Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-03-10
WHO CAN EXPLAIN IT.

Well,l won't say there is nothing in
it,but in my opinion it is altogether too
abstruse and complicated for univers-
al comprehension and adoption A
religion to obtain among the masses
must be simple and easily underst God
and there never will be one so fitting
as that of the Christ. Still there is
one thing theosophy teaches in which
| am firm believer and in that but
one OF thousands. That is the prin-
<iple OF Kama Rupa, or the survival
after death OF the'cvil spirit which has
animated depraved man or woman
in life
"This spirit fingers about the scene
OF earth life, seeking to influence 9TH
ers to wickedness, or it seeks out the
lowest haunts of vice and degra-
dation where evil natures gather and
tastes and ha bits similar to its own
are gratified. Sometimes it is at
tracted to n nature essentially wick
ed but weak and enters in and dwells
with it. Sometimes the influence is
only felt and again the demon spirit
is so Indignantly strong as to be ut
times visible. | had convincing ex-
perience last sumner" He paused
and looked at ME, a sombre light in
his fine eyes.
'"Tell it," insinuatingy.
"You will not believe it and will
dish it up for the delectation of your
newspaper readers"
"Of course"
"You are honest at any rate. Well,
you shall have the facts. | am not
sure it will not be a relief to talk
about it. Last summer /, in COM
pany with several others, took posses
sion of an old manor house, romantic
ally situated on high point of the
Maryland side of the Chesapeake BAY.
None OF us had been in this locality
before and had gone on the recon-
mendation OF Roger Kent, real es-
tate agent in whose hands the prop
erty was for rent or sale.
1.-The party consisted OF thirteen,
but this was not noticed until after
our arrival there. Kents, pere and
mere, Roger and his sister Hope, who
was my promised wife; my cousins,
Rose and Haydn Upton, and two
young married couples named Jack
son and Cairns. These, with myself
made up the party and you might
search the world over and not find
such another happy one as that when
the steamer deposited it at the foot
OF the bluff that lovely June day.
ave all lived on the same street at
home and had been friends and neigh.
bors all our lives. Father and Mr..
Kent had been partners in business
for thirty years. Each knew the 9TH
er to be man OF the strictest integ-
rity and nothing had ever come be-
tween them. | worshiped Hope Kent
and she seemed to return my love.
Roger was very much in love with
Cousin Rose, and her brother was very
plainly smitten with my sweetheart,
though this last gave me not
one pang OF jealousy, such confidence
had | in her. The two other couples
were models OF connubial happiness,
never quite content when out of each
others sight.
Everybody was pleased with their
new quarters and predicted n most
enjoyable summer. 1t was huge,
rambling old house full OF crooked
passages and winding stairs, and up.
on our arrival we scattered over it,
each selecting the room that took his
fancy. There were half n dozen par,
Tors and sitting-rooms, but the one
Al. f.,
place OF assembly fronted on the bay,
as we never tired of watching the
blue, sparkling water. The room was
scantily furnished, as WAS the whole
house, in fact, but there was charm
about the queer. old-time belongings
to which we modern men and women
were particularly susceptible.
''On the north OF the room four Ions
windows afford glorious view, while
on the east the same number let in
the morning sunshine. On the south
heavily draped arch-way led into
the library, II rather gloomy apart
ment, but it soon came to be much
frequented because of ne rows Of old
old books still upon its shelves
Opening from this was bed
room, SO horribly gloomy witt
its black furniture and ,rappings thai
we involuntnril, shudierei on cross
ing its threshold, and not one OF tn,
company would consent TO occupy it
There seemed something eerie in it,
musty atmosphere and all confessed to
feeling of relief when the door wa.
closed and locked behind us
never to my knowledge to be reopenet
during our day.
~ am thus particular in describin!
this part OF the house because ofwha'
followed. For time oil went well
We younger ones sailed on the bay
picnicked in the wood back OF thu
house and made excursions o various
points ofinterest. Everybody seemed
ideally happy. The only jar was Eel
bv myself when Haydn Upton WI. too
graciously smiled upon by my divin
ity or in his case when was in frs
favor, as was my right.
"The elders seemed equally happ,
and content in their quieter moods o
passing away the long, drowsy sum
mer hours. The first sign OF the pres
ence OF the serpent i'll our Eden wa
on returning one day from an excur
sion found my father and MFR. Ken
engaged in heated argument. Boil
men were angry, but onmy inquirin
as to the cause seemed ashamed tina
ANYTHING so trivial should have mad
them quarrel. That same day
little later we were gathered in tn
esst room. 1t was dusk, but til