The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-02-07
GRACE BRAYTON.

GRACE BRAYT0N.
DO you really think there is anything
in it?" asked Arthur Denton looking
down into the flushed and interested
face, with half amused smile.
why, yes, Arthur, l do" answered
Grace, hesitatingly. 81 think there is
such thing as thought transference, buI
whether any practical use could be made
of il or not Pm sure don't know"
Arthur Denton and Grace Brayton
were afiianced lovers. Their parents
had been lifelong friends and for years
had lived in the same block in Conton'
vile. As children they had attended
the same school and had never been sep
arated except for the few years that Ar
thur had been at college and Grace had
been at boarding school. Everyone had
always expected them TO marry, eonse-
quently their engagement shortly after
Arthur entered business had created no
sensation, and they had fallen into the
habits of engaged couples so naturally
that they hardly realized any difference
themselves. They we're only waiting fol-
Arthur's expected promotion in business
before settling down into home Of thrir
own.
While at school, Grace had become
very much interested in metaphysics
and kindred studies and was in
clined to speculate good deal in ply
siology. Bat Arthur's more conserva'
tive mind hated mystery and disliked
new ideas, so in their many discussions
on the subject ne usually made light ol
her theories and sometimes quizzed hei
numerically about them. But tonight
Grace, who had been reading the report
of the Society of Psychical Research ol
England, was more earnest than usual
and had succeeded in melting Arthur tC
q more serious consideration of the sub
ject than ever before. Yet their discus
sion had ended with the question and
answer with which our story opens.
"Well, dearie," continued Arthur, a:
he arose to 60. u won't tease you any
more. I'm sure, if / thought transfer
ence were a possibility, il would be very
nice for lovers"
promise me one thing" Grace said
putting her hands on hi:
shoulders as she stood in front Of him
and looking earnestly into his face, @thai
if We are ever separated and you should
feel me calling you, that you will come
at once.
Il promise" answered Arthur, kissing
her good night and feeling very sure
that they never should beseparAted very
long if he could hinder it.
A few months afterward Arthur Den
ton sat in his office late one afternoon
feeling bit lonesome. Grace was spend
ing few weeks with school friend who
had married lumberman and was liy-
ing in little town called Beechwood in
Northern Wisconsin Her enthusiastic
Of the woods and Wild fOw-
ers had at last induced Grace TO make
her long visit. The long expected pro-
motion had come and their wedding day
was fast approaching, 50 Arthur's medi-
tations were NOT altogether unpleasant as
he drummed idly on the writing desk
from which his afternoons pile of letters
had Just been taken by the clerk. sud
denly he felt a shiver 90 down his back
and creep over his nerves, followed by
his name being called by some one, be
thought, in pain. He started to his feet
There was no one in the room, and when
for moment he opened the door and
peered into the workrOom everything
was as usual there. Who could have
called him? The voice sounded like
Grace's. but Grace was 100 miles away
1t surely must have been Imagination
He sat down and presently the same sen
saiion occurred again, followed by th'
same call. But this time he perceived
that the voice Was not an audible one
1t was only his own sensation which
made it seem to be so.
He arose and began to walk the foo
trying to shake off the feeling. Bat agail
and again he felt the strange shiver, fol
loved by the impression that be wa
being called. Suddenly he remembered
his talks with Grace and he stood still il
his walk, aud he wondered ifshe coul'
be calling him now.
Il don't believe there's anything in it,
he muttered, "and yet lift should turl
out that she is in trouble I'd never fol
give myself if do not 20 to her,"
He locked the office and waiting onl.
to give few directions to the clerk, h
hastened TO the house ofthe Brsytons t
inquire If the had heard from Graee
Yes, letter had just been received an'
she was all right when it was written
Not having the courage to tell her pa
rents Of the nameless fear that oppresse'
him he hurried to his own home. D
his way he came TO sudden decision.
%I'li run up to Beechwood for day O
two, anyway" he thought; st will d
no harm even if she is all right, and as
feel now l certainly could not sleep unit
know how she was"
He hurried home, got bis oyercoat, an
was soon rushing in the direction
Beechwood as fast IS the steam cars coul
carry him. 1t was long night to hin
for his anxiety increased every mile
He looked pale and worn VII en- he Al
rived at his destination between s and
the next morning.
"will you please direct me TO Nj
Psutiev,s resideucers he asked of Tia