Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-02-17

There WAS no answer. Evidently the
person was merely soliloquizing. Gould
she hear me if spoke, as l heard her
supposing her to be living being.
+ determined to haZIrd the expert
ment.
"Who is it that is speaking 2 I
asked.
For some minutes there was no reply;
then in low. frightened whisper, the
voice said:
What was it? l heard & voice"
YES" l answered. You heard
mine. spoke to you"
"Who are you p asked the voice
tremulously; are you q spirit?'
:" 1 Am living man." l returned.
Can you not see me q
No" answered the voice, 81 can
only hear you. Oh, where are
you? Pray do not frighten me- Come
out Of your coDcealment IA let me see
YOU"
" Indeed, 1 don't wisi, to alarm you,'
1 replied. am not hidden. l Am
standing directly in front of the spot
whence your voice seems to como"
"You are invisible" was the trem-
bling answer Your voice comes to me
out OF the air Holy Virgin! you must
be q spirit. What have done to deserve
this 2"
"Hsve no fear OF roe, Ientreat you, =
i said. esinest,y. 1T is as much OF a
mystery to me US it is to you. hear
you speak, but you are otherwise in
visible"
Are yoa real living being ?"askei
the voice, doubtfully. Then why do
not see you? Come to me. [ will sit
here. l will not fly"
"Tell me where | am to come" |
said.
"Here in my garden in the arbor."
"There is no arbor here, returned,
"only solid rock ont of which you
seem to be speaking"
"Saints protect me-" answered the
voice. I" 1t is too awful. daro not
stay here longer. Spirit or man, fare.
we'll"
"But you will come again. plead
ed. = L,t me- hear you speak opce more
Will you not be here ut the same
hout?'
81 dare nos-5ut yet your voice
sounds q, if you would do me no harm,
Yes, I will come"
Then there was utter silence, the
mysterious speaker had gone. 1 re-
turned homo in state of stupid won.
der, questioning myself if I had lost
my senses and if the whole occurrence
was not delusion. 1 was faithful tc
my appointment with the voice on the
following morning. however. l had
waited but a few moments, when the
soft, trembling accent broke the silence,
saying:
am here"
"And I, too" answered: 81 ana
grateful to you for coming"
II have not slept the whole night,
) said the voice, I was go terrified. Am
doing wrong to come?'
"Are you still afraid of me?"
mot exactly, but it is so strange
"Will you tell mo your name?"
9 Il don't know-Lanore. What i.
yours?'
a "George." answered, initiating be,
b example and giving my first name
ouly. "Shall We not be friends
n Lenore?'
D "Oh. yes" answered the voice with
q a silvery peal of laughter. Evidently
: it's owner was getting over her fears
Q Don't be offended, George. 1t is 81
= strange-.wo people who cannot Sc,
!. each other and perhaps never will
j. making friends"
/, II will solve the mystery yet
1 Lenore," l answered, land find on
what you are. Would you be glad to SCI
j. me in my proper person?'
o Yes" she replied, 1 should lik,
y to see you"
u "And would give great dea. t,
it see you, Lenore. You must be yer!
beautiful if your face is like you
Q voice."
:. "Oh, hush!" was the agitated answer
j. " 1t is not right to speak thus"
Vt "Why not Do you know, Lenore
o that if this goes on L shall end by falling
in love with you, though l never Sc,
n you"
s You are very audacious." was tn,
l reply. If you were really here, befor'
: me. 1 should punish you for it. As it is
d 1 am going now"
: But you will come gain to morrow
it Lsnore?
y "If you will promise to be more dis
s Greet, George, yes"
d AS may be imagined, ! did not fai
= to keep my engagement with my iuvisi
g BILE friend. For many CONSECUTIVE
IS days these strange meetings continued
As absurd as it may seem. the voic
+ was beginning to make powerful i'm
d preston upon me. I felt in it's sof
= tones the manifestation of a sweet, re
;. fined woman's soul.
e True, l had made no progress towart
o unraveling the mystery. Nevertheless
9 l was confident that through some in
explicable dispsnsation of Providenc,
l l had been permitted to hold commun
s ion with a real, living, lovely woman
t from an unknown distance. She hai
3 not yet told me more than her frs
7 name, and l did not press be-