Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-04-01
THE SPIRITUALIST.


~ after II o'clock ut night.
Late one evening most Of tho habiti,es
Of this bright and comfortable cafe had
taken their departure. raising their hats,
rs the manner Is Ia France. TO Madame
jean. the snartly dressed and digniied
proprietrcss, who, still sitting at her
post behind tho marble compton. smiled
and bowed In return rs they went out.
Tho blinds were already down and tho
doors closed In preparation for the night.
Madame sat q little longer. listening
10 the gossip ~ tho nciRhborhood gath.
erred during the day by the head waiter
10 retail for her special amusement
when tho days work was over aud ono
could indulge In little relaxation. Then
looking round aud seeing that nearly all
the well known customers who every
evening played dorninocs or cards, and
slipped coffee or drank eau sucro or
stronger mixturs under her vigilsnt
but friendly eye, Ind left. shc retired
for tho night, leaving the remainder to
tho care Of her faithful Alphonse. There
were only about dozen people now,
and everything was slccpily quiet In
tho cafe. when suddenly the stiffness
was rudcly broken by loud voice ex.
claiming angrilyi
at isa iici don't believe word Of
II, and defy you 10 prove it1'
All looked up, startled, from game or
newspaper. as these words burst from
one Of tho occupants OF a small table al
the farthcst end Of the room. The speak.
or seemed very much excited: his com.
panion. on the contrary. remained cool
and self possessed under the provocation.
but his white face aud peculiar glitter.
ing eyes bclied that outward appear.
ancc, and arrested attention when no.
ticcd
The two had been engaged for some
time In closc and earnest conversation.
without racing their voices, interrupted
only now and then by subdued exclama.
tons aud incrcdulous roinarlss 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 10 his feet and violently dis
turbcd the inmates OF tho cafo by tho
angry words quoted above.
Seeing that he had attracted general
attention he looked around and saidi
Gentlemen. appeal to you all. I
am sorry II | have disturbed you with
somewhat violent language. but you
shall judge whether am justified in ~.
fusing 10 believe the story have Just
heard. We happened TO sit at the same
table, and naturally entered into con.
ycrsation. Our talk drifted from one
subject TO another, until made some
joking remark about tho NO called scien.
tihc research into the mysteries Of tho
spiritual world Igrant Il IL n fascinating
subject even for an unbelieycr like my.
self, and n good one for conversation and
playful badinnge, but 10 b. told serious.
~ and rs nm undcniablo fact that tho
spirits OF the departed can and do 10.
visit this earth when they have prom
iscd 10 do NO, passes tho bounds OF ere
dnlity. My ncighbor tells this mos,
extraordinary storyi That two years
ago tonight he lost his dearest friend. u
lifelong friend. who on his deathbed,
seeing his despair, solomnly promised
that hc would appear 10 him on tho an.
niyerary. Of his death, which took place
about. midnight. II his friend invoked
his spirit. Iic afiirms that he has al
ready seen him once since he died. Now
ask you, as men OF sense, living Ia the
Nineteenth century, Ia It possible 10 bc-
lieye such staismenti'
The pale man had flushed angrily dur
Ing this speech. hut 1t was only tran.
silent betrayal OF feeling, for his face re.
sumed Its former pallor, although his
eyes retained their strange light, aud Ii
was with marked expression more Of
annoyance than anger than no replied
cALnlyi
at 10 nothing 10 mo whether you be-
lieye or not; have simply stated a fact,
and II is the truth. You pressed mo with
questions concerning that great trouble
OF my lifc until | told you all-my de-
,pair when lost my friend after years
Of mutual devotion and attachment. and
his promise 10 return. l told you truth
fully that he had already kept his PROM
Use once, but you did not believe me. I
do not wonder. This spiritual world is u
closed book to the majority; u glimpse Ia
obtained now aud then by some, hut
chiefly by conjecture and speculation
only. whereas actual experimental
knowledge Is rare aud not often com.
innnicated. l told you what my priv
LEGGED experience hal been, and | can
prove II. inerediblc'w It may appear to
You"
While hc was speaking number Of
new arrivals had invaded the cato. call
Ing In on their way from u neighboring
iheator for u drink or cigar Their
curiosity being aroused by the words
they had partially heard, they drew near
To listen, and bong informed Of what
had happened Joined the others in dis
cusslng the pros and cons Of this debat-
able topic. some laughingly, some seri.
ously. according to the view they took
Of the subject. No one seemed to take
1t very seriously. however, except few,
who shook their heads doubtfully, while
others laughed at them and iokod about
spirits. Above tho Babel like noise ex.
elanations and sna,ches Of conversation
could he heard, such hs' "Imposabler'
"Who knowr2 Do your "What will!
you betY' ~ am no foolv' ~ bet o
hundred frrncs he can't prove itr
"strange things happenl" etc.
The gambling element asserting itself.
bets ran high, and It was finally agreed
In Aanautt th.. tulft.a Ia tla luudu al tha