The Forrest City times., 1891-03-06

Sy VI (" iiOif'y
 and much ire quented bouglsvard, but particularly so .Ster II o'clock at night.
 Late one evening most of the habi- tues of this bright and comfortable cafe had taken their departure, rais- ing their hats, as the manner is in France, to Mmo. Jean, the smartly dressed and dignifed proprietress, who, Stlll 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 the night. Madame sat little longer, listening to the gossip of the neighborhood, gatdered during the day by the head waiter, to retail for her special amuse- ment when the days work was over and one could indulge in a little relax atlon. Then looking round and seeing that nearly all the well-known custo- mers who every evening played dom- noes or cards and slipped coffee, or drank can sucre or stronger mixtures, under her vigilant but friendly eve. had left, she, retired for the night, leaving the remainder to the care of her faithful Alphonse There were only about @ dozen people now, and everything was slaepily quiet in the eafe, when suddenly the stiffness was rudely broken by a loud voice exclaim- ing angrily:
 1t IS liel don't believe a word of It, and l defy you to prove itl"
 All looked up, startled, from game or newspaper, as these words burst from one of the occupants of @ small table at thefarthest end of the room. The speaker seemed very much exeit- ed; his companion, on the contrary. remained cooland self-possessed under the provocation, but his white face and peculiarly glittering eyes belied that outward appearance and arrested attention when noticed.
 The two had been engaged for some time in close and earnest conyersa- ton, without raising their voices, in- terrupted only now and then by subdued exclamations and incredulous remarks rom the excited man which evidently did not succeed in either shaking or moving the pale man, who continued talking to him and answer lag hls objections quietly, until his opponent, losing all self-control. sprang to hisf feet and violently disturb ed the inmates of the cafe by the angry words quoted above,
 Seelng that he attracted general at tentlon, he looked round and said:
 .Gentlemen, I appeal to you all! am sorry Ii have disturbed you with somewhat violent language, but YOU shall judge whether 1 am justified in refusing to believe the story 1 have just heard. We happened to sit at the same table and naturally entered into conversation, Our talk drifted rom one subject to another until made some joking remarks about the so-called scientific research into the mysteries of the spiritual world. Il grant 1t is fascinating subject even for an unbeliever like myself, and a good one for conversation and play ful badlnage, but to be told seriously and as an undeniable fact that the spirits of the departed can and do revisit this earth when they have promised to do so, passes the bounds of credulity. My neighbor tells this most extraordinary story, that two years ago tonight he lost his dearest friend, a lifelong friend, who. on his | death-bed, seeing his despair, solemn 1 ly promised that he would appear to l hlm on the anniversary of his death. | winch took place about midnight, if | his friend invoked his spirit; he atnrms that he has already seen him once | since he died Now I ask you, as men | of sense, living in the nineteenth cen tury, IS it possible to believe such q [ statement?"
 The paie man nad flushed angrily ! during this speech, but it was only a | transient betrayal of feeling, for his face resumed it's former pallor, al though his eyes retained their strange light and 1t was with marked ex- | presslon more of annoyance than | anger that he replied calmly:
 "lt IS nothing to me whether you be- | lleve or not: have simply stated fact, and 1t IS the truth. You pressed | me with questions concerning that | great trouble of my lift until told | you all: my despair when lost my friend after years of mutual devotion and attachment, and his promise to return. told you truthfully that he had already kept this promise once, but you did not believe me. do not wonder. The spiritual world is 8 closed book to the majority; a glimpse Is obtained now and then by some, but chiefly by conjecture and specu- lation only, whereas actual experi- mental knowledge Is rare and not often communicated. I told you what my privileged experience had been, and l can prove it, incredible as 1t may appear to you"
 While he was speaking, a number of new arrivals had invaded the cafe, calling in on their way from neigh boring theatre for 8 drink or cigar. Their curiosity being aroused by the words they had partially heard, they drew near to listen, and, being in formed of what had happened, joined the others in discussing the pros and | cons of this debatable topic, some laughingly, some seriously, according to the view they took of the subject. No one seemed to take it very serious ly, however, except few, who shook | their heads doubtfully, while others laughed at them and joSed about |