Hypnotized

"There isn't anybody living who can hypnotize ine. " "Dou't be too sure, Leonora, " said her hnsband. ' ' You cannot aft'ord to run a tilt against scieuce. " ' ' But I deny that it is science. What has ever been proved by hypuotism? It is fooiish to argüe a bont it, for I will not even arlmit that there is sueh a thing. The shrewd people who go about the country giviug exhibitions of their power are alwaysin collusion with some one in the audience - you know that yonrself, Ned. '; "Nothingof the kind," retorted Ned, as Mrs. Darl called her husband. "It is a science that is yet in its iufancy, and there are ouly a few individuáis who have the hypnotic power aiwl are able to throw less positive sabjects into a trance. But I have soen it done, aud it is won:erful - wonderful. " "What did you see?" "I saw a young man climb walls like a cat, drink milk out of a saucer, catch a rnoiise, and thea wash his face and ïands as a cat do'es. And whon he caine out of the trance he liad no idea that he lad done any of these things or that he ïad even lost consciousness. ' ' "Hum!" said Mrs. Darl incredulousy, "I don 't believe a word of it. If he did all that you said he did, hewas sini)ly a conspirator. And what good can snch a f aculty bring to science, I should ike to know? Where is the scieutific value in actinglike a cat or amonkey?" "Why, dou't you see, dear, it is the verification of a theory?" "No, I do not see. And I ain not sure ;hat I wonld believe it if I did see it. The whole stock in trade of these hypnotizers is the power of producing an illusiou. I defy any of them to hypnotize me. " "I had intended asking you to go with me to the exhibition tonight. ' ' "And be transmogrifled into a oat? No, indeed ! If I make a sacrifico of myself in the cause of science, it must be for sornethiug worth while. You have yet to convince me, Ned, that wbat you cali the hypnotic sleep is not assumed to help carry out the plan of the hyprtotizer or as a ineans of creating a sensation. There is no one living who could by a few ridiculous passes, a stare or pressure o f my thumbsmake me doanythine I did not chooso to do. " "But you acknowiedge, do you not, that a stroug will can control a weak one:" "Yes, and always could, but that is as old as the days of Adam, who was evidently in subjeotion to Eve. I suppose some one will say that deep sleep which overtook our first father wbeu his rib was taken f rom him was hypnotic. It would be just about as sensible. ' ' "I have an idea," said Mr. Darl snddenly. "Suppose, since Mohammed won't go to the monntain, that the mountain comes to Mohammed. The hypnotist can come here after the entertainment, and we will invite a few neighbors in, and ho can give an exhibition of his powers. How does that idea strike you?" "Favorably, Ned. There are the Rusts, and the Pebbles and Dr. Smithly and his wife, and Üousin Fanny and her husband. You eau let them know, and I will order refreshments, and we will have an eveniug of hypnotism. It will begin late, but we can fiud other amusement until your hypnotic operator comes. ' ' Mrs. Darl had everything arranged - her house in beautiful order and herself gorgeous in a dress of ruby relvet, which was far too fine for the occasion, but was worn as a piece de resistance, ehe having read that velvet resisted hypuotic influence. The neiglibors and relatives carne, a meiTy company, and the time passed in an animated discussion upon thé power of hypuotism, one friend going so far in research as to visit the library and look up that wonderful story, the "House of Seven öables, ' ' and read aloud to attentive listeners a passage from the weird history of Alice Pyucheon. "He spoke, and Alice responded with a soft, subdued inward acquiescence and a bending of her form toward him, like the flame of a torch when it indicates a gentle draft of air. He beckoned with his hand, and rising f rom ber chair the proud Alice approached him. He waved her back, and retreating Alice sunk agaiu into her seat. " 'Sbeis mine,' said Matthew Maule. 