The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-03-30


r eyes, and she grew as proud and haugh-
: ~ as a duchess.
For two years we Travelled the coun-
try pretty comfortably together. and dur
r ing all that time Judith scarcely ever
J made a failure In the meantime. old
Stokes was growing discontinued 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 discovered his SCI
cret. lie would go a few miles away
from the town where we were exhibit
ing. and do 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 it 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.
I'VE were exhibiting at Spalding one
night TO very bad house. and just as
Judith was in the middle OF her perform
anee-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 fell
low seemed compelled TO answer all kinds
of absurd questions; evidently regarding
the whole thing. however. as 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 TO be mesmerized. The
event caused great commotion in the
room. as 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
i cannot mesmerize You. but | 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 i
OUT. But you shall. Jack. No, hang il,
fair play for Zenobia, We have called
her an impostor, and we will give her a
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
be a fool; she can no more mesmerize
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 Zenobia. 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. fiend. 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 strong light was shining She
East one disdainful glance round the
room. which had the effect OF partly sub
iuing the uproar and set herself to her {
ask
I'm two minutes he was as rigid az a
Corpse and as helpless as child. The ,
4
'earful: the whole audience. including ,
), en- his companions. were hushed iI.to
ilence: even | shuddered as looked at
Ter. She used her power mercilessIy. I
skiing him questions Of the most sacred a
lature. to all Of which he replied undis- 2
,uisedly. The moment her eyes were :
fl him. the young fellow fell down In I
trong commissions.
ful -.
he room. People rushed upon the plat
orm to tender their assistance Judith y
TODD alOof, leaning upon the pianO G
loating Indignantly over her work n
Veil. as soon as he recovered they put r
i'm into cab and sent him home. one Of I
is companions accompanying But the
hallenger. who had caused the commo-
on. remained behind until all the peo-
le were dispersed. and then walked u
cme 70 our hotel with rs. He not only u
,nfessed that no blame could be attaeh- II
10 rhe young lady for what had oc- al
Irred. but very handsomely apolOcized r.
II his rudeness in doubling her power 81,
HE came into our private room and
Ipped with us. He was remarkably -
IriOus about mesmerism. and asked us ~
ininity Of questions concerning its OF
,wers and effects. IL struck me that es
had some motive underneath these in GO
rrogations beyond mere idle curiosity. be
r he seemed to ponder over our an II
rers and reyOlve them in his mind -
well. Of course the sensation in the
Wn was something marvellous. For a -
EEK we turned crowds away from the no
ors nightly. Strange to say, the young 81
IN who had caused the sensation came wi
cry night. and persisted in desiring lat
be again nesmerized. although he RI.
II looked shaken and pale from the ef-
is OF the first experiment. This, how E.
sr, ! would not permit. Judith seemed III
have acquired some strange fasci- Dy
ion over him; he followed her like rie
badOw But she would scarcely deign St.
look upon him; she seemed always to wi
I great contempt for those who were On,
enable to the mesmeric influence. To 10
other friend, her behavior was very -.
erent. He came pretty often to the "
ell, and / frequently found them in SIN
yate confab together. / could not I'M PHI
stand what a handsome swell like hei
( could find to admire in bony, red hol
red Judith. this
Well. the last night came. had left IN,
hotel about o'clock In the after -
r 70 wall round tho fouu with our | vi