The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-01-07
III. AuTo-HYPNosIs.

bellSEIeu, as always Wnen some one
she liked showed interest in the work
she loved so well, the girl forgot her
preoccupation in a twinkling and,
jumping up, gaily linked Philips arm
and led him across to the tall canvas
beside the pier glass.
'Theret' she laughed-"did you
know Priscilla Maine could be like
that?'
Impressed by his first glance, Philip
merely uttered a thoughtful Hmm :"
and in silence studied the portrait
with an intelligent appreciation not
unmixed with wonder.
Priscilla released his arm and
stepped back. pleased by this mute
tribute, pleased as well to have her
own overnight impression confirmed,
experiencing that rare, warm glow Of
qualification which only an artist
knows when he looks upon his handi-
work and finds it good
Well drawn and modelled, daringly
yet sensitively painted with an uner-
ring sense of color and values, the girl
in gypsy dress was amazingly spirited
and convincing. There was arresting
challenge in that impudently tossed
head with its laughing mouth of scar
let and dark eyes agleam with charm
ing insolence under lowered lashes.
swell DONE" said Philip simply.
"Fm so glad you like it. Philip.
Hardness" named a dealer known
to both-"wants to show it in his gal
leries."
Il like it immensely, only :. can't
get over an odd notion that it isn't
you. The likeness is extraordinary-I
remember well the night you wore that
costume-and yet, somehow :"
you see it, too?" Philip turned to
her with a sharp glance She laughed
consciously. II didn't myself till last
night, after I'd walked up. Then with
the dream fresh and real in nv
thoughts, saw I'd painted not myself
but that other Self. The girl you see
there isn't Priscilla Maine, not the
Priscilla you and I know; she's
Ieonora."
''Good LordI'' Philip looked grave.
Were you thinking of her while
painting?'
"No-not consciously, not that I re-
member"
And yet, without your knowledge,
you must have been :"
He moved nearer the picture to ex-
anime it more closely.
1T brings everything back so clear
~" the girl unused; sit gives me the
strangest feeling of unreaIity, makes
me wonder which is which; which the
living woman, which the shadow !"
The voice behind him traiIed off
into a pensive murmur He made a
movement of evaporation and, stimuli
taneously becoming conscious of the
stiffness. looked round TO see the girl
posed in a stare, gaze steadfast at
the portrait, her look dull and remote !:
head thrown back a trif1e. hands hang
ing with palms exposed in a gesture
curiously appealing, her respiration
abnormally slow and deep.
Fosdick took quick step to her.
crying: leila 7" She seemed not TO
hear. He said. in sharp insistence /:
do you hear, ella? Come out of
it," That broke the spell. Signing
softly, she drew a hand across her
eyes. then with an uncertain smile ex-
tended it TO him. Philip cIasped if be-
tween his own.
Now what?" he demanded with
brusque good humor
"Tve had the funniest sensation
was thinking about the paint
ing, wondering If, perhaps, I'd done
something extraordinary and weird.
painted my own soul into the figure
on the canyas-you knew-so that it
really lived and was me while 1 was
merely shell Of flesh and blood
and suddenly it seemed to me nv
fancy had come true, that was real
IL there on the canvas looking into
the room here. seeing myself, mean
seeing Priscilla Maine, and wonder
ing about her and about you, as If I'd
never known either of us, as If I were
stranger in my own studio
Do you understand, Philip? 1t must
sound so wild and silly What
was it, Philip? What made me feel
that wayT"
"Auto-hypnosis-a mild phase-su-
perinduced by excitement and fretting.
Nothing to worry about And still
: Frankly, I don't like it. I
wouldn't care to have it happen too
frequently. It's no good encouraging
that sort of thing; each time it hap
pens it breaks down resistance, makes
you only the more susceptible to the
next suggestion If I were you, I'd
drop that portrait. put it out of sight
and mInd Till we've settled this ques-