Middletown transcript., 1894-07-14

sense, totally above the superstitions OF
the common crowd" and Mrs. John
Astran leaned back in her easy chair
and looked at her daughter with such
an air of injury that that light haired
young person has very hard work to
keep from laughing outright, and
thereby incurring the grieved matron':
serious displeasure.
II cannot think that my brother
Charities marriage with this Miss
Sinclair would be such a very awful
thing, mother mine. l have met her,
and can assure you that she is refined,
beautiful, modest and interesting, be.
sides being the most facinating woman
l ever saw" said Lulu warmly, va
lianily defending her absent brother,
whose betrothal, just announced by
letter, had awakened such domestic
tempest. 81 do not wonder in the
least that Charlie loves her, and !
share his evident triumphant happi.
ness that she re; urns that love. Be-
lieve nae, mother dear, you will never
be ashamed of Charlie's choice, mol
will you hesitate to call her daughter
after once having seen her,
''But she is clairvoyant-a seeress
or something of the whatever
you choose to call it," shuddered the
unconsolable mother, who could see no
good through the mist of her predju-
dice.
"Wrong, again, mother" answered
Lulu earnestls, ut is very true that
Ruby Sinclair possesses a strange
power which l cannot understand noI
explain, but she is no more to be
blamed nrr honored for it, than for the
breath she breathes, or the life blood
which courses her veins. for the same
hand gave them all.
st is also true that she sometimes
uses sbis strange power for the wonder
and admiration of her frie nds-but
rerer for money.
'sIt is not clairvoyance-as we un-
derstand that term. 1t is rather
psychology, in another than the PIC
per die, ionary definition of the VOID
i. is the tracing of obscure events and
things by the invisible soul.
"Such a one, l admit. she is, al
though she is no spiritualist. mel
her at Mrs. Delano's last season stv-
eral times. and witnessed proofs OF her
wonderful skill"
"As she sa. in her chair. clusfIy
blindfolded, various things we're placed
in her hands, and, in no instance, did
they fail to call forth correct history
of themselves.
"For example, bit of mummy's
shroud, which she could not possibly
recognize by touch, brought vivid
description of ancient Egypt. gor-
geous funeral and a dismal tomb-so
vivid that l could imagine the dark,
proud splendor which surrounded the
dead form, and seem to hear the slghs
of the bondmen of Israel's slaves.
"a stone hatchet from Switzerland
brought forth a clear account OF the
Swiss Lake dwellers, their habits and
customs, though none of US could tell
by the appearance of the article that
II might not have come from the
Western hunting grounds of modern
Indians.
"a fragment of ivory was placed in
her hand, and Immediately she gave a
remarkably real description of the ex-
tinct mastodon, telling things about
the animal, that only studied scientists
would notice or remember. A bit of
rock from one of the famous cave
dwellings in the Canon De Chiefly, re-
shifted in an animated account of the
last race, which fashioned those mys-
terious houses, description so real
and vivid that it delighted and per-
ulexpd Professor Luowall beyoud all
measure, You should have heard it
all. And so might SO on for an hour
telling you of her wonderful power"
.Pshaw Such strange creature
as that could never make my son hap
nv. I.Iw we're a man wouldn't want
q wife that could read hidden secrets
i, that way p' interrupted Mrs. Ash
ton impatiently. No, no, she never
could make Charley happy"
..She seems to have done so at any
rte. if We may judge by the letter
which YOU hold in your hand" said
Lulu very cody. ''What more can
you askg She Is respected and ad-
mired wherever she goes, and she"
.Spare me Don't preach to me
more of her virtues" again interrupted
the vexed mother.
"He shall never marry her with my
consent, never! And it would not be
for his interest to do SO without 1t my
dear"
So the matter rested-for the time
and naughty Madam Astran did moi
dream that a time was coming "hen
she would beg Miss Sinclair to marry
her son-such uncomfortable changes
does time bring to us ALL Although
Charlie Astran was hurt and sorely
disappointed at his mothers unjust
resolution it did not alter his determi
nation in the least.
"It will only delay our wedding my
beautiful Ruby" he said fcndly, as ht
tore the letter slowly into fragments.
"To certain extent she controls my
share of my fa.her's property until my
twenty.fifth birthday, and now l mus
make home for my bride before car
hope to win her. Nay, my dearest one
cannot take your wealth, although 81
offarad Already | have flint