The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-18

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dith Stokes Of few days back. For my
part, l stood in awe Of those terrible
eyes, and she grew as proud and haugh-
ty as a duchess.
For two years we travelled the conn
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 strangest 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 l discovered his Sc
cret He would go a few miles away
from the town where we were exhibit
ing, and do little open-air preaching
to the rustics. Things were becoming
very unsatisfactory; even the girl SEEM
ed getting weary of her work, and l 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 l had picked out
Of the gutter. when my thought was an
ticipated sooner than l counted upon.
Eve 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 strolled
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 sell. As
soon as the yokel was dismissed, one
Of the party, in spite of the renon-
strances of his companions, rose from his
seat and bounding upon the platform,
expressed wish to be mesmerized. The
event caused a great commotion in the
room, as he and his companions we're
known to he 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.
Il cannot mesmerize you, but l 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
her an impostor, and we will give her a
chance
"He jumped down off the platform,
and whispered to Jack as he called
him, but not in SO low a tone but what
l could catch the words, Go up-don't
be a fool; she can no more mesmerize
you than she can me. 1t is only put
off, thinking the challenge won't be ac-
cepted.'
VERY reluctantly the young man
mounted the platform and took the chair
indicated by Zenobia, very much to the
delight of his friends, who clapped their
hands. shouted 'Bravov and laughed up
roariously.
Judith, who always had the temper
o. fend. was boiling with passion at
the ridicule cast upon her; but her rage
was manifested by no word or sign, only
by 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
cast one disdainful glance round the
room, which had the effect of partly sub
DUNG the uprOar, and set herself to her
task
I'm two minutes he was as rigid as a
corpse and as helpless as a child. The
expression OF her eyes was something
fearful: the whole audience, including
even his companions. were hushed TITO
silence; even l shuddered as I looked at
her. She used her power mercilessly,
asking him questions Of the, most sacred
nature. to all Of which he replied undis-
guisedly. The moment her ewes were
off him, the young fellow fell down in
strong commissions.
There was an awful CONSERVATION in
the room. People rushed upon the plat
form to tender their assistance. Judith
stood aloof, leaning upon the piano,
gloating Indignantly over her work.
Well, as soon as he recovered. they put
him into cab and sent him home. one of
his companions accompanying. But the
challenger. who had caused the commo-
ton, remained behind until all the peo-
pie were dispersed. and then walked
home to our hotel with u.s. He not only
confessed that no blame could be attach
ed to the young lady for what had oc-
Cured, but very handsomely apologined
for his rudeness in doubling her power.
He came into our private room and
supped with us. He was remarkably
curious about mesmerism. and asked us
an inhnity of questions concerning it's
powers and effects. 1t struck me that
he had some motive underneath these in
terrogations beyond mere idle curiosity,
for he seemed to ponder over our an
swers and revolve them in his mind.
well, of course the sensation in the
town was something marvellous. For
week we turned crowds away from the
doors nightly. Strange to say, the young
man who had caused the sensation came
every night, and persisted in desiring
t" be again mesmerized. although he
still looked shaken and pale from the eff
fects of the first experiment.. This, how
ever, would not permit. Judith seemed
to have acquired some strange fasci-
nation over him: he followed her like
a shadow. But she would scarcely deign
to look upon him; she seemed always to
feel great contempt for those who were
amenable to the mesmeric influence. To
our other friend, her behavior was very
different He came pretty often to the