Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-11-21
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It came to her as an inspiration. BE
had taken q seat at distance OF
about six feet from her, as was his In
variable custom when he called, and
his innate bashfulness and difidence
had made his conversation just about
as uninteresting as usual. "Are you at
all interested in the subject Of hypnot-
ism?" she asked.
mo" he replied. ri never have given
1t thought"
''But you should" she said.
"eBut don't know how to try it." he
returned regretfully.
"Oh, I can show you that" she said.
''You take something bright-a piece
of silver or anything like that-and
hold it directly in front of the subjects
eyes. Then you tell him to concen-
trate his gaze and thought on that
bright object, while you concentrate
your thoughts on subjugating his will
to yours. I'm sure a man of your force
of character and intensity Of purpose
would soon be in complete control Of
the subject. You might try it with me
and see if you understand"
OF course he was quite ready to
make an experiment. Slowly he with
drew the silver piece, but she made no
motion to indicate that she was con-
scious of any change.
martha !" he said in some alarm.
She went to him without a word.
"Sit down beside me-" he said, "and
give me your hand.
"Rest your head on my shoulder" he
commanded.
'Talk about rapture" he muttered.
His heart was beating like trip-ham-
mer, but for ten minutes he sat there
without moving. Then he heaved a
deep, happy sigh and asked himself: {:
"What would the world do without
hypnotism?"
He had been looking that matter up
and had discovered that he had over
looked a most important test. The ex-
pertinent was more protracted on this
occasion, but it failed to bring him any
nearer the goal Of his desire-and
hers. To have a hypnotized girl was
a decided luxury In it's way, but it
did not give him the courage he need
ed when she was in her right conscious
ness.
The third evening she protested.
"What do you do when I am under;
the influence Of your will?" she de.'
manded.
"I-why, Il that Is, I don't do any
thing" he answered, but If ever false
hood showed in a mans face, 1t did In
his when he said: "I-I simply make
you do various things to demonstrate
my control over your will and actions"
"rd like to know what they are" she
insisted. Suppose you just pretend I
am hypnotized and tell me what to do.
I'll promise to do it just as would in
my irresponsible state. I want to learn
the nature Of your experiments"
anything" he argued.
Foolish man! 1t would have demon
strated more than all his hypnotic ex-
periments combined.
"Oh, WELL" she said resignedly, 'ff
it is of any intellectual or other ad-
vantage to you, go ahead. But really 1
think it would be ever so much bet
ter if were conscious Of what was
happening; don't you?"
He WINGED, and his face fairly burn
ed. In fact, he was so disconnected
that he failed to notice the CLEAN Of
triumph in her eyes as he began his
usual experiments. If he had, possibly
he would have been better prepared
for what happened when 1t was over.
He had scarcely, as he thought, re-
moved the spell, when she suddenly ex-
claimed: "Why, what's that on your
coat" A moment later, after hasty
and interested inspection, she added:
"'Why-why, it's face powder; and
there's some on your mustache, too.
Percy Wallingford! demand to know
what you make me do when I am
thus placed in your power! 1t is my
right, sir, and demand an explana-
ton. What advantage have you taken
Of my poor, weak wlll?"
What could he say? What could he
do? Clearly nothing but make clean
breast of the whole affair. He hesi-
tated and stammered, grew red and
then white, and finally, driven to des-
peration, blurted out. "Forgfve me,
Martha, but II love you. did make
you put the powder there, but it was
because THAT is, want you to marry
me-"
"Oh, Percy!" she cried, "this is so
sudden!"
Copyright, 1917, by W. G. Chapman)