:
You love me-"
Cassic's head swan for an instant.
then wild exhilaration filed his be
ing. He strove to go toward her, bu.
found himself rooted to the spot.
Bah, I command you to hate ne.
she exclaimed
Instantly his mood changed, and !:
deadly passion imbued his soul. :
few passages of her hands, and he wa.
his normal self again, standing sheep
ishly before her
Did you think you loved me?'
she asked.
L thought So he answered weakly
There is the keynote she said, 81
controlled your thought"
He tried to exert his own will. bu
in vain
DO you believe in my science now?
she asked. do you see that so-callee
love is merely an emotion that a per.
son may incite or subdue at will? Dc
you realize that you are my slave il
l SO will it," She laughed and told
him to go.
He was daZed-but he left her a firm
believer in hypnotism or whatever il
was that gave her her power over him
Once in the open air he tried to re-
cover himself, but failed. Shortly at
forwards he learned that even in alb.
sence her power was strong enough
to draw him back to her. He fought
against it with all his force, but il
vain. 1t was not exactly love he felt
but an overwh Ginning desire to do hel
will. In his Saner moments he realized
that he was growing into a nonentity
"a mere puppet in her hands. He
strove then with all the strength of his
manhood to stay away. but without
avail. His business went to rack and
ruin for want of attention, and the
intense mental strain caused his health
to fail
In the meantime, the woman had
evidently made up her mind to marry
him in spite of himself, and this
thought caused him more alarm than
had the loss of his health and fortune
Finally, he consulted physician.
The man was practical practitioner,
who gave little or no credence to GAGS
sizes rather garbled story. He told
him that he was the victim of nervous
ailment, and advised outdoor treat
ment with plenty of hard work. Fin
ally, he was induced to take some stock
in Cassic's representations, and advised
him to get as far away from the wo-
man as possible; hence his desire tc
join the survey.
Tie story was a revelation to Kent.
He expressed his opinion of the woman
in rather strong terms. I dare say
it was the only occasion upon which
Kent had ever made a harsh remark
about any woman. However, he did
not have a blind faith in the story;
he agreed with the physician that
Cassic's nervous system needed build
ing up, and decided to watch him.
Cassie affirmed that the influence
still came over him at intervals, and
pleaded with Kent to confne him if
he ever showed any intention of return
in
for a description Of the woman. Cas-
sic gave it in glowing terms. She was
dark, he said, and superbly beautiful.
Her eyes he thought her chief charm,
and in them ley her power. AS he
spoke, he drew her. picture from his
pocket and handed it to Kent. Kent
took it and looked intently at the
most beautiful face he had ever seen,
and as he looked, the face seemed fair
~ alive. He felt dazed-the ground
was slipping from him-his head swan,
and he sank back in a swoon.
When he came to, scrap of paper
lay in his hand. On it was scrubbed:
why did l keep the picture? The
ordeal has proven too much for me.
1 am compelled to return. You see
the influence which the mere sight of
the picture has had over you! l am
out of funds, and have borrowed your
wallet. l will return" Here the
note rambled.
Kent's wallet contained all the money
with which he intended to pay off the
men. 1t has never been returned.
Query: Has Cassie suffered a Ianca
OF memory, or was he villain?-Over-
land Monthly