Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-04-22
s Bound by a Spell !

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
tel to turn the whole affair up and start
something else. than TO put up with the
airs OF people whom / had picked out
OF the gutter. when my thought was an
ticipated sooner than / counted upon.
We 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
merle 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 a sell. AS
soon as 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 a wish Ito 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
swinde 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 i'll
fair play for Zenobial We have called
her an impostor. and we will give her
chance
He jumped down off the platform.
and whispered to Jack, as he called
him, but not in so low tone but what
could catch the words. Go up-don't
be fool she can no more mesmcrize
you than she can ME. 1t is only a put
off, thinking the challenge won't be ac-
cepted'
Very reluctantly the young man
mounted the platform and took the chair
indicated by Zenobis. very much to the
delight OF his friends, who clapped their
hands. shouted 'Bravo! 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 child. The
expression Of her eyes was something
| fearful; the whole audience, including
even his companions. were hushed into
silence; even l shuddered as | looked AT
her. She used her power mercilessly.
asking him questions OF the most sacI ed
nature. to all of which he replied undis-
guisedly. The moment her eyes 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 pinno.
gloating Indignantly over her work.
Well. as soon as he recovered, they put
him into a 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 us. He not only
confessed that no blame could be attach.
ed 10 the young lady for what had Oc-
Cured, but very handsomely apologlled
for his rudeness In doubling her power
He came into our private room md
supped with us. He was remarkabl,
curious about mesmerism. and asked us
an inhnity of questions concerning its
powers aud 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 tn,
doors nightly. Strange to say, the younI
man who had caused the sensation cam,
every night and persisted in desrn,
to be again mesmerized, although h,
still looked shaken and pale from the ef
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 lik,
n shadow But she would scarcely deiRI
to look upon him; she seemed always I,
feel a great contempt for those who wer,
ameuable to the mesmeric influence Il,
our other friend, her behavior was yer,
different. He came pretty often to tn,
hotel, and | frequently found them il
private confab together. | could not I'm
, derstand what a handsome swell lik,
that could find to admire In bony. red
haired Judith
/ "Well. the last night came. | had lief
the hotel about 5 o'clock in the after
noon TO walk round the town with gu
. bill poster. When the time came I,
open the doors, the checkers came 10 M
TO say that Mr.. Stokes. who was none,
taker. had not arrived. | knocked a
Judith's dressing room door. She wa
, not there. In an instant il darted uOoi
my mind that | was sold-that the.
, had boltedl
Il went of to the hotel. My suspi
] cions were verified. They had left, ba
and baggage, Immediately after l hn'
gone out | went to the station, an,
found they had booked for Peterborough
but there all traces ceased. and fror
that time TO this have never heard o
them. 1t will be warm for them IL eve
Z l do, for they completely broke me u
after saving them from starvation
too
Mr.. Rodwell-that was the swell
name-and his friends disappeared a
D the same time. Then ! discovered tina
they were strangers in the town-ha
only come down for the shooting season
The only person who could have Civ e
me any information-the landlord OF tn
e hotel where they mt nn-hnd raceiva