Mohave County miner., 1891-03-28
THE SPIRITUALIST.

corner OF a quiet street in Paris-re.
markably quiet at all times, consider,
ing the near proximity Of a noisy and
much frequented boulevard, but parti,
culsrly 30 after IL o'clock at night.
Late one evening most Of the habi.
tues Of this bright and comfortable
cafe had taken their departure, raising
their hats, as the manner Is in France,
to Nine. Jean, the smartiy dressed and
digniAed proprietress, who, still sitting
ut the post behind the marble compton,
smiled and bowed in return as they
went out. The blinds were already
DOWN and the doors already closed for
tho night. Madame sat little longer,
listening 70 the gossip OF the neighbor-
hood, gathered during the day by the
head waiter to rstail for her special
ahuseAent when the days work was
oFer a9d 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 mix
lures, upder her vigilant but friendly
eye had left, she retired for the night,
leaving the remainder TO the care of
the faithful Alphonse There were
only about dozen people now, and
everything was sleepily quiet in the
cafe, when suddenly the stiffness was
rudely broken by loud voice exclaim-
Ing Sngrily:
1T is liel / don't believe a word
OF it. and / defy you TO prove IL
AL looked up, startled, from game
or newspaper, as these words burst
from one Of the occupants of a small
table at the farther end OF the room.
The speaker seemed very much excited;
his companion, TO the contrary. re-
manned cool and self-possessed under
the proyocation, but his white face and
peculiar glittering eyes belied that out
ward appearance and arrested attention
when noticed.
The two had been engaged for some
time in close and earnest conversation,
without raising their voices, inter-
rupted only now and then by subdued
excldmations and incredulous remarks
from the excited map, which evidently
did not succeed In either shaking or
moving the pale man, who continued
talking To him and answering his OBJ
iections quietly, until his opponent,
losing all self-cOntrol. sprang TO his
feet and violently disturbed the in
mates Of the cafe by the angry words
quoted above.
Seeing that he had attracted general
attention he looked around and said:
'Gentlemen, | appeal TO you all.
am sorry II / have disturbed you with
somewhat violent language, but you
shall judge whether / am justified in
refusing TO believe the story have Just
heard. We happened to sit at the same
table and naturally entered into cop-
versation. Our talk driftsd from one
subject to another, until ! made some
joking remark about the so-called SCI
entifc research into the mysteries Of
the spiritual world. I grant 1t is a
fascinating subject even for an unbe-
lever like myself, and good one for
conversation and playful badinage, but
TO be told seriously and as an undenia-
bic fact that the spirits Of the departed
can and do revisit the 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 ne lost his dear
est friend, q lifelong friend. who oh
his death-bed, seeing his despair,
solemnly promised that he would ap-
pear to him on the anniversary OF his
death. which took place about midnight,
II his friend invoked his spirit. He
affirms that he has already seen him
once since he died. Now, ask you,
as men Of sense, living in the nineteenth
century, is it possible 10 believe such
statementg'
The pale man had flushed angrily
during this speech, but it was only a
transient betrayal Of feeling, for his
face resumed its former pallor, al
though his eyes retained their strange
light; and it was with a marked ex-
preston more of annoyance than anger
that he replied calmly:
1T is nothing 10 pe whether you be-
lieye or not; have simply stated fact,
and it is the truth. You pressed me
with questions concerning that great
trouble OF my life until | told all--my
despair when lost my friend after |
years Of mutual devotion and attach |
lnent and his promise to return. / |
iald xyo1t frrftLft,Il,, that bo bad .IuooJ,, /
kept this promise once, but you did |
not believe me. do not wonder. The |
spiritual world Is closed book TO the /
majority; a glimpse is obtained now
and then by some, but chiefly by con-
lecture and speculation only. whereas
actual experimental knowledge is rare
and not often communicated. / told /
you what my privileged experience had
been, and can prove It, incredible as
I may appear 10 you"
While he was speaking number Of /
new arrivals had invaded the cafe,
Ealing in on their way from a neigh
boring theater for drink or a cigar.
Their curiosity being aroused by the
Bords they had partially heard they
drew near to listen, and, being in
iormed Of what had happened, Joined
he others in discussing the pros and
IONS OF this debatable topic, some
aughingly, some seriously. according
% the view they took Of the subject.
10 one seemed TO take it very serious
y, however, except few, who shook
her heads doubtfully, while others
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