Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-17
An
Experiment
By F. Il. Ii N T ON
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Co.,


EDWARD GRADY confided to Char
L. ley Stanley, his friend, that he
had wanted for more than a year 70
propose to Ethel Bayne, but that he
had never been able to summon sufi-
cient courage.
Charley laughed at him. He knew
that Grady was a good fellow, though
extremely timid. While thinking of
some plan to brace Grady UP. he re-
membered conversation he had had
the evening before with Prof. Walker.
a hypnotist.
Il have it," he exclaimed. Shaping
Grady on the back. Courage. or no
courage, tomorrow night you viii
propose. Come with me and meet
Prof. Walker Tie can tx you up.
Stanley stated briefly the case TO
Prof Walker.
My friend here wants to propose
to-morroy night. You see" he said. I'm
concluding, che is somewhat bashful
1t occurred to me that you could help
him by hypnotic suggestion"
Let me see" said the professor,
looking puzzled. Yes. catch your
idea BY love! it can be done. L
never thought of it. I'll work out the
details"
The professor walked up and down
the room in deep thought, exclaiming,
at intervals:
Good! 1t will certainly work! Open
up new line of businessi Can't
fail!-
Presently he explained his plan.
Grady fell in with il, and the professor
hypnotized him at once. Grady was a
good subject, acting readily upon the
professors sucges ions. The professor
tested him thoroughly. He had him
make credit BILE five minute speech
on a subject OF which he knew moth
ing, had him stand on his head, and
read an essay from a sheet of blank
paper, and perform a number of an
tics. Then the professor snapped his
fingers and Grady was himself again.
Tomorrow night. at eight O'clock"
said the professor, you are to call
upon the lady TO whom you wish to
propose. At nine o'clock-remember
the hour, nine-you will have, as tho
result of a hypnotic suggestion that |
have given you, an uncomfortable i'm
pulse to declare your affection for the
lady with you. You need not think
beforehand of what TO say, or how to
say ii. The words will come to you
by my suggestion, although, of course,
] shall not be present, and nothing can
prevent you at that time from asking
her hand in marriage. You will be for
a few minutes at nine o'clock under
my influence as completely as YOU
were this evening.
Immediately after you speak the
words that | 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 eight
o'clock, Edward Grady, with palpitat-
ing heart, rang the door bell at the
home of Ethel Bayne. Realizing that
he could not bring himself to the point
of proposing, he wondered if the pro-
fessor's plan was a fake or a joke
Ethel received him graciously The
conversation turned to books, and
Grady talked entertainingly. 1t was
only when personal matters drifted in
to their discussion that he hesitated,
stammered and lost his self-assur-
ance.
Presently Miss Jennie, Ethel's elder
sister, dropped in, monopolizing the
conversation. Grady detested her.
She had way about her that made
him feel Insignificant He was greatly
relieved. therefore. when some Of
Ethel's friends called to discuss plans
for party.
CHANGING at his watch he was horrf-
fed to find that it was only five min
utes to- nine.
Great heavens! he thought. am 7
going to propose before all these peo-
ple?" He recellSd the professors
words, can uncomfortable impulse to
declare Your affection"
In rapidly succeeding intervals he
felt hot-cold-s'c'. The keen slances
of Miss Jennie intensified his misery.
He grOpcd "h""- N his bewild.red
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