The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-04-05

away nun dlS tOAtS& -hHtS1 IAC sSe5Ci
would make in sinking; great wave
rolled in upon il, and the cry went forth
that the boat had gone down. Then
Dudley, caring no more for his own life,
jumped into the boiling sea. But the
crew of the uninjured vessel picked him
up before life was extinct, and he recoY,
cred consciousness TO find himself in the
cabin of the other ship. Until long af
ter daylight the vessel fingered around
the spot, until all hopes of rescuing any
floating persons who might be clinging
to pieces of the wreck were over. Then
it continued on its way to New York.
Over four months had elapsed, during
which ray of light had hardly pene-
trated Dudleyis despair. His sister
shared his darkened life, deferring our
marriage, and withdrawing from society
to devote herself to him. was almost
the only one outside of their near circle
of relatives whom they cared to see.
At times Dudley would be possessed
of strange fancy that his wife might
not be dead-that she might have es-
caped-be now in some remote portion
of the world whittier some passing bark
had conveyed her. Facts and theories
were against him. The boat which they
had seen overwhelmed with the waves
had never been heard from. Another
boat, which had put out last, had sue
ceeded in landing upon an island coast
after three days of floating on the waste of
waters, but, in all human probability,
the first boat had gone down within FIVE
minutes after she left the ships side.
Sometimes Dudley would work himself
into an alarming state of excitement,
avowing his belief that his wife was
alive. His only argument was that if
she were dead she certainly would
vouchsafe him some token to put his
mind at rest.
This evening felt light-hearted and
joyous, despite the sad. faces of my
friends. My spirits had risen triumph
ant over the weather, over the gloom in
duced by sympathy with others, even
over the impatience l sometimes felt at
the long-delayed consummation of my
wishes. am sure that my face shone
with pleasure, for l had that day re-
ceived letter containing news of an
access to fortune, which had exhilerated
me beyond the power of my ordinary
troubles to subdue. ....-...
Suddenly Dudley stopped in front of
us, his eyes looking larger and darker
than ever from the sunken lines about
them, and fixed upon me with an
intensity almost unbearable.
ais it not strange" said he, that all
this time-all this time-she has sent me
no message
1 was surprised as well as startled by
this question. Despite his theory that if
she were dead she would comfort him
by some special message, had not re-
allied that he was really seeking conso-
lation in looking for some palpable token
from the spiritual world. 1t was too
much opposed to his previous habits OF
thought.
What have you expected" was all
could for the moment say.
Anything to prove that she is still
mine, in death as we'll as life"
1t was just then an idea flashed upon
me which hoped would save him from
the madness which at times appre-
hended might destroy his brain, noble
and massive as its structure was. / re-
hearsed the details of my plan to Caro-
line, at the same time imparting to her
the piece of good fortune which had oc-
CURED to me. For this purpose drew
her away into the library, wherein brief
time, l unfolded my ideas and expecta-
tions. When we returned to the parlor
she took her brothers arm, walking up
and down the rooms with him.
Have you seen any of those spirit
photographs, brother?"
"What are they?" He ceased walking,
looking inquiringly at her.
There are photographs nowadays
which fixed the shadows of souls as well
as bodies->so they say! The spirit of the
deceased friend wished for appears be-
side the picture of the sitter, faint and
shadowy, as becomes a spirit, but still
quite palpable." @ 3
"You smile, Caroline; are you jest
ing?' e'
"No, 1 am only relating the last mar
vel of Spiritualism."
"What do you think of it?' directing
his question to me.
"It's rather new thing, even with the
Spiritualists themselves. l have not
made up my mind about it. In fact 1
have never inquired much into the
phenomena But when you spoke so
earnestly of having expected message
from Eleanora it occurred to me that it
could hardly come in a more acceptable
or more convincing than this"
Tomorrow we will make the expert
ment if there is any such thing possible
1 know that Eleanora will come to me.
I shall be permitted to see her. If she
does not come l shall know she is still
alive"
1t was decided that we should go at 9
o'clock the next day to the photographer
l had selected. When We entered the
gallery we became conscious of a pecul-
lar influence permeating our very souls.
As person in the dark, in total silence
and seeing nothing, yet perceives the
presence of another who approaches
him, so each of us perceived an intangi-
BILE something which thrilled us beyond
speech. But few words were spoken.
The business like manner ofthe operator
was in curious contrast to the intense
emotions of those who hung upon his
movements. In answer to Dudley's
question he said that the day was excel.
lent for his purpose. He arranged his
plates, screens andcamera with a matter
of fact air, as if he were not about to at
tempt to catch and fix the feeting shad-
ow of the immortal soul diYested of its
garments of earth. 1t struck me as be-
ing strange mixture of the material