Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-03-12
FROM RUDOLF ST.
CLAIR TO
JOSHUA NUDGE
By r. W. KEENAN,

| boarded. Il Mrs. Stanford, told me
one day that she was very much trou-
bled about her daughter. Eftie.
Efie was of a very romantic TEN
permanent. She said nothing about
what was occupying her mind to her
mother. who gained all her information
from the girls friends. Certain school
mates of Ettie's told Mrs. Stanford
that Ef1ie was talking about a lover.
He was tall and slender. with fine,
large brown eyes and black, curly hair.
His age was about nineteen. His name
was Rudolf st. Clair. The informant
did not believe that Ellie had any such
lover. but that he was a creature of her
imagination.
Efie said that she was used to meet
ing this lover after school of an after
noon III a certain open square used for
a public park. OF late the girl had
become very moody, giving indications
of having some trouble on her mind.
She gave hints to her most intimate
friend, a girl of her OWL age that she
feared Rudolf had become acquainted
with another girl who was leading him
away from her.
l suggested to Mrs. Stanford that she
have Efie watched after school after
Moons, with a view to discover if she
net any man. This was done. and
n afternoon Effie was followed TO
the park in question. Walking to a
certain seat she sat down, and present
ly her lips were seer to move as
though talking to some one. though
not a person was neal her.
When this fact was reported to me
| made up my mind that Efie's brain
was unbalanced. She had doubtless
seen a moving picture play which she
was enacting in imagination. Being
just about to graduate, l was well up
in the latest scientific discoveries and
theories and had paid much attention
to autosuggestion or that something
which impels persons to create disease
or impressions that have no real ex-
istence. Naturally 1 became much in
terested in the case. ! met one of
Efie's schoolmates and asked her what
play her friend had most seen and
talked about. ] was told that it was
one in which a young girl had met a
young man. with the result Of a love
affair. The young man Tilted the girl
and she shot him.
l feared that Efie, following this
play. would shoot some man. believ-
ing that he was her recreant lover. |
advised her mother to keep Efie's
room well inspected for something
she should not possess. This was done
and a little pistol was found under a
loose board in the closet. with a dozen
cartridges. Mrs. Stanford gave the
cartridges to me. and after replacing
the powder with charcoal | told the
lady to put both pistol and cartridges
back in their hiding place.
1t was not long after this that one
evening on the street Efie stepped up
to a young man and. saying to him, "T
cannot. l will not give you up to an
other pointed a pistol at him and be-
gan pulling the trigger. The young
man seized her hand and took the pis-
toll away from her. then turned her
over to a policeman.
Efie was taken to a station. whence.
when she gave her name and address.
her mother was telephoned for. A
great deal of difficulty was encountered
in explaining the matter. but since the
| young man she intended to shoot
would not prosecute the CASE Effie was
returned to her mothers care.
Mrs. Stanford was ut a loss what to
do with the girl. She proposed to send
her to a retreat where she would be
kept from doing any harm and would
receive medical attention. But | sug-
gested an application of the theory.
Like cures like"-in other words. that
Efie be given a real love affair for the
purpose of graduating an imaginary
one. But this. for the want of a lover.
was easier suggested than carried out.
While we We're celebrating Mrs. Stan
ford said:
IF you will make love to Etie | will
relieve you of all responsibility for
what may follow. If you can restore
her mental balance you may separate
yourself from her. and she will grad
ually get over it."
But. my dear Mrs. Stanford"
said. 'Efie may not fancy me, and if
she should and | Tilted her she might
shoot me-"
mo girl Of Ettie's age can resist the
attentions of a young man of yours.
And as for shooting you. | hope she
will by that time have recovered her
equilibrium, and you will be in no dan
ger"
Curious to note the effect of the
treatment, | began at once to show
Etie little attentions. | bought her
candy and took her to healthy places
Of amusement. Gradually | began to
give her loverlike glances and an occa-
sional pressure of the hand. This treat
ment extended over a period of a year.
when l went to another city to begin
the practice Of my profession.
/ think that by this time Efie had
recovered physically. which also means
mentally, and she parted with me as
any girl of her age might be expected
to part with a young man she likes