Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-07-17
THE

markably quiet at all times, considering
the near proximity OF a noisy and much
frequcnted boulevard, but particularly
so after II o'clock at night.
Late n evening most of the habitues
OF this bright and comfortable cafe had
taken their departure, raising their hats,
as tho manner is in France, to Madame
Jean, the smartly DRESSED and diguihed
proprietress, who, still sitting at her
post behind the marble compton, smiled
and bowed in return as they went out.
The blinds were already down and the
doors closed in preparation for thenight.
Madame sat o little longer, listening
to the gossip of the neighborhood gath
cred during the day by the head waiter
to retail for her special Amusement
when the days work was over and one
could indulge in a little relaxation. Then
looking round and seeing that nearly all
the well known customers who every
evening played dominoes or cards, and
slipped coffee or drank eau sucre or
stronger mixtures under her vigilant
but friendly eye, had left, she retired
for the night, leaving the remainder to.
the care If her faithful Alphonse. There
were only about a dozen people now,
and everything was sleepily quiet in
the csfe, when suddenly the stiffness
was rudely broken by a loud voice ex-
claiming angrily;
1T is a liel Idon't believe a word Of
il, and defy you to prove itW
All looked up, startled, from game OF
newspaper, as these words burst from
one Of the occupants of a small table at
the farthest end of the room. The speak
er seemed very much excited; his com
panion, on the contrary, remained cool
and self possessed under tho p~rovocation,
but his white face and peculiar glitter
ing eyes belied that outward appear
ance, and arrested attention when no
ticed.
Tho two had been engaged for some
time in close and earnest conversation,
without raising their voices, interrupted
only now and then by subdued exclama-
tions and incredulous rUlnarks from the
excited man, which evidently did not
succeed in either shaking or moving the
pale man, who continued talking to him
and answering his objections quietly,
until his opponent, losing all self control,
sprang to his feet and violently dis
turbed the inmates of tho cafe by tho
angry words quoted above.
Seeing that he had attracted general
attention he looked around and said:
"Gentlemen, ! appeal to you all. /
SIN sorry if / have disturbed You with
somewhat violent language, but you
shall Judge whether / am justified in re-
fusing to believe the story | have Just
heard We happened to sit at the same
table, and naturally entered into con-
versation. Our talk drifted from one
subject to another, until | made some
joking remark about the so called scien-
tiGc research into the mysteries Of the
spiritual world. Igranti it IS fascinating
subject even for an unbeiieyer like my
self, anda good one FOR conversation and
playful b~adinage, but to be told serious
ly aud as an uudeniGble fact that the
spirits Of the departed can and do re-
= visit this earth when they have prom
ised to do 80, passes the bounds of Gre
dulity. My neighbor tells this most
extraordinary story: That two years
ago tonight he lost his dearest friend, q
lifelong friend, who on his deathbed,
seeing his despair, solemnly promised
that he would appear 20 him on the an
niyersary Of his death, which took place
about midnight, if his friend invoked
his spirit. He ahirms that he has al
ready seen him once since he died. Now
I ask you, as men Of sense, living in tho
Nineteenth century, Il it possible to be-
heve such q statement
The pale man had flushed angrily dur
ing this speech, but it was only o tran
silent betrayal of feeling for his face re
summed its former pallor, although his
eyes retained their strange light, and IL
wal with a marked expression more Of
annoyance than anger than he replied
calmly;
1T is nothing TO me whether you be-
heve or not; have simply stated a fact,
and it is tho truth. Yon pressed me with
questions concerning TINT great trouble
on my DE unttl ] tod you all-ny de-
splir when / lost my friend after years
of hiut1al devotion aud attachment, and
biz promiss 90 return. / told you truth
fully tast he bad already kept his prom
ls once bat you 0id u0t believe me. j
dc not wonder THE spiritual world is a
closed book Us the majority o glimpse is
obtained low ANA then hy 9mh but
chiefly ly conjoeture end spacplation
oll5, whereas actual experimental
knowledge + rare anl NOT often com
muuicaiea j tod sou what my priv
legged experience had been, and 1 can
prove 81, Incredible rs il may appear to
yau
While he was speaking o number Of
new arrivals haG invaded the cafe, call
Ing Ia on their way from q neishboring
aaafer FOR q drink or a cigar. Their
curiosity being aroused by the words
tuey had partially heard, they drew near
to listen, and being informed Of what
had happened Joined the Others in dis
GUESSING the pros and cons Of this debat-
able topic. some laughingly some seri-
onsly, according to the view they took
81 the subject. No one seemed 10 take
II yeiv seriously however, except d few,
who shook their heads doubtfully while
others laughed at them and iofed ehout