The Magnolia gazette., 1882-02-24

| LntugllIul UDile tIt VOICE bhlu
"Oh, how lonesome it is Am / 70
pass my whole life in this most dreary
place."
There was no answer Evidently the
person was merely soliloquizing. Could
she hear me if spoke, as / heard her i?
supposing her TO be living being at
all. / determined TO hazard the expert
ment
Who d it that il speaking l
asked.
For some moments thero was 10 re-
ply, then in low, frightened whisper
the voice said
What was it2 heard voice.
:. Yes, | answered, you heard
mine. / spoke TO YOU.
Who are you? asked the voice,
trcmulusly care youa spirit 2
am Q living man, ! returned.
'Can you not Pee mop
mo, answered the voice, ~ can
only hear yon. OH, Whcro are you?
Pray do not frighten me. Come ont Of
yonr place of concealmcnt and let me see
you."
Indeed. don't wish to alarm you, "
I replied. ~ am not hidden. l am
standing directly in front Of the spot
whence your voice seems TO come.
" You are invisible, was the trcm-
bling answer :" Your voice comes to me
out Of the air. Holy Yivgin You must
be u spirit What have done to de-
serve this
Have no fear Of me, | entrcat you,
! said earnestly. "It is as much Of a
ynrtu4oy,r ~ ,ps, as -, tt,t, I ba,.
you speak but you arc likewise invisible
!" Arc you real living being?' asked
the voice doubtfully. "Then why do
not sec you2 Come to me- will sit
hero | will not iIy
"Tcll me where l am to come, said
Here IN my garden, in the arbor.'
"Ihere is no arbor here, | returned,
"only q solid rock out Of which you
seem to be speaking.
Saints protect me, answered the
voice. II is too awful. l dare nos
stay here longer. Spirit or man, fare.
won. "
But you will come again, / plead
ed. "Lct me hear YOU speak once
more Win you not be here at the same
hour 2"
~ dare not but yet your voice
sounds as if you would 10 me no harm
Yes, ! will come.
Ehen there was uttcr silence, the mys-
terious speaker had gone. ! returned
homo in n state Of stupid wonder, qucs-
tioning myself ii / had lost my senses,
and if the whole occurrence was not
dcusion. ] was faithful 70 my appoint
mont with tho voice on the following
morning, however. / had waited but a
few moments, when the soft. trembling
accents broke the silence, saying
" am here.
and !, too" ! answered ~ nm
grateful to you for coming"
~ have not slept the whole night, y
said the voice, 81 was so terrified. Am
dong wrong TO come 2"
Are you still afraid Of me?n
" Not exactly, but it is 50 strange"
!" VIII you tell me your na1le?"
!" don't Lonore. What is
yours ?"
" George, answered, initiating her
example, and giving my first name only.
Shnll we be friends, Lcnore ?"
on, yes, answered the voice with a
silyery peal Of laughter Evidently its
owner was getting over her fears.
- Don't be offended, George. II is SO
strangetw people who cannot see
each other and perhaps never will,
making friends.
:" will solve tho mystery vet. lie.
more" | answered, "and find ont what
you are. Would you be glad to see mo
] in my I,ropn1. pprsnp ~
! Yes" was the reply II should like
to see you.
:" And / would givoa great deal to sec
you, Lenorc. You must be very beau
titul i your face is like your voice.
ooh, hush" was the agitated answer
" II II not right to speak thus.
Why not? Do you know, Lenore
that II this goes on l shall be falling
in love with you, though l never sec
/ you.
" You are very audacious," was til,
reply. "lf you were really here, before
me, | should punish you for il. As it i.
! am going now"
! 4 Bnt you will come again tomorrow
Lenore?'
" II You will promise to be more dis
Greet, George, yes.
As may be imagined, did not fail tC
keep my engagement with my invisibl,
friend. For many consecutive days thes,
strange meetings continued. As absurt
as it may seem, the voice was beginning
to make powerful impression upon me
/ felt in its soft tones the manifestation
| of n sweet, refined womans soul.
True, had made no progress towar,
unraveling the mystery. Nevertheless
j was confident that through some mex
| plicable dispensation of Providence
had been permitted TO hold communion
with real, living, lovely woman, iron
an unknown distance. She had not We
told me more than her first name, an,
| did not press her for more as vet
Her only answer to my question rs I,
where she was was "In the garden" Sh
did not seem capable of grasping tn
fact that was not invisibly near her
She seemed content with matters as the,
II = 4 L