The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-22
II confess that you have accurately


But at the same time there is whole
world of spiritual and supernatural facts
with which youseem to be unacquainted.
Have you ever heard of a lady who
would lie in trance for days without
food, and during that time her soul was
absent from the body? And you have
heard, suppose, of one who was rapt up
into the third heaven, and saw invisibles
and heard unutterablesr'
III have certainly heard of the latter
instance
"You will hear of the first instance in
book by Mr.. J. G. Hare, well-known
writer of the present time, in an account
of his mother by adoption, Mrs. Hare,
Memorials of Quiet Life"
"Yes."
"There are various other instances of
a cognate kind which have occurred to
me in the course of long life, totally
different from the ordinary phenomena
of so-called spiritualism. There is not
the least doubt in my own mind that
this poor woman, during her sleepless
days, is often in kind of trance, during
which time..and distance are annihilated,
that she is able to hold some kind of in
tercourse with her daughter, whether she
be in heaven or ON EARTH"
AS l passed through the village. on the
way to the Wears house, for he had
kindly asked me to "restaurate," we heard
the low, sweet, melancholy music Of an
organ proceeding through an open ease
ment window set in abundant green
cries.
"That is poor Louisia's discarded suit
or, James Wilson," said the Vicar. "He
is out and out the most wonderful young
man in our little town. He has saved
up money and bought himself an organ,
and has taught himself to play it; and
he only plays grand melancholy music.
He Is one of the best readers in our local
institution; and has lectured here and
in the other villages on a variety of sub
jects, and has always done so very WE'LL"
At this moment the young man rose
from the organ and greeted us with a
quiet, courlly air. If had liked him be-
fore, liked him better now; and suffer-
ing had done him good. l think it was
Schubert, the musician, who says that
those are weak, frivolous natures which
have never known suffering, that gives
refinement to a man. Suffering is a
great civilizer. There was a sweet, quiet
gravity about his face which contrasted
much with that angry expression which
it wore when last saw him, that memor-
able evening.
That night puzzled and puzzled over
matters. The set of facts with which
become acquainted that day certainly
seemed to me to stand in relationship
with the facts disclosed in the misdirected
letters. And my meditations ran this
way:
"In all scientific discovery there is an
abundant use of hypothesis. This is de-
rived from what Tyndall calls the scien-
tific Imagination. Our philosophers OBJ
tain a large induction Of facts, and then
they frame law which will account for
the fatcs. Of course, as their knowledge
increases and becomes more accurate,
they may see reason to modify or abandon
the theory. But they proceed on the as
sumption that the theory is true in
order to discard it or gain veriication.
Now | intend to accept theory on the
matter. take it for granted that he
married this poor girl because he thought
she had money, being an extravagant,
vicious fellow who always wants money
beyond anything else. As she has a
small annuity he sees a way of making a
thousand pounds, either by her death or
by the fraud of pretending that she is
dead. Now accepting the theory that
both these letters relate to the same per-
son, we have suggested that he has forged
certificates of her death, and has threat
ened her with real death or iDfamy in
case she returns to this country. H
must herefrankly say that the old w.
mans talk and the Wears reasoning had
made me lean to the hypothesis that the
girl was alive.) In any case I have
precious rascal disclosed with the alter
natives of murder or fraud and forgery.
| must make it my business to find the
rascal out. If I could but restore
this young woman to her mother? Alas,
that it is impossible to restore her to her
old lover! The very worst part of the
business will be that old drawback, that
in striking at the husband you will strike
at the wife,"
Before I left, an incident occurred
which afforded just ray Of elucidation.
The Vicar said:
"Ry the way, I believe have letter
which very probably lelongs to you. 1t
was sent me instead Of one which ought
to have accompanied some books re-
turned to me from the Castle"
The note was written in an italian
hand. 1t was signed Giacomo Benz. 1t
simply said that it was written at the re-
quest of the housekeeper, who was to ac-
company my lord and lady abroad, who
had desired him to say that the laundress
had returned a variety Of articles be-
longing to Mr.. Msjoribanks, and wished
to know to what address they should be
sent.
l took the note and examined it care
fully. had no hesitation in the world
in identifying the handwriting Of Giaco-
mo Beni with the handwriting of the
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