The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-04


angel. give me token that it is Your But
/ was like person struck dumb could only
think it.
The Invisible Presence read my thought.
felt my lips touched, as my husbands lips
used to touch them when he kissed me. And
that was my answer. A thought came to me
again. would have said. if 1 could have
spoken: "Are you here to take me to the better
worldl"
waited. Nothing that could feel touched
me.
/ was conscious of thinking once more.
would have said if co uld have spoken: "Are
you here to protect meg"
I felt myself held in a gentle embrace, as
my husbands arms used to hold me when
he pressed me to his breast. And that was my
answer.
The touch that was like the touch of his lips.
fingered and was lost; the clasp that was like
the clasp of his arms pressed me and fell away.
The garden scene resumed its natural aspect
saw a human creature near lovely little girl
looking at me.
AT that moment, when I was my own lonely
self again, the sight of the child soothed and at
tracted me. l advanced. intending to speak to
her. To my horror suddenly ceased to see her.
And yet could see the landscape round me;
I could see the heaven above me. A time passed
only few minutes, as | thought-and the
child became visible to me again; walking hand
finland with her father. l approached them; |
was close enough to see that they were looking
at me with pity and surprise. My impulse was
to ask if they saw anything strange in my face
or my manner. Before l could speak the hor-
rible wonder happened again. They vanished
from my view.
-. y -
passing between me and my fellow mortals; for
bidding communication, in that place and at that
timel
1t must have been so. When turned away
in my ignorance, With heavy heart, the dread
full darkness which had twice shut out from me
the beings of my was not between me
and my dog. The poor little creature filled me
with pity; called him to me. He moved at the
sound of my voice, and followed me languldiy,
not quite awakened yet from the trance of ter
ror that had possessed him.
Before had retired by more than few stops
I thought was conscious of the Presence again.
l held out my longing arms to it. l waited In
the hope of a touch to tell me that / might re-
turn. Perhaps was answered by indirect means
| only know that resolution to return to the
same place, at the same hour, came to me, and
quieted my mind.
The morning of the next day was dull and
cloudy; but the rain held off. / set forth again
to the gardens.
Ny dog ran on before me into the street, and
stopped, waiting TO see in which direction |
might lead theway. When turned towards the
Gardens he dropped behind me. In a little while
l looked back He was following me no longer;
he stood irresolute. | called to him. He ad-
vanced few steps-hesitated-and ran back to
the house
1 went on by myself Shall 1 confess my
superstitlon9 thought the dogs desertion of
me bad omen.
Arrived at the tree. placed myself under it.
The minutes followed each other uneventfully.
The cloudy sky darkened The dull surface of
the grass showed no shudderiug consciousness
of an unearthly creature passing over 1t.
still waited with an obstinacy which was
fast becoming the obstinacy of despair How
long interval elapsed while L kept watch on
the ground before am not able to say. l only
know that change came.
Under the dull gray light l saw the grass
move-but not as it had moved on the day be-
fore. 1t shriveled as if flame had scorched it.
No flame appeared. The brown underlying
earth showed itself winding onward in a thin
strip-which might have been footpath traced
in fire. 1t fris htened me. longed for the pro-
lection of the Invisible Presence; prayed for a
warning of i. if danger was near.
A touch answered me. 1t as if hand I'M
seen had taken my hand-had raised it, little by
little-had left it. pointing to the scorched brown
path that wound towards me over the grass.
/ looked to the far end of the path.
By fine degrees, Shadow rose in the distance.
Higher and higher it grew. while 1t moved near
er and nearer. 1t advanced to the place in which
I stood. The unseen hand closed on my hand
with warning pressure; the revelation of the
coming danger was near mel waited for it;
saw it.
The central depths of the Shadow opened,
and showed slowly the glimmer of q CHASTITY
light.
In the light mans face appeared. 1t looked
at me. 1t was the face of my husbands brother
John Zant.
The consciousness of myself as living crea-
ure left me. l knew nothing; l felt nothing; l
was dead.
When the torture of revival made me open my
ewes. found myself on the grass Gentle hands
raised my head, at the moment when | recOv-
cred my senses. Who had brought me to life
again9 Who was taking care of mes
looked upward, and saw-bending over me
John Zant.
There, the manuscript ended.
Some lines had been added on the last page;
but they had been so carefully erased as to be
ilegibe. These words of explanation appeared
below the Cancelled sentences:
IL had begun to write the little that remains
to be told when it struck me that might. unin-
tentionally, be exercising unfair influence on
your opinion. Let me only remind you that
believe absolutely in the supernatural revelation
which have endeavored to describe. Remember
this-and decide for me what dare not decide
for myself"
There was serious obstacle in the way of
compliance with this request
Judged from the point of view of the material
ist. Mrs. Zant might. doubt, be the victim of
illusions produced by diseased state of the
nervous system) which have been known to
exist-as in the celebrated case of the book
seller, Nicolai of Berlin-without being accom-
panied by arrangement of the intellectual
powers. But Mr.. Rayburn was not asked to
solve any such intricate problem as this. He
Ia been merely In he ms
script and TO say what impression it had left on
him of the mental condition of the writer; whose
doubt of herself had been, in all probability.
first suggested by remembrance of the illness
from which she had suffered-brain fever.
Under these circumstances there could be lit
tie difficulty in forming opinion. The mem
DRY which had recalled. and the judgment which
had arranged. the succession of events related in
the narrative spoke for themselves ami revealed
mind In full possession of all its resources.
Having satisfied himself so far. Mr.. Rayburn
abstained from considering the more serious
question suggested by what he had read