The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-03
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Walter signified that he would
like his uncle to read the whole of
the volume, but Lord Ravenspur
shook his head.
Read what you think necessary
to me-" he said.
I 81 never read anything that fas-
cinated me more" Walter re-
marked. 81 tell you, if this book
was published it would cause
great sensation from one end Of
Europe to the other. 1t is the work
of brilliant man with a fine
style and an imaginative mind
! the history of an attempt to de-
prive a woman of her will, and Of
her reason. 1t is absolutely neces-
sary that you should listen to some
extracts from this amazing work"
Go on" Ravenspur said quiet.
ly; 81 am all attention.
Walter bent back the book and
began to read:
FEB. II, 1887. What man is
there who has ever succeeded in
penetrating the unfathomable
depths of woman's mind? There
| is Carlotta, for example. Carlotta's
prevailing trouble is that she is
| jealous of me. She seems to think
! that because she cut herself off
from her family for my sake | am
to be at her beck and call hence
forth and for ever. This peculiar
form of jealousy interests and
amuses me. 1t is a pleasure to
study 1t from a scientific basis.
This morning I told her | was go
/ ing to Florence for day or two,
and she wept because l would not
allow her to accompany me. could
see that she does not trust me,
wherefore | caused a friend of mine
who can initiate womans writing
excellently, to write me a passion
ate love letter, which fell quite
naturally into Carlotta's hands.
"The scene which followed was
equisitely amusing. | have never
seen a woman weep to such an ex
tent before. see that Carlotta is
in possession of all the emotions,
so that. by studying her alone,
shall be in a position to add some
really extraordinary chapters to
my great book on women and their
ways.
March 10, 1887. Carlotta has af
forded me a month of absolute en-
joyment. Why do people pay money
to sit in stuffy theaters and watch
comedies and tragedies when they
can see and hear the real, palpitat-
ing thing for nothing? Outwardly,
Carlotta and myself are at daggers
drawn. She thinks I am unre-
pentant and angry, but, as to my
self, | have never been more cheer
full and happy in my life. And
when Carlotta threatens TO leave
me. | ask her why she is going,
knowing perfectly we'll that she has
not the slightest intention of leav-
ing me. was talking with DR..
Sacci. the great surgeon, the other
day, and he was telling me of the
fierce joys of vivisection. But,
then, Sacci is only workin in the
interests of humanity. whereas my
vivisection allows me to see the ex-
quisite suffering of the patient.
can study the nerves, and the pal
pitating wound, at the very mo-
ment when the knife enters
Dec. 81, 1887. The last chapter
in my book is by far the most bril-
liant and searching which l have
yet added to that fascinating vol
ume. was almost sorry when
had to tell Carlotta the story of the
love letter and how I had been
playing on her feelings all these
months. | knew it would open up
a fresh phase of womanly nature.
And l confess that it did with a
vengeance. Carlotta turned pale
She stood there looking as if she
were filled with the greatest physi-
cal agony her. eyes filled with tears
which did not fall. don't know
how many days it is since she
spoke to me last, but certainly it
must be upwards of a fortnight.
This Is not exactly what I expect.
ed. 1t is only when woman talks
that one can judge of how the ex-
pertinent is progressing. Tomor-
row, all being well, / am going to
adopt new scheme which | hope
will have the desired effect.
Dec. 22, 1887. Our little Vera
has disappeared. Evidently she has
been kidnapped with view to re-
ward. The whole neighborhood is
up in arms, and my wife is distract
ed 1t has often been q favorite
theory of mine that every man
takes a second place in woman's
affections as soon as her first child
is born. The time has come to put
the question to a test. and thus 1t
became necessary for Vera to dis
appear My theory has been vindi-
Gated to the letter. | now know
that Carlotta cares more for Vera
than she does for me. The ref1ec-
ton Is not soothing to ones vanity,
but there it is. There Is wildness
and intensity in her grief which
she never would have experienced
had been brought home to her in
the last stage Of dissolution. |
must keep this up, but | must not
drive my patient too far. She be-
gins to show signs of collapse al
ready"
Walter stopped for moment, his
voice was full of loathing and dis
gust.
"Do you want me to read any
further" heb said, 'or is that suf-