Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-03-10

the neatly dressed, scrupulously clean
SigDora Zenobia the ragged, slovenls Ju-
dith Stokes of few days back. For my
part, stood in awe Of those terrible
eyes, and she grew as proud and haugh-
ty as a duchess.
For two years we Travelled the coun-
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 I discovered his Sc
cret. He would 60 a few miles away
from the town where we were exhibit
ing. and do a little open-air preaching
to the rustics. Things were becoming
very unsatisfactory; even the girl SEEM
ed getting weary Of her work, and was
beginning to think that 1t would be bet
ter to turn the whole affair mp and start
something elseS than to put up with the
airs Of people whom had picked out
of the gutter, when my thought was an
tcipated sooner than counted upon.
We were exhibiting at Spalding one
night to q very bad house, and just AZ
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 fel-
low seemed compelled to answer all kinds
of absurd questions; evidently regarding
the whole thing, however, az sell. As
soon a. the yokel was dismissed. one
Of the party, in spite of the remon
strances of his companions, rose from his
scat and bounding upon the platform,
expressed wish to be mesmerized. The
event caused a great commotion in the
room, az he and his companions were
known to be 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.
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 q
chance
He jumped down off the platform,
and whispered to Jack as he called
him. but not in SO low a tone but what
could catch the words, Go up-don't t
be fool; she can ne more mesmerize
you than she can me. 1t is only a but
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 'Bravog and laughed up
roariously.
judith, who always had the tempe,
ot fend, was boiling with passion Al
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, upor
which strong light was shining She
cast one disdainful glance round thu
room, which had the effect Of partly sub
DUNG the uproar, and set herself to he
| task.
| "In two minutes he was as rigid as
| corpse and as helpless as a child. TIL,
expression Of her eyes was somethin,
fearful; the whole audience, including
4 even his companions, were hushed int,
silence; even l shuddered as looked a
her She used her power mercilessly
asking him questions of the most sacre,
nature, to all of which he replied undis
guisedly. The moment her eyes wer
off him, the young fellow fell down Il
strong convulsions.
'fThere was an awful CONSERVATION i
the room. People rushed upon the plat
form to tender their assistance. Judit
stood aloof, leaning upon the pions
gloating Indignantly over her worl
\ Well, as soon as he recovered they pu
him into cab and sent him home, one Q
.. his companions accompanying. But th
challenger. who had caused the comme
; ton, remained behind until all the PEE
pie were dispersed. and then Wake
home to our hotel with us. He not onl
confessed that no blame could be attacl
ed to the young lady for what had o,
Cured, but very handsomely apologize
, for his rudeness in doubling her powe
: He came into our private room an
. supped with us. He was remarkabl
3 curious about mesmerism, and asked 4
: an infinity of questions concerning il
l powers and effects. 1t struck me thu
? he had some motive underneath these il
terrogations beyond mere idle euriosit
!, for he seemed to ponder over our al
swers and reyolve them in his mind.
: "Well, of course the sensation in IL
e town was something marvellous. For
e week we turned crowds away from Il
!, doors nightly. Strange to say. the your
i man who had caused the sensation can
every night, and persisted in desirir
] to be again mesmerized, although
still looked shaken and pale from the e
e fects of the first experiment. This, ho,
r ever, 1 would not permit Judith seem,
j; to have acquired some strange fast
J. nation over him; he followed her iii
|, a shadow. But she would scarcely deii
o to look upon him; she seemed always
feel great contempt for those who we
. amenable to the mesmeric influence. :
J, our other friend, her behavior was We
n different. He came pretty often to Il
+ hotel, and frequently found them