Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-02-15
people from their graves, and act them
rarping on chairs and tables.

patton than that to do, let alone z hosts
yet | declare to goodness when | was
talking to that youngwoman yesterday
(anl she is young and pretty, too,)
there came two great knocks right on
my chair, and she said that was to
show her that the spirits liked the
place, and she was not to let money
come as an object between us"
The dread secret ut last was ont.
Mr.. Eben HIGGINS smiled.
I'm inclined to agree with your
husband, Mrs. Brown. and think you
would be very foolish to ALLOW any ab
surI superstition to interfere with
vonr closing with an offer otherwise
advantageous; and I'm quits sure
you'd find your sleep in no wise dis
turbed by any ghostly intruders'
There are people simple enough to be-
lieve in such rubbish and Others wise
enough to profit bv their belief. If |
were You, 7 should make my self one
OF the wise ones.
The result Of which conversation
WAS that the following week Mr.. Hig.
gins perceived, ne day, that Mrs.
Browns sign "FIoor to let," ha! been
withdrawn, and in its place appeared
one whi"h read thn, Madame Elsie
Bouvlie, medium"
\ month elapsed, and Mrs Brown
had quite overcome her nervousness
50 far, in fact, that curiosity had over
come terror; and, on a special and ur
gent invitation FROM Madame Bouvills
She had baen present al one OF her
last seances, whose wonders she duly
reported to Mr.. Higgins on the follow
ing itv.
Madame BouviIIe had ssk ed about
him, too, she said She had seen him
passing in ana out, and expressed h
wish that he would come into her par
lors some evening to receive a spirit
message for bin, which invitation no
politely and resoiutely declined.
1t so happened, however, that one
RAINY night, when to venture ont Was
somewhat too uncomfortable propo
sition Tor practical considerations,
there came to hlr, a second summons
from the mvsterlous :ioor below.
Feeling, contrary to his usual wont
!! somewhat in the need Of being anus
ed, and half indignant at this persist
snte from what he termed an auda-
ciohs humbug, with some lurking in
'rntion of discovering and exposing
The said hnmbug, he, som swhat to his
own surprise, found him self knocking
at Madame Bonvile door.
The room was bu, dimly lighted,
and in the shadoWswere scattered two
or three people, converslng in low and
mysterious whispers.
As he entered, lady rose and
greeted him. Her voice was pleasant
aud rs she called him by name and in
dioatel seat which he was to occupy
when two or three having arrived,
she formally announced that the Sc.
ance had begnn-tbat the spirits were
about to assume control Of her-and
withdrew into smal! curtained re-
cess at ore end Of the room.
Scarcely had her audience lost sight
of ber than the curtains parted, and
senre, clad in white, with hying hair,
,4aIf hidden by long veil which float,
ed gracefully over ber shoulders, ap |
peared in the aperture.
Somewhat startled, Mr.. Higgins
carefully adjusted his glasses, and
drew himself together, as be telt a sen.
saton as of ice water trick ling down
bis back.
But still greater wonderment WAS
in store for him; for, after advancing
and retreat for some minutes the fig
ure gracefully and noiselessly ap
preached him, and laid its hand one
instant on his fore head as it rIurnut
ed low and distinctly:
"Eben !"
Whether it was the touch or the
sound Of his name, spoken for the first
time in many years by mans lips
hs d1 not pause to analyze. as a
thtill strangely like pleasure made his
pulses leap into new like.
No other particular event marked
the evening One or two other figures
GYp2&:et, ~. ,o;2etoH b. desire ff---