The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-05-11
cHArrER xxv.-tcoutinuedy

snow, al Bury did not wish 10 CO.
always had strange feeling. almost
amounting to dread. Of being left alone
with him; but l would not have mem
toned it for the world. Grandfather,
however. thinking that it would please
me, gave a ready assent
I'm the exhibition we met a 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 eyes, whom she called Judith.
I'VE went. Cousin John and l. home
with them to large brick house in a
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
1t before-did not know the meaning Of
the word. Suddenly she turned TO me.
aud asked me how l should like to be
mesmerized. l answered that l 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, l con-
scented, but very unwillingiy- Then they
took me into a dark room Miss Porter
sat down in 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 babe ME fix my eyes
upon hers l did 30. Never can l for
get the effect l was once taken to
wild beast show. The glare of her wide
ly distended eyes was exactly like that
which had seen there in the tigers 1t
fastened upon mine, and held them fas-
cinated. l had no power to shift them:
and as l gazed, spellbound, upon hers,
they gradually dilated until they seemed
to be two enormous globes of FIRE. sus-
pended In utter darkness Then 1 lost
all recollection.
1T 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 l believe that in my
trance they extracted from me every par
ticular of my uncle's will.
when l awoke l found myself in the
dining room. lying upon sofn, and Mrs
HUMPHREYS holding a vinaigrette 10 my
nose. l felt very weak. and strangely
dazed. Cousin John made very light Of
the matter-said that l had got fright
ened. and tainted away, and impress
ed upon me that | must be sure not TO
speak of it to grandfather. And l did
not
Il cannot dwell upon the dreadful
~ bo mud 1
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 |
or my brain Night and day, sleeping |
or waking, those awful globes of fire
gIared at me out of the darkness 1t !
was killing me, as slowly and surely as |
the deadliest poison could have done Ny |
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, l was restrained
from divulging the truth by threats from
Cousin John-threats not only against
myself, but against my dear grandfath-
err What torture could have exceeded
W NAT lltu out tDulu uOt
reason. | had not the power to make
one effort to free myself from the hide
Gus thraIdom; and at last l became ut
terly passive.
Zone day. l was seized with resist
less impulse to steal my grandfather's
keys, go to the cabinet, seek for the Sc
,ret drawer, take out the will and carry
i to Cousin John. Then | knew that
such an act had been imposed upon me
by those terrible eyes in one Of my
All day fought against it: but
In invisible power seemed driving me
IN. Suddenly, the thought flashed upon
ne that ! would run away-fy from all.
everything. The instant it occurred,
lcted upon it, | ran up into my room, !,
opened my desk, took out all the money !
had saved. and while my grandfather .
vas taking his after dinner nap. stole !
ut of the house-Dot thinking. in my !.
taste, even to put a hat on. 1t was quite .
lark. and no one observed me. / went ,,
n, taking no heed Of my whereabouts. )
ntil 1 found myself in the streets Of ,
Bury.
Il had crept under the old Norman b
steway, where you saw me- i remem- Z
cred that | had once CHANGED to see :
be city road pointed out from a spot .
cry near to where 1 stood. When you I
eft me. / took that road. That night, z
r, rather. towards morning, | slept in a |,
rood. For a long time l dared not in y
uire my way, nor, until | was half dead s.
18th exhaustion, did l venture to buy e
bod. v
After terrible hardships, 1 reached 4
IPSWICH. There / purchased new clothes I
nd took the train to the city. Although n
had still money in my pocket when I y
rived, began to think Of how / should
ct my living" u
But did you not think Of writing to Ct
our grandfather-of telling him all you h
ad sufferedT' / interrupted.
''Oh, no; 4 dared not. In the first a
lace, / felt what wicked creature Ell
ley had made Of mellow / had be- u
aged his confdence-how | had almost "
scome q theft and 1 knew that il / N
ent back to him tomorrow, the same "
ling would begin over again. For while W
icy knew my whereabouts, no earthly I
over could protect me from the infiu- Of
ice OF those awful eyes. Ny grand 10
ther would think me dead-my cousin M
ould inherit all his wealth, and should st
safe; and SO / resolved that hence lie
nth / would live unknown and that n a.,