The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-11-24
Triumph o.
Madam MaTsky

.1EdE

line WlOle Lllub lS al uISoA LioNA
cannot think how anyone can be
fool enough to believe in such .nou-
sense"
The Colonel spoke heatedly.
"As for this Madame Marsky, she
is merely a vulgar charlatan-a cheat!
She ought TO have been locked up
long ago in order to protect the pooc
fools she fieeces so successfully. Wo
men OF that sort are ar offense In any
civilized community. Why no one
has even come forward at some oil her
scandaIous hypnotic seances to eS-
pOEe her publicly is a mystery to me"
A strange and awkward silence fell
upon the group assembled round the
dinner table.
The hostess hastily attracted the at
tention OF the assembled ladies'. They
all answered to her summons with
alacrity-all except one, who rose Ian
guidly from her chair, a %scorntull
smile about her lips; her eyes were
fixed on the Colonel with a curlously
intent expression, as II she wished
10 stamp his face on her memory.
When the ladies had reached the
drawing room, the hostess turned to
the lady who had taken SO great an
interest in the Colonel.
Deaf Madame Marsky," she said.
with tears Of modification in her eyes
at was all too dreadful! Please for
give me for exposing you in my house
to so great an insult! 1t never oc-
courred to me that Colonel Graham
did not know you by sight. Any way.
he must have known hat you we're 4
dear friend Of mine. His behavior
was at%rocious, unwarrantable. OF
one thing you can be quite sure-Col'
onel Graham shall never cross our
threshold again!"
Madame Marsky laughed--a curl
Gus, hard, little laugh.
please do not give the incident an
other minutes thought" she replied.
Army men are often so bigoted and
narrow-minded. A lesson that the ont.
side world cannot be drilled and bullied
with IMMUNITY, as he probably drills
and DULLES his poor soldiers, would d.
a great deal OF good to our Z.htary
friend. Why is he so Set against hyp-
notIsm in general, and ne in PAR
ticular?"
He is against everyone who is
~cleverer than himself, and against
everything that escapes the grasp Of
his narrow understanding. Here
come the men,"
The door opened wide. and fore
most among the men strobe Colone!
Graham. BY his side walked his host
in a manner rather suggestive of a
| policeman in charge Of a criminal.
May introduce Colonel Graham
to you, Madame Marsky? He has
expressed a great wish to me for an in.
| PRODUCTION, in order to apologize to
you for his most unfortunate speech
Colonel Graham looked not a whit
embarrassed. He bowed profoundly.
Il must apologize" he began in a
tO&e that was anything but Apologize.
FER my most unfortunate remark in
regard to your most charming self
Just now. or course as soon as /
knew who you were | realized the
Nervousness of my crime. In regard
10 what 1 said about hypnotism | ap-
olug!ze also, although still preserve
the same feelings on that subject"
Very well, Colonel Graham" she
replied coldly. 81 accept your not very
| gracious apology. Perhaps at some
future date we may meet again, and
! may prove 10 you personally that
| am neitherra charlatan nor a cheat
and that there is something in hypno
tlSn after ALL"
She bowed hanghtiiy and turned
her back upon him.
i For the first time in his life Colonel
: Graham looked snubbed and small.
. . . =
The large concert hall was brilliant
ly Illuminated Down below, in the
body OF the hall, sat the serried
ranks Of "Tommies." Above on a
level with the platform. sat the officers
and their friends, foremost among
them being Colonel Graham. Lady
Flora, the toast OF the regiment and
the Colonel's ~fiancee, sat BY the side
Of her soldier lover.
On the platform a small figure
stood, dressed In white. Madame
Marsky. the celebrated hypnotiSt, held
the audience In the hollow OF be-
hand, breathless and fascinated.
How pretty she is and how deter
mined she looks! No wonder no one
can resist her! | wish you would go
and be hynotized, Colonel! should
| dearly love to see her pit her whole
strength against you-you, the strong
Aan!"
The Colonel set very erect and fin
gered his moustache.
MY dear Lady Flora" he said de-
! precatingly, you know quite well that
your wish is my law, but really you
can scarcely expect a man In my