The bee., 1908-07-30
The WOMAN
WITH The EYES

and her sorrow. Perhaps she may
marry again, aud the man OF hel
choice will be happy Perhaps right
~ so--who shall say?
Where she came from nobody
knew II was said Derrick met her al
a summer resort, and that was all
anyone seemed to know about her He
married her for her beauty; she mar
ried him for his money and social
position. | suppose both thoroughly
understood the terms of the contract
He admired her much as he might
have admired a fine horse, and he
was proud to claim her as his own.
She didn't actually hate him-he was
an unfortunate encumbrance of wealth
and social position. But she bore him
no love.
Perhaps the last straw that broke
down her endurance was when Dor
rick came home drunk from some club
meeting. Derrick was not a drinking
man, and this was an exceptional
case. Perhaps he had been drinking
too many toasts to his young wife.
But It was an offense against good
form-the only thing she cared about
now. When Derrick ceased to be a
gentleman the last link broke.
My dear" he began, and then he
stopped short, for he had caught her
glance. She had peculiar eyes some
tmes-hard, cold, penetrating eyes
gimlet eyes, an irreverent youth had
once called them. Derrick seemed 20
shrink up within himself beneath her
gaze. Half drunk as he was, he
seemed in some way fascinated--'like
as If he'd been mesmerized," said
Mrs. Dorrick's maid under her breath;
she had been to see a professional
hypnotist who had been performing
at one OF the music halls few weeks
before. Mrs. Derrick overheard the
remark, and 1t set her thinking.
The suggestion of mesmerism broke
in upon her like a revelation; perhaps
she had found the key to freedom. She
had heard of this marvellous force that
science but dimly comprehends, and
she was prepared to believe wonders
VI II. HuE DGl dDOut bluuI-
ing it. Little by little, as she mastered
the subject, she came to understand
how complete is the control exercised
by the mesmerist over his subjects
and found that she herself possessed
marked powers of fascination. Then
she began to try experiments with
her husband. She had no definite end
in view She wanted to gain such
mastery over him as to make him en-.
tirely subservient to her will Then
she would no longer be CALLED by the
sense that she was part of his prop.
erty.
In month she succeeded. The out
ward world saw no change in Derrick
or his household; but in the privacy
Of his home he was a different man.
A single glance from his wife bereft
him Of will power, almost Of conscious
ness. He was no longer a living, think
ing man, but an automaton, perform
Ing her will bllndly, and without the
power OF retaining even a shadow
Of remembrance II she willed he
should forget. She was far too clever
10 let outsiders see this--even the
never suspected It. She
herself hardly knew how far-reaching +
was her strange power But she had
gained her point.
She began tentatively Derrick de-
Teloped a habit of dressing a little
90 lightly for the season OF the year,
md caught cold several times. His
wife scolded him for his carelessness,
tut to no purpose. Little by little he
became more careless. He neglected
o see a doctor, after catching a very
evere cold, though he had been in
he habit Of taking the utmost care
4 his health. Again his wife scolded
lin, and sent for the doctor herself.
Derrick recovered slowly. but the eff
ects of a severe chill had left him
weaker Then he committed the
imprudence of taking cold
ath in the middle of January and neg.
ecting to dry himself thoroughly Mrs.
)orrick scolded again. and again sum.
loned the doctor The doctor was
ngry, and took Derrick to task sharp
: for his carelessness. ITS simple
uicide," he said. simple suicidel"
nd he left directions for Mrs. Derrick
nd drove away.
He was right; he could do no good
'oTrick had thrown away his life. In
bout week he fell victim to pneu- ]
lonia, and Mrs. Derrick was free.
Mrs. Derrick, the bride of scarce STA !
lonths. mourned deeply for her hus-
and, and inherited his wealth. Per !
APPS there was just little genuine
ess IN her sorrow a tinge Of remorse
mo more. AS said, to-day she is a c
ader in society by right of her late
name and wealth. her youth
sr beauty, and her sorrow. Perhaps u
lie may marry again; this time she
III not sell herself-she will not need =
!. And the man of her choice will y
} accounted happy, for no one knows y
her terrible gift Perhaps. too, =