The Van Buren press., 1875-04-13
Spiritual Manifestat ons.

"No. There's no necessity for discus
sing the matter. simply say no, and
put an end to it, aud there will be no
need whatever for YOU to call upon my
daughter any more, No offence intend
| ed; but the servant will be instructed to
say mot at home to you.'
= But, my dear sir plead NJ. Alfred
! CoDely, Miss Chalmers has made me
happy by conressing that-that-she
does not dislike me-and rising archi-
| tect--"
| said did not intend to discuss the
matter" said Mr. Chalmers. mo doubt
you are a very respectable young man I;
but my daughter isnot of age; therefore
| | control her actions. Good day, sir.
And Mr.. Chalmers rang the bell, and
Mr. Copelv, who had been referred to pa
! by Miss I.avinia Chalmers, only the eve
ming before, aud who had entered the Ii
brarv full Of hope and confidence, retired
crest fallen.
Not despairing however. lie certain
ly did not call on Miss Lavinia, but he
sent her little note, and received little
answer, and the result was. that certain
hour every evening, the cook, well brlbed,
unlocked the areagate, and Miss Lavinia,
in a water proof and hood. stole around
the corner, there, to talk and walk Tor the
space of half an hour, with her beloved
Alfred, and with him bcwail the hard fate
that kept them assnndcr,
Success emboldcRs. At first even this
was done in fear and trembling, but anal
| Is Alfred grew bolder On rainy nights
| he used to come into the kitchen, and
there, in the shadow of the copper boil
err directly under the feet OF the parent
who had so cruelty eXertcd his authority,
the two poor turtle doves were as happy
As possible Jane, who said that she
knew by experience what true love was,
furthcred their happiness by retiring ear
ly on those nights, and received blessings
as well as bonnets for her consideration.
Often during these interviews an awful
humping was heard overhead. In the
kitchen it sounded like machinery, and
it was very plain that it also made La
vinia nervous. At last, Alfred, whose Gu,
riosity had been greatly excited, question
ed her concerning it, and received a start
liag answer.
II suppose it's the spirits, Alfred,
| dear"
"spirits p cried Alfred.
Yes, dear" said Lavinia. Didn t
YOU know pa believed in 'cm 2
mo" said Alfred docs he ?"
4" Oh, yes" said Lavinia. " Mr., Stripes
the medium, comes every Thursday, and
he's trying to make medium of pa. Ma
! is afraid Of it, but she has to help make
the circle They put their hands on the
table, you know, and spirits come and
tip it. Three bumps means yes and
two doubtful and one no And Mr..
Stripes says that pretty soon they shall
hear voices, 'and see spirit forms. Ma
says when the spirit forms appear, she
shall die Of fright It's veay good for
me, though" added Lavinia PA for
gets to look after me as long as the table
is tipping
This explanation entered Alfred s
mind and passed out of it again. and was
! in n measure forgotten. The meetings
went on, and the lovers grew so bold that
they absolutely forgot that there was
such thing as danger, when, one night
about ten O'Clock, a heavy step was heard
upon the kitchen stairs. and Layinia, with
stined shrek, declared that pa was com
ing, and bcsought Alfred to hide himself
i" for her sake"
| Alfred, not averse to hiding himself for
his own sake, yielded without much OPP
position, aud in twinkling found him
. 4 tnip nj in "a
moment more in the coal-cellar itself.
| What is more even here he was not safe
for the door in the kitchen entry open
ed Immediately, and gruif voice SAID:
"Hand me candle, Vinny--lm going
down to get u pitcher of beer
Alfred retreated before the advancing
candle. He gazed about him. There was
but one object in sight that appeared ca
pable of concealing even his slender form.
! IL was the beer barrel Behind this he
sccreted himself in one wild jump,
Down came papa. The light Of the
candle went before him.
The pitcher cIankei against the stone
floor as he set it down, and Alfred Cope
ley, in endeavoring to contract himself
| lnID SnaIlcl Cou pass Jun ~ "cS''"'N W.
| barrel
Mr.. Chalmers heard the bump. His
hand was on the faucet, but he paused,
and sitting back upon his heels, propoun
ded the singular and startling query;
Does spirit desire to communi'
cate p
Alfred was genius. A genius always
sees his opportunity, instead of keeping
silence and quaking with fear He rep'l'
ell in soft talsetto:
Yes
"IIar" cried Mr., Chalmers. "A spir-
it voice Stripes said should hear them.
Is that a spirit voice 2
Yes" replied Alfred from behind the
barrel
spirit OF man? ~
mo"
"Of woman p
! Yes
! "What woman
"Your guardian angel, Martha" re.
piled Alfred.
my Aunt Morthaf' asked Mr. Chal'
mers
Yes"
"Poor. dear SOUL said Mr.. Chalmers,
getting out his handkerchief aud wiping
his eyes. I'm glad to hear from YOU
Aunt Martha
BLESS you, my nephew, said Alfred