'Mine by the right of the strongest spirit. ' "'Oh, that was mesmerism,' said Mrs. Darl as the reading ceased. "And what is mesmerism?" asked one of the eompany. "I think that it is as nnexplainable as hypuotism, if it is not the saome thing. Oh, here they are now I Let tis hold on to our chairs, or we may be spirited away to China. I, for one, am afraid. ' ' "I am not," said the queenly hostess as she swept forward in velvet and diajnonds to meet her husband and his guest. A palé, composed looking man accompanied Mr. Darl, and he did not seem Burprised by the elegance of his hostess or flushed by the critical gaze of the eompany. Af ter the - ■ ctions were made and ;onversation became general, Mrs. Darl slipped into the hall aud beckoned to her husband, who iniiuediately joiued her. Then she whisperod iu his ear: "If - if - by any possibüity he shonld be able to hypnotize ïno, you will not let hini ïnake me do anything ridiculousF' "My dear Leona, how can you imagine sach a possibility ? But if yon have any f ear" - "Fear!" echoed liis wife scornfully in a stage whisper. "Yoti will see that he cannot muke the slightest impression on me. " And she went back to the parlor and fouud one of her guests climbing the piano to escape au Lmaginary bear that w;is pnrsning him. A few passes and he was restored to his normal condition, lookiug very foolish. There were some amusing aud some perplexing exhibí tions of the professor 's power, then the company followed host and hostess to the dining room, where a generous spread awaited thern. Mrs. Darl was rather silent. Her test would be the next one, and she watched the wiry liands of the young professor as if his secret lay in them. But they were harmlessly busy with the sandwiches. His face was quite noncommittal too. What was the power he held of reducing the will to a mere blank? She would soou know Back in the parlor Mrs. Darl seated herself under the brilliant chaudelier. "Not there, " said the professor, but she did not intend to yield to any couimand of his and said quietly : "I prefer to sit here. " "Then I cannot hypnotize you. " "Oh, you acknowledge that it is only under certain conditions that this great power eau be displayed ?' ' "Certainly, there are conditions that must be complied with. I am positive, and you are negativo, but you are a very difflcult subject because you are resistinz me with all your might. " Mrs. Darl looked reproachfully at her husband and said in the duinb alphabet of the married, "You have told him. " He flashed back in the same language, ' ' I have not, ' ' and she ïnoved in accordanee with the wish of the professor and sat with lier back to the light. Sonie of the cornpany were removed to remóte pai-ts of the roonf, but a few, iucluding Mr. Darl, stood near. "Look into my eyes, " said the professor. "Perniit me. " Andhetookher hands and pressed the thnmbs gently. "It is like being in a dentist's chair, " said Mrs. Darl, with a little forced langh. Then she atternpted to rise, strnggling slightly, but continued to look into the eyes of the hypnotizer until in the place of two eyes she saw 20. Then she asserted her will and shook herself free. 1 i - told - yon - I - oould - not be - hypnotized, ' ' she said. Her voice sound - ed strange and f ar away. ' ' How queer I feel! Staring so long has made me dizzy." "Drink this," said Mr. Darl, giving his wife a glass of water. She drank it, then rose to her f eet and said she feit as well as ever. "Where is the professor?" she asked. "I espect he has lost faith in his science. ' ' "He was here a moment ago, said her cousin Fanny anxiously. "He thought he had succeeded in hypnotizing yon, Leona. Were you not unconscious?" "Not for one moment," said Mrs. Darl triumphantly. "He held ruy thumbs until they were numb - why ! - where ! - Ned !" "What is it, Leona?" he askedhi surprise at her peculiar tone. "Where are my diamonds?" There was a startled exelamation f rom every one present. Mrs., Darl stood there bereft of every jewel she possessed. Not a single one of her gems which had flashed on her fingers, at her throat, in her ears, was now visible. Dazed, she held up her ringless hands and said : "Is this a joke? What does it mean? Where are my diamouds?" "Where is the professor?" "Search the house!" "Send for the pólice!" But the professor had left for parts unknown, and with him went Mrs. Darl's diamonds, and neither the pólice nor the Darls ever saw or heard of thern or him again. But one thing was in nis favor. Not only had he successfully hypnotized Mrs. Darl, but, as Mr. Darl admitted, he must have hypnotized the whole company in order to bring his hypnotic scheme to such a climax. And Mrs. Darl is at last a convert to both the theory and practice of the occult science and a flrm believer in the