Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-06-02

CHAPTER XXv-(Continued.l


show, at Bury. / did not wish to go. !
always had a strange feeling, almost
amounting to a dread, Of being left alone
with him; but would not have men
toned it for the world. Grandfather,
however, thinking that it would please
me, gave a ready assent.
''In the exhibition we met very dis
agreeable looking old lady, who was in
troduced to me as Mrs. HUMPHREYS, and
who invited us home to dine with her.
She was accompanied by young lady,
with remarkably red hair, and strange
looking eyq, whom she called Judith.
1--WE went Cousin John and /, home
with them TO a large brick house in
retired part Of the town. After dinner
Cousin John and the young lady, whom
he called Miss Porter, began to talk
about mesmerism. / had never heard Of
It before-did not know the meaning of
the word. Suddenly she turned to me,
aud asked me how / should like to be
mesmerized. answered that did not
know what it was. oh, it's the strang-
est sensation in the world, said John,
This young lady is very clever at it.
AFTER some little persuasion, con-
sented, but very unwillingly. Then they
took me into a dark room. Miss Porter
sat down in a chair. On the wall at the
back was hung a black curtain, and
around her shoulders was draped black
cloth. Upon the table in front Of her
was lamp, in which was fixed a pow
erful reflector, that threw a dazzling
light upon her face. She seated me OPP
posite to her. and bade me fix my eyes
upon hers. did so. Never can l for
get the effect. was once taken to a
wild beast show. The glare Of her wide
" distended eyes was exactly like that
which had seen there in the tigers. 1t
fastened upon mine, and held them fas-
cinated had no power to shift them
and as gazed, spellbound, upon hers
they gradually dilated until they seemed
to be two enormous globes of fire, sus-
pended in utter darkness. Then lost
all recollection.
cit appears that while in this condi-
ton you are compelled to answer truth
fully any question put to you, and to
execute upon awaking any act you may
have promised to perform while in the
mesmeric state. believe that in my
trance they extracted from me every par
ticular OF my uncle's win.
when / awoke l found myself in the
dining room, lying upon a sofa, and Mrs.
HUMPHREYS holding vinaigrette to my
nose. felt very weak, and strangely
dazed. Cousin John made very light Of
the matter-said that / had got fright
ened, and tainted away, and impress
ed upon me that / must be sure not to
speak Of it to grandfather. And / did
not.
Il cannot dwell upon the dreadful
story. After this he found ways and
means to subject me again and again to
this terrible influence. grew pale
and emaciated; my nerves were shat
tered, my memory was almost destroy
ed, and a kind Of stupefaction seized up
on my brain. Night and day, sleeping
or waking, those awful globes Of IRE
Riared at me out OF the darkness II
was killing me, as slowly and surely %
the deadliest poison could have done. My
grandfather was in a troubled state Of
mind. Physicians were brought; they
pronounced my complaint to be a grad
ual softening Of the brain.
''In the meantime, was restrained
from divulgmg the truth by threats from
Cousin John-threats not only agains
myself. but against my dear grandfath
what / then enduredI Bat could no
reason. had not the power to max
one effort to free myself from the hide
GUS thraldom; and at last | became ut
terly passive.
"One day, was seized with a resist
less impulse to steal my grandfather
keys, go to the cabinet, seek for the Sc
cret drawer take out the will and carr
It to Cousin John. Then knew tina
such an act had been imposed upon m
By those terrible eyes in one Of m
frances. An day fought against it; bu
an invisible power seemed driving m
on. Suddenly, the thought flashed upo
me that / would run away-hy from al
everything The instant it occurred,
acted upon it. ran up into my room
opened my desk, took out all the none
had saved and while my grandfathe
was taking his after dinner nap, stol
out OF the house-not thinking, in m
haste, even to put hat on. 1t was quit
dark, and no one observed me. l wei
on, taking no heed Of my whereabout
until l found myself in the streets {
Bury.
II had crept under the old Norma
gateway, where you saw me. / remen
bered that / had once CHANGED to 81
the city road pointed out from a sp'
very near to where / stood. When NC
left me, / took shat road. That nigh
or. rather, towards morning. / slept in
wood. For a long time / dared not i
auire my way, nor, until ! was half deE
with exhaustion, did / venture to b.
food.
AFTER terrible hardships, I reach'
Ipswich There purchased new cloth
and took the train to the city. Althoul
/ had still money In my pocket when
arrived, began to think Of how shou
get my living"
'But did you not think Of writing
your grandfather-of telling him all y,
b.5 entered 90 lnferrunfed