Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-04-11
A MATERIALIzED SPIRIT.

st. Louis Globe Democrat.
"You are an attorney as well as mag
istrate," said lady In Justice w. A
Poe's Office, as she glanced nervously
around the room.
eyes, madam; how can serve you.'
said the Justice.
do you keep record Of the marriage
ceremonies you perform?" she INQUIRED
after some hesitation. Her manner was
still excited, and her fingers played rap
idly with a handkerchief which che
held.
"Only partial one. 1t is not very &C.
curate."
"Get the hook and look at the date
two years ago." she demanded.
The order was obeyed, and the follow.
ing entry read from the record:
Married, March %, Fannie Howard
and James F. Sterling"
"Yes, yes" she said. II am now con.
vinced the man to whom you mar.
ried me was my dead husband. You
may not believe it, but as sure as am 9
living woman, the ceremony you per.
formed bound in wedlock live woman
and man who had been dead for three
years. Listen to what say: You mar.
ried me to materialized spirit. l see
you do not believe in spiritualism. do
and on oath I declare that in this room
on the 23d day of March, 1883, you mar.
ried me, Fannie Howard, to James
Franklin Howard, and not to J. F. Ster.
ling. There is not, and never was, J.
F. Sterling, who married me in this
room, on that 23d of March, two years
ago. l will prove it to you, on testimony
that jury of twelve men can not doubt
Eleven years ago, in the county OF
Monroe, this State, 1, Fannie Westbrook,
married James Franklin Howard, my
husband. We lived together twelve
months, when he was taken sick and
died. Shortly afterward I went North.
There saw my husband materialized
spirit. talked with him, and enjoyed
the happiness his presence gave me. !
left the medium-rOom with new life and
hope, and in a short time returned
home. The quiet neighborhood of a
country home is seldom broken by the
appearance of a visitor. One day, how.
ever, there came to our house stranger
He had been in the neighborhood sew.
eral days, and his striking resemblance
to my husband had been noted by many
of my friends who had seen him. He
came to our homeat the invitation
my father, who had requested him to
dine with us. 1 did not enter he dining
room until all had taken seats around
the table. My eyes rested upon the
stranger, and in moment saw before
me my dead husband, as distinctly, sir,
as I see you. 1 donot know what passed
afterward. Memory deserted me.
seemed to be under the influence of
some spiritual power. Mr.. Sterling
came to my house often afterward. I
was never 50 impressed in my life as
was at our first meeting. His resem-
blence to my dead husband was start
ling. In time he addressed me, and
accepted his offer against my fathers
consent. We came to this city, and in
an hour after we arrived you married US.
We left your Office for the hotel. Ny
husband left me at the room door. /
partially closed the door, and instantly
opened it. He was not in the hall, as
he was moment before. He had not
entered the Office and no one saw him
leave the hotel. 1t was mystery. He
never returned. . was advised by the
proprietor to consult the police. did
so, but never afterward heard of him."
"You were crually deserted, madam,
by cowardly william" suggested the
Justice.
"Desertedv she repeated, with an in
credulous smile. mo. Let me tell you
a man of flesh and blood could not cover
200 feet of hallway in the short space
Of five seconds. No one saw him pass.
Besides, is it likely the police force could
have failed to find him if he had been
in the city. His motive for DESERVING
me must furnish key to the mystery.
From the facts, I firmly believe mar
red the materialized spirit of my hus-
band; that his spirit came back to earth
and assumed q form like that he wore
On earth; that for season he made me
happy, forgetting his spiritualized life.
He Overstepped the bounds of that ex-
stence, and was recalled peremptorilly
TO the spirit land. With this knowl-
edge I can swear that married in this
room, on the 23d of March, 1883, James
Franklin Howard. If ever I can believe
Is you do, sir, will call again. Pardon
my intrusion. / will bid you good day."
And the strange visitor glided out of
he door as if she herself might have
been materialized spirit.
Rapid Speakers.
New York Sun.
The three most voluable Senators, Beck.
Morgan and Plumb, neither write nor