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
msrriage. 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 L 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 lhe point
of proposing, he wondered if the Pro-
fessor's plan was fake or joke.
Ethel received him graciously. The
! conversation turned to books, and
Grady talked entertainingly. 1T was
only when personal matters brifted in
to their discussion that he stammereb
and lost his sself-assurance.
Presently Miss Jennie. Ethel's elder
ister, dropped in monopolizing tbe
conN essation. Grady detested herShe
had way about her that made him
feel insignificant. lie wBs greatly re-
lieved, therefore, when some OF Ethers
friends called to discuss plans for a
party.
CHANGING nj his watcn he was horri-
fled TO find that il was only five min
utes to g.
"Great Heavens he thous hit, tam
| going to propose before all these peo-
ple?' He called the Professors
words ian uncomfortable impulse TO
declare your affection 4"
In rapidly succeeding intervals he felt
hot-cold-sIck. The keen glances of
Miss Jennie intensified his misery. He
gropeded about in his bewIldered mind
or some plan of es ape, some excuse
Tor sudden flight; but nothing feasible
occurred TO him.
I'm In for it," he groanei Again
he nervously consulted his watcn.
One minute To 8!
The guests arose and were saying
good night. 1t seemed to Grady that
they would never go. But now they
were in the hall. Ethel accompanied
them TO the door. Grady breathed a
Ugh OF relief. He WAS alon. with Miss
jennie.
IL can. propose to Ethel tonigt at
y he thought, "rOr it Is axctly 9now"
He wished Ethel was with him aIons
lie realized that he never loved her so
well, and he wanted TO tell her so. He
looked toward Mss Jennie, and was
surprised to see tn she was gone.
and that Ethel was in her chair, He
dc not know how 1t happened, but he
was glad it was so. He went over TO
her and, dropping on his knee at her
ieet, poured out his Iong-suppressed
ahectIon in passionate words
Pausing for her to reply, he came to
himself with a start, like one awaken.
ing from deep sleep. For a moment
De was dazed. Then lie heard, not
Ethel but Miss Jennie reply:
why, Mr.. Grady, this is so sudden
l 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
ie detested.
There in the doorway stood Ethel,
with a startled, panied expression,
which quickly turned to one Of haugh.
tiness when he looked toward her.
81 beg your pardon" said she n icy
tones, "for intruding. Pray excuse
me, and she disappeared from the
doorway
Grad y, covered with confusion, aros,
from his knees,