The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-06-13

son once more, was, how long it
would be before she could 60 to her
Franks funeral.
When assured that he was not
dead. but still alive, and actually in
the room at that moment, the mean
ing of the words did not seem to en-
ter her mind, for she again repeated
ly asked, in pleading way:
"Please let me go to Franks fune-
raj p
Her lover, who had been with her,
or near her, almost continually, .hen
came forward, and, sitting down be-
side her, took one of her hands, say
ing:
II am not dead, dear Florence ! !
am alive and here with you"
But his kind words only brought
bewildering stare.
"You Who are you?" she asked.
81 do not know you! / never saw
you before. You are not M dear
Frankie is dead and now they
will not even let me go to his funer-
al. Did you know Frank? You look
some like him, but 1 believe you are
trying to pass yourself for him. Go
away from me, you trouble me"
There is hope in her case" said
the doctor, when at his next visit
this incident was related to him.
"The normal action OF her mind will
not be restored Immediately, and
will be work of great labor and
care. think it will be better, my
young friend" he continued, ad-
dressing McAllister, "for her not
even to see you for few days. We
will, in the meantime, carefully OBJ
serve all she says in regard to you,
Frank"
This plan was continued for some
three weeks, but with no encourag-
ing result. The experiment of al
lowing Frank to return and talk to
her, and with other persons was again
tried, but without success.
By the earnest desire of the par
ents and other friends of the patient,
Florence was retained at home in
stead of being sent to an asylum for
lunatics. DR.. Redfield giving her
his daily, and in fact almost con-
slant attention.
In this way three months of pain
full and anxious suspense, with no
certainty in regard to the final result,
passed.
"You are a good singer, l believe"
said the doctor addressing young
McAllister, as they were sitting to-
gether on the veranda, where they
had been talking for half an hour in
regard to the care of poor Florence.
"Well, yes; | am q fair singer"
replied Frank. Florence and |
have been accustomed tossing togeth-
er, especially when much younger,
and before l moved away from the
city. We were at one time MEM
bers of Juvenile choir for over two
years"
"Well, my dear fellow" said the
doctor, II am disposed to try anoth-
er experiment, which may not be OF
the least use to our dear Florence,
but can certainly do her no harm.
| want you to come into one OF the
adjoining rooms occasionally, only
do not let her see you, and sing one
of those old songs which you and
she have been accustomed to sing
together with the deepest interest,
and let us see what the result will
be. You must be near enough for
her to hear you distinctly. We will
try this experiment only when she
is in a quiet state of mind"
"Who is that singing 2" asked
Florence, starting up and looking
around suddenly and earnestly. ut
sounds like the voice of my dear
Frank, who is now in Heaven. How
glad | would be to get there and live
with him."
This remark was made the first
time the experiment was tried, the
patient being at that time more
composed than usual.
Il know that is my dear Franks
voice." she repeated. "Please let me
go to him"
And she at once began to catch
the tune and also sing few notes
of it.
at does sound like Frank sing
ing" the doctor finally said "but |
do not see how we could hear him if
he is already IN Heaven. | think it
must be nearer than that"
The experiment was, however.
continued only a short time, as the
patient became very much excited
after few moments, and burst into
tears. begging TO be allowed to go
and Join her dear Frank in the world
to which she knew he had gone.
Similar experiments were repeated
frequently, occasions being selected
when Florence was most quiet and
not liable to be too much excited I;
her lover, in the meantime, passing
around from one room to another,
sometimes quite near to her, and
then in a distant part OF the large
house.
After few trials the patient began
to ask for the singing, and would not
be satisfied until she heard it. She
would listen for considerable time
with the deepest attention and in
terest, occasionally joining with her
own voice. but would invariably be-
come weary after a time, and some
times pass off again into the widest
excitement
The moment, however, any trouble
of that sort appeared to be approach
ling, the singing was, Of course, sus-
pended.
In this way these experiments
had continued for some two or three
weeks, with encouraging results. At
length, one day as the patient was
sitting up in her chair, and more
quiet than usual, the familiar notes
of The Last Rose of Summer"
sounded out clear and distinct.
Florence Immediately joined. her
own voice to that Of the unseen sing
er; /; then, as if forgetting that she
had ever imagined that her lover was
dead. she sprang from her chair, the