Show CHANGE IN ELIDA by SELINA ELIZABETH HIGGINS for a whole day our darling had moved about the house as one in samo bamo bomo dreamlike dream like trance never was a being so gentle and she was gentle now the same sweet smile framed her lips tile the clear earnest eyes showed the old time tenderness in n their depth but there was a change ellda elida was listless she would sit fot for an hour gazing at seeming nothingness in gness when she ahe was spoken to her pretty brow would wrinkle there was it ft puzzled flickering of the delicate eyelids it would take her quite a minute or two beaure she would seem to understand what was spoken she usually so quick to comprehend iler her thoughts seemed far away from her habitual environment her soul at tamus as though her emotions were wandering in somo some vague distant sphere yes ellda was changed 1 I her aunt and guardian won wondered deved it if it was anxiety for her absent lover Will willbard fard rull hull that had brought on this deep abstraction but when I 1 spoke of tho the estimable young man whom wo we all liked intensely she only smiled and spoke saoko quietly of his speedy return as aa though her heart were at perfect ease regarding him and hla his prospects it was early that evening when a warm friend ot of the family dropped in she was a music teacher and quite an attraction at loca social entertain ments menta she looked around for ellda elida who had retired to ifer her room saying she was wearied I 1 did not wonder at this ellda elida had acted so eo a all that day she had been out late tho the evening previous at a soiree that I 1 linew miss aliss evens evans had also attended we a were close friends with the music teacher and in my anxiety and perplexity I 1 spoke of the strange mood that had hold held ellda elida in a strange thrall all that day my dear miss aliss nettleton spoke my visitor when I 1 had concluded 1 I came purposely to see ellda you understand me ma well enough to know that it would not bo be from any idle curfis curiosity but from motives of tho the purest friendly Inte interest rost something nap hap 4 4 or 77 V an amazing spectacle met my view bened it at the soiree last evening that was inexplicable inexplicably it has been in my thoughts all today I 1 could not resist coming here to nee ellda elida something happened I 1 repeated a trifle fearsomely yes A young man his namo name was given as dalziell attended the soiree last evening lie he came with the HU Rit chles whom I 1 only know incidentally lie ile Is a wonderful conversationalist and a marvel at the piano and he met ellda I 1 asked dreading that something might shadow the love and loyalty loyally of my darling and her lance fiance only as he did the others as aa a gentleman of greit great attain attainments menis courteous to everybody lie he was not ot at the first particularly attentive to her ellda elida just noticed him that was all ho had lust just finished a brilliant musical composition ot of his own however when I 1 saw him lean toward ellda elida who sat near by and fix his eyes upon her A light in them I 1 cannot describe it did not repel but it was deep flashing piercing you are alarming me I 1 said timorously orous ly I 1 am sorry but I 1 must tell you vou all replied alss evans 1 I saw ellda elida start and a nervous tremor crossed her face then in a rapt wistful attitude she leaned slightly forward she was like one enrapt fascinated suddenly but without removing hla his glance this dalziell dashed both hands down upon the keyboard ot of the piano thero there was a strain of 0 wild unearthly music A took look I 1 cannot describe passed over clidas face near to her was a stani stand containing a fragile glass receptacle for calling cards she seized this dashed it violently to the floor and it shattered to a thousand atoms then with a low cry she shrank back shuddering covered her face with her hands but when she looked up her features were calm restful as natural in their bright awe sweetness etness as ever you astonish me was all r could gasp aap out 1 I glanced at young dalziell went nn miss evans there was a strange beird expression on his face I 1 mayall it triumphant thero there was vas noth ing ane sinister aln str to it but it expressed in finite satisfaction ile dashed off into a quick lively polish mazurka and the guests I 1 baked asked breathlessly passed the incident t by in wonder too well bred to notice it by open discussion cus sion slon I 1 heard beard one lady say it was an accident ano another aber an impulse byster hysterical ter ical in my opinion the man had bad hypnotized ellda elida for some purpose good or evil he had hypnotized her bar and she abe then as now all unconscious of it ile he had tested some occult power ha he possessed wa alast I 1 could not solve selve the tha problem and passed a sleepless night ellda elida arose the next morning listless and preoccupied about ten I 1 left her alone in the house bouse I 1 could not rest I 1 roust must know something of this mysterious louo dalziell I 1 determined to call upon mrs ritchie I 1 had gone two blocks from the house and was turning into an intersecting street when I 1 chanced to look back A man was just going up the steps of our home in a flash I 1 recognized him as answering to the description script lon miss evans had given me of dalziell I 1 hurried back to the tha house the screen door was unlocked I 1 entered noiselessly my nerves were on a tense strain I 1 know not what I 1 feared I 1 paused to tako take up a small revolver kept lor for security in tho the drawer of the hall rack then I 1 proceeded to the parlor entrance an amazing spectacle met my view seated at a little stand her face pale put but placid her eyes dreamy and glaz glazed ed wa waa s ellda elida standing before her was tho stranger ile he hold held a piece of fauce ted crystal in one hand on that alidas eyes were fixed who ore are you what are you doing here I 1 quavered impulsively and the man turned to faco face the weapon in roy my trembling hand ile he yas was not in the least moved ile ha placed a 0 warning finger to his lip never lowering the crystal for elluard hull was his astonishing announcement in low musical tones I 1 from williard halll I 1 cried no for him do not interrupt 1 it I Is a critical moment speak he added directing the mellow insinuating word at the transfixed ellda elida and fixing hta his glance piercingly upon her the wall la Is it east and which wall no came in a dreamy faraway far away murmur from ellda elida not a wall but a well success gasped the stranger and sank into tho the nearest chair as if exhausted aher after some superhuman effort in a few moments the man arose ile ho made somo some movements with his delicate hands toward ellda elida whose face renewed its usual expression ren then lie he turned to me miss alias nettleton lie he said 1 I have heard of you I 1 am a friend of willlard wilhard llull hull who has gone gode to took look up the hidden fortune 0 ot his dead uncle he did not find it at any wall as the hint was I 1 am credited with possessing certain occult power perhaps at least my mind filled only with honest motives working on the pure crystal clear mentality of this beautiful young lady has evolved a clue well not wall it was a well indeed we knew it within a week when alidas fiance came cama back a rich man and dalziell the strange mystic genius whom I 1 at first so feared we all love lova now as a loyal devoted friend copyright 1914 by W G chapman |