The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-05-05
Bound by a Spell
CHAPrNR xxv.-{Contipued.l

OAAS 08J No 0oAS0 w. AAAAocAVA ~ seAS
me with him to see the horticultural
show, at Bury. l did not wish to 60.
always had a strange feeling, almost
amounting to dread, Of being left alone
with him; but would not have mem
<ioned It for the world. Grandfather,
however, thinking that It would please
me, gave 4 ready assent.
''In the exhibition we met very dis
agreeable looking old lady, who was in
troduced to me % Mrs. HUMPHREYS, and
who invited AZ Aeme to dine with her.
She was accompanied by young Idly.
with semarkably red hair, and strange
hooking eyes, whom ihe called Judith. =
"Wes went, Cousin John and I, home
with Them to large brick house In 4
retired part Of the town. After dinner
Cousin John and the young lady, whom
he called Miss Porter, began to talk
about mesmerism. l had never heard Of
It before-did not know the meaning Of
the word. Suddenly she turned to me,
and asked me how I should like to BE-
mesmerixed. answered that did not
know what IL WIS. sOh. itss the strsns-
sst sensation In the world: said John.
This young lady q very clever at IT, x
After some little persuasion, con-
scented, bat very unwillinsly. Then they
took Inc into,a dark room. Miss Porter
sat down in I chair. On the wall at the
back was hung q black curtain, and
around her shoulders was drared black
cloth. Upon the table In front Of her
was q lamp, in which was hxed pow
erful reflector, that threw disabling
light upon her face. She seated me OPP
posite to her. and babe me FIX my eyes
upon hers. did 20. Never can I for
get the effect was once taken to q
wild beast show. The glare Of her wide
~ distended eyes was exactly like that
which had seen there In the tigers. It
fastened upon mine, and held them fas-
cinated. had NO power to shift them;
and a. gazed, spellbound, upon hers,
they gradually dilated until they seemed
to be two enormous globes Of fire, sus-
pended In utter darkness. Then l lost
al recollection.
at appears that while in this condi-
ton you are compelled to answer truth
fully any question put to you, and to
execute upon Gwaking any act you may
have promised to perform while In the
mesmeric state. l believe that in my
trance they extracted from me every par
ticular Of my uncle's will.
when awoke found myself In the
dining room, lying upon a sofa, and Mrs.
Humphries holding q vinaigrette to my
nose. Il felt very weak, and strangely
daxed. 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.
IT cannot dwell upon the dreadful
story. After I'M. he found wavs and
means to subject me again and again to
this terrible influence. rev male
and ernaciated. INV nerves were shat
tered. NV memory was almost DESTROY
ed. and 4 Kind OF stupefaction seized M
on INV brain. Night and day sleepins
or vskinr. thoss awful alobbes of Are
rlared at me out OF thsy darkness. II
was killing me. az slowly and surely al
the deadliest poison could have done. NY
grandfather was in a troubled state of
mind. Physicians were brought: they
pronounced INV complaint to be : grad
ual softening OF the brain.
..In the meantime. l was restrained
from divulging the truth BIZ threats from
Cousin John-threats not only AGAINST
myself. but against my dear grandfath-
er. What torture could have exceeded
what / then endured? But could not
reason. had not the power to make
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, 60 to the cabinet, seek for the Sc
cret drawer, take out the will and carry
1t to Cousin Johns Then ! knew that
such an act had been imposed upon me
BY those terrible eyes In one Of my
frances. All day l fought against 1t: but
IN invisible power seemed driving me-
On. Suddenly, the thought flashed upor
me that I would run away-hy from all
everything. The instant II occurred,
acted upon 1t. ran up into my room
opened my desk, took out all the money
I had saved, and while my grandfather
was taking his after dinner nap, stol,
ont Of the house-not thinking, in m,
haste, even to put hat on. It was quit,
dark, and NO one observed me. I wen
on, taking no heed Of my whereabouts
until l found myself in the streets q
Bury. ..-.s. .,,,..l,..
T had crept under IN. old No-r.,
~.tev.v vhers vou ..w nc .o,,,..,s
~ 49, ~-~'' $500 = ASAnCAAA