The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-05-28

81 said that / believe you are
secretly frightened Of Madame Mar
sky and her powers and won't own
up. Now confess you are scared,
aren't your"
Scared! Pheugh! Scared, my
dear young lady! The idea is absurd.
My position in the regiment forbids
showing this woman UP as | should
like to do How she does stare up
here!"
The Colonel broke off abruptly as
the hypotist's clear voice rang across
the hall.
MANY people scoff and call me
cheat and a charlatan. There is a
man here tonight. who once insulted
me in public. His apology must be
made to me in public, on his Bonded
knees. am calling to him now. He
is weak as water in my hands. That
man will come to me, struggle against
my power as he may!"
The Colonel gasped and wiped his
brow, on which beads of perspiration
had gathered He half rose from his
seat and then sat down again.
Good heavens" he murmured I'M
der his breath, 81 believe the woman
actually means me! What impertin-
ence, what horrible impertinence!"
Lady Flora leaned towards him.
what are you muttering to your
self about so vindictively? She is
looking at you, my friend; you had
better be careful My dear, good
man, what in the world are you going
to do? How very extraordinary you
look!"
She drew back aghast. The Col
onel's face had grown rigid and fixed;
his eyes fixed on Madame Marsky's
face, seemed to be starting out of his
head. He breathed unevenly and look
ed like man In trance.
"He is coming to nee now" cried
the hypnotist, down the stairs, across
the hall, to prove that the science
of hypnotism is not quite fraud
after ALL
And he was! AS one in dream,
the Colonel rose and pushed back his
chair. He broke away from Lady
Flora's almost frantic grasp and pass
ed like a sleep walker among his
guests, unseeing and quite uncon-
scious of what he was doing.
Up the platform steps he strobe.
and knelt at the feet of Madame Mar
sky in humble supplication.
81 once insulted both you and the
science you love. ! was rude to you."
he said in low, clear voice. II
have deeply regretted it since -oh, SO
bitterly for l love you SO! You are
really the only woman have ever
loved Will you forgive me and marry
me?"
Madame Marsky threw back her
head defiantly and faced the astound-
ed audience.
Colonel Graham has apologized to
me for his insulting remarks on the
subject of my art and for the state
ment he made about me personally.
He has found out that / am not
cheat, not a charlatan All these
statements he recalls utterly as if
they had not been said. forgive
him."
There was silence that could
almost be felt, and then Tommy"
burst into an hysterical cheer. His
companions joined in frantically. The
rafteres rang with their boisterous
applause The Colonel was not a
popular in his regiment.
Madame Marsky stood i moment
proudly erect and listened to the
uproar; then she bent forward over
the kneeling figure and made few
passes with her hands. Her victim
rose to his feet and faced her.
Slowly the full knowledge of what
had happened and the humifiating
part he had played seemed to drawn
upon him. The cheering ceased
abruptly; cold fear had gripped the
"Tommies" at the sight Of the furious,
white, drawn face on the platform.
The Colonel passed his hand across
his face like one awaking from a
dream. AS he raised his head from
his hands he encountered the steady,
magnetic gaze of Madame Marsky's
eyes. The sight seemed to make him
nearly mad with rage.
"You WITCH" he Kissed between
his clenched teeth. 'sYou shall pay
for this, madam"
| For one moment he looked as If he
would strike her down in his blind
rage, but his hand fell helpless before
her merciless, fixed stare. He put up
one hand to his head and seemed
about to fall.
60" she said authoritatively; Ego,
you have had your lesson"
She turned to the audience, bowed.
and passed behind the curtains at the
back Of the stage.
! The next day Colonel Graham sent
in his resignation. M. De L. Bart
lett.