Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-11-19

returned, somewhat more composed, and
while finishing her interrupted repast,
she confded to Mr.. Barstead the cause
of her emotion.
Poor Mr.. Hartley was a spiritualist, {"
she said, sand we used to discuss the
subject; but [ was always skeptical till
now. 1t is evident that you are medi-
UNI.
Mr.. Barstead owned that it was all
very strange, but added that, if it were
agreeable to his hostess, he would be
most happy to stay day or two for the
purpose of trying to obtain further
communications.
That very afternoon he was seized
with peculiar trembling fit while sit
ting at table, and proceeded to write
as if in a dream.
Miss Annersleigh again recognized
the handwriting, and, though the mes
sage it conveyed was somewhat vague
it contained illusions to private matters
which a stranger like Mr.. Barstead
could not have known. Further sittings
produced even more satisfactory results
and proved the visitor to be a writing
medium of no ordinary power The
messages increased at every sitting,
though Miss Annersleigh remarked that
the caligraphic accuracy was not con-
tinued.
Mr.. Barstead regarded the whole bust
ness as a puzzle. He could not, he
said, bring himself to believe in spirit
ualism; but the fact of his writing par
h.
never heard of before, astonished him.
Two days passed, but the couple were
too absorbed in the new distraction to
have thought for the object that
brought Mr.. Barstead to Somerscourt.
He seemed in no way eager to expedite
matters, until the morning of the fourth
day. On the previous evening message
had been received from the spirit of the
defunct curate, implying delicatley, but
enthusiastically that the medium was in
need of the aid of his hostess, but
that his loftiness of soul prevented his
asking for that help which she could so
well afford. Mr.. Barstead had made a
practice of handling the messages direct
to Mrs. Annersleigh, instead of himself
reading them, on finding that some of
them were of an exceedingly private
character-a delicacy which Miss An
nersleigh did not fail to appreciate,
therefore he was quite ignorant of the
nature of this particular communication,
and when next morning the old lady
presented him with u handsome check,
he was fairly overcome with emotion.
He, however, suddenly seemed to re-
member the cause he had at heart; SO,
taking advantage of the check-book
being on the table, he advanced the
claims of his Society" and easily OBJ
tanned check for ESQ. Then he re-
luctantly declared that he must return
to town, and after consoling his hostess
by an assurance that he would come
back in two days at most, he set out,
announcing his intention of calling on
the vicar on his way.
Miss Annersleigh occupied the
tedium of his abE ence by writing an
account of the remarkable manifesta-
tions for the Society for Psychical Re
search. But it was never sent, as, be-
fore it was completed, circumstances
TRANSFERRED which caused her to insti-
tute inquiries respecting the departed
medium, such inquiries being rendered
the more urgent by reason of his I'M
explained continued absence, and by
letter from the ecclesiastical introducer
to whom she had written, in which he
disclaimed any knowledge of Mr.. Bar
stead.
The matter remained a mystery for
some time; in fact, until On old servant
called Oh Miss Annersleigh to ask if she
could be taken back into service, as her
intended husband he'd written, saying
that he had been unexpectedly "called
to America, and the date of his return
was most uncertain" On being casually
given description of the wandering
lover, Miss AnnersIeigh discovered to
her establishment, that he bore strong
resemblance to Mr.. Barstead. She ven
tured to suggest that they were one
and the same person; but the old do
nestle was most indignant at the idea,
adding she was certain her Robert"
could not be guilty of such an imposi-
ton, as he was religiously disposed
man, and great admirer of poor dear
Mr.. Hartley, whose paths he always told
her he intended to follow.