The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-04-18

~ and much fire.
q1ented boulevard, but particular,
30 after IL o'clock at night.
Late one evening most OF the habi
tues OF this bright and comfortabl,
cafe had taken their departure, rails
ing their hats, as the manner is il
France, to Nine. Jean, the smartl,
dressed and dignified proprietress, who
still sitting at her post behind tn,
marble compton, smiled and bowed
IN return us they went out. Theblin
were already down and the door,
closed in preparation for the night
Madame sat a little longer, listenin,
to the gossip Of the neighborhood
gathered during the day by the heat
waiter, to retail for her special amuse
ment when the days work was ovel
and one could indulge in little relax
alton. Then looking round and seeing
that nearly all the well-known custo
mers who every evening played dom
inoes or cards and slipped coffee, Oh
drank can sucre or stronger mixtures
under her vigilant but friendly eye
had left, she, retired for the night,
leaving the remainder to the care oil
her 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 angrily;
1T is lie! don't helieve n word
OF it, and defy you to prove itp'
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 cool and 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 conversa-
ton, without raising their voices, in
terrupted only now and then by
subdued EXPLANATIONS and incredulous
remarks from the excited man which
evidently did not succeed in either
shaking or moving the pale man, who
continued talking to him and answer
ing his objections quietly, until his
opponent, losing all self-control,
sprang to his feet and violently disturb
N N fnS f,f he 60 H. ~
angry words quoted above.
Seeing that he attracted general at
tention, he looked round and said:
"Gentlemen, i appeal to you all! I
am sorry if | have disturbed you with
somewhat violent language, but YOU
shall judge whether ! am justified in
refusing to believe the story i have
just heard. We happened to sit at
the same table and naturally entered
into conversation, Our talk drifted
from one subject to another until /
made some joking remarks about the
so-called scientific research into the
mysteries OF the spiritual world.
grant it is a fascinating subject even
for an unbeliever like myself, and
good one for conversation and play
full badinage, 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
ly promised that he would appear to
him on the anniversary of his death,
which took place about midnight, il
his friend invoked his spirit; he atiirms
that he has already seen him once
since he died. Now ask you, as men
OF sense, living in the nineteenth CEN
fury, is it possible to believe such
statement"
The pale man had flushed angrily
during this speech, but it was only
transient betrayal of feeling, for his
face resumed its former pallor, al
though his eyes retained their strange
Night: and it was with marked en-
preston more .of annoyance than
anger that he replied calmly:
cit is nothing to me whether you be-
lieve or not: l have simply stated
fact, and it is the truth. You pressed
me with questions concerning that
great trouble OF my life until I told
you all: my despair when lost my
friend after years of mutual devotion
and attachment, and his promise to
return. i told you truthfully that he
had already 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 conjecture and specu-
lation only, whereas actual expert
mental knowledge is rare and not
often communicated. 1 told you
what my privileged experience had
been, and ! can prove it, incredible as
it may appear to you"
While he was speaking. number of
new arrivals had invaded the cafe,
calling in on their way from neigh
boring theatre for drink or a 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
Iauqhingly, some seriously, according