Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected
without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have
been retained as printed.
Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_.
The Table of Contents was not present in the original text and has
been produced for the reader's convenience.
THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER
BY
ZENA A. MAHER
PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR
SAN FRANCISCO
THE BANCROFT COMPANY
1892
COPYRIGHT, 1892
BY
ZENA A. MAHER
Issued from the Press of
THE BANCROFT COMPANY
_To My Husband, the Truest and Noblest of Men_
THE WITCH HYPNOTIZER
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
CHAPTER I.
Let there be light. Genesis i, 3.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Matthew v, 16.
In the world of imagination many Witches have lived and died since the
one of whose existence and wonders I am about to relate, came into
prominence.
She lived quite alone in a little cottage on the outskirts of a large
city in America, of course, and why should not the free soil produce
all sorts when it is the dumping ground for all creation?
Alone, with the exception of her dog and several cages of canaries
which, by the way, were a new departure in the line of pets, for the
old-time Witches were supposed to favor cats and parrots, she commanded
the respect of all, but there was something so very peculiar about her
that some of her more superstitious neighbors looked upon this woman as
a kind of good Witch.
There was nothing remarkable about her personal appearance and the
peculiarity was not visibly noticeable. It was nothing tangible, but an
indescribable something which gave her influence over other minds, to
bend them to her will.
Every one felt this more or less in her presence; a giving up of pet
hobbies, even, to her ideas, which fortunately were very liberal.
There was that also about her sympathetic nature which invited
confidence, and many who were not given to complaining found
themselves, they hardly knew why, telling her their secret sorrows.
For years this Witch or woman was herself unconscious of this power,
but when she fully realized it, her work to her conscientious heart was
laid out, and that must be in doing all the good possible through this
genius that was hers.
She had always endeavored to do her best, ever ready to lend a helping
hand to any one in trouble.