The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-05

i ices, 'I1aG you t1lnk invent the splf
itual manifestations in which I re
joice?"
"That which your Royal Highnes
so aptly suggests Is what your Roya
HighnesJ humble servant is fain :
think" said the ex-chief physical
with low bow.
''If my chief executioner were NO
confined to his bed, and very ill fror
the effects OF an awful vision whicl
was given to him last night, in whicl
he saw all the executioners of all tim
waging war against all the executed
and the executed, forming a might
army, with their heads beneath thei
arms, subduing them, would have yo
beheaded," said the Princess.
The ex-chief physician bowed again
and the ex-Prime Minister fastened t.
say that. putting aside all explanation
that might be offered as to the objec
tivity or subjectivity of spiritual mani
festations, he would come to the poin
of declaring that he and all the rest o
her Royal Highness' faithful subject
earnestly desired that the Princes
might show herself more graciuu,
towards them, and to this end, trusting
that the indulgence of pure and healthy
domestic JOYS would render her NOR,
mindful of the mundane needs of hel
people, they humbly entreated theil
royal mistress to enter forthwith init
the holy bonds of wedlOck.
At this the Princess blushed, for she
was but woman, Notwithstanding hel
prediction for the supernatural.
''But do not wish to marry" she
said.
Nevertheless, we venture to i'm
plore your Royal Highness to reconsid:
er the matter" said the ex-Prime Min:
lister.
''But whom should | marry? Who m
could | marry?" said the Princess.
Madam" began the ex-Prime Min=
lister, 'there is the Prince Of"
But the Princess cut him short.
"a Prince is nought to me-" she said.
"What have / in common with ordi-
nary mortals who have no cognizance
with the spirit-world, who are toe
gross and carnal to discern the invisi-
BILE or to apprehend the impalpable,
and whose organizations are too coarse
to receive incorporeal manifestations?
Nay, my lord, if you would have me
wed, you must find for me husband
SO completely enrGpport with the spirit
world that he shall pass through the
crucial test, wherewith l shall try him,
and retain not only my esteem and con-
fidence but my adoring reverence"
At these words the ex-Prime Minis
ter and the ex-chief physician dropped
their heads dejectedly. while faint
murmur of applause arose from the
thin lips of the courtiers. But child,
who was seated on stool at the Prin-
cess knee, the orphan son of her dear
est friend, asked, ''Godmother, what is
the test?n
All listened for the answer But the
Princess was moody and would not eX-
plain.
when the time comes you will
know" she sa id.
Then the two ex-officers retired, sad
and Responding, and the Princess with
drew into dim chamber, where daily
at that hour was heard the music of
unseen violins, played high in the air
by phantom fiddlers.
The ex-Ministers rubbed their heads
and thought. What was this crucial
test wherewith the Princess should try
her would-be husband? And who would
be found to submit himself to the or
deal! The two good gentlemen were
sorely perplexed. But rich princess
need not remain single long, and, as in
the legends of fairyland, suitorS quick
ly presented themselves, each one con-
tident that the test, however hard it
might be, was no harder a nut than he
could conveniently crack.
Upon each sutton who was brought
before her the Princess turned her eyes
languidly.
"What is your title to seek my
hand?" she said then.
And one offered her pack of cards
and babe her name the card that should
spring from among its fellows. And
another produced lighted Chinese Ian
terms out of the Lord High Chamber
lain's hat. And another caused his
limbs to be tied with cords in many
knots and had himself shut up within
n small space with CT garette paper
laid upon his knees, and, 10, in a mo-
ment the curtain was withdrawn and
the cigarette was rolled and between
the lips of him who still sat there
bound with knotted chords. But the
Princess only smiled and said, That
is mere sletght of hand and any Jug
gler can do as much"
Then others came. relating how in
the stillest hours Of night, in locked
chambers, friends who were at great
distance appeared to them, and how
they had learnt afterward that at that
moment the friend had died, and telling
of warning voices which had kept them
from starting on some fateful journey.
and of prophetic dreams which had
been realized, and of strange coinci-
dences and marvellous presentiments
and eccentric exhibitions of psychic
phenomena. But the Princess still
smiled and said, These are only the
normal displays of spiritual force and
lowest servants in my scullery have
had manifestations as marked and as
"
And some of the suitors went away
crestfallen. But some pleaded to be
to undergo the test, and to
these the Princess said, Tell me of
what l am thinking. This is not the
test, but if you can tell me that, you
will have accomplished something"
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