The advocate., 1895-06-19


.'It can do no harm to try it,, said Reuben, ''butI
saw the experiment but once and l have never
heard of any other person who could perform the
feat She explained that picture of the writer rose
in her mind and that she saw the letter while it was
being written, if she were looking the writ
ers shoulder. Let us try 1t. Wsit-here is letter"
He had taken out two letters, one Of which he
thrust back into his pocket, and, as he supposed,
placed on Lorrettas brow business epistle She
closed her eyes and remained motionless for some
time. Then, hesitating little at first, as If uncer
tain, she began to speak. her eyes still closed
az seem to be in splendid apartments, In great
city. There is life and hustle in the streets A lady
oh, such beautiful lady-dressed as If for ball or
entertainment, sits at tiny oddloOking desk writ
ing"
Reuben blushed to the tips Of his ears ItWas the
wrong letter, and the experiment looked successful
What was he to doP Loretta continued:
"She writes. see what she writes. It begins:
My dear Reuben, have not had happy moment
since your departure am so lonely, and yearn to
see your handsome face in Paris again, that count
Wearily the hours till your return to your Louise
When"
Reuben snatched the letter away, and Lorretta
opened her eyes with start, as If shocked by an
electric current. Gertrude laughed, and kept re.
peating $50 lonely" "Yearns so for sight Of your
handsome face" Poor girll Who is she, Uncle
Reubenp
Loretta did not laugh Instead, panied look
came into her beautiful face and Reuben perceived
| it. He was too much embarrassed to answer Ger
trudes teasngs When, little while afterwards,
she left the room, he made some explanation TO
Loretta which seemed true to her, and which she
accepted. When Gertrude returned, some impulse
led him to 20 to his cabinet and take up small bit
of stone and hand it to Loretta She retained IL ID
her hand, closed her eyes, and after brief silence
began:
''I seem to be on ground apparently level. A bat
tie raging around me- The combatants do not re-
semble any kind of soldiers l have ever seen, and
they have no guns. They are lighting with bows
and arrows great cross'boWs. Now they are eeaY-
ing each other with enormous axes. 1t Is terrific
battle. The dead are streWn all over the field. One
of the armies tles"
Il She was silent awhile Then:
| ga long time has passed. | am not able to say how
long time. see castle upon rock over yOnder.
Women and men, in strange garb, are upon the
walls, looking toward where am. They disappear.
4 Now / see party Of ladies on horseback. Two or
three gentlemen In gay attire are with them. They
approach me. What lovely woman that isl Beautl-
full But regal too. She sits her horse with such
ease Plumes wave from her hat A gentleman is
pointing out the battlefield to her. They return to
the castle "
i She opened her eyes. Reuben was standing before
her In speechless amazement. Presently he said:
"I picked up that stone on the old battlefield Of
Bannockburn, within sight of Sterling Castle, Scot
land. You have enjoyed an unWonted privilege
Miss LilbuTn, for you have undoubtedly seen Mary
Queen Of Scots face to face While at Sterling Cas-
tle suppose the old battlefield was pointed out to
her, and she rode out with a party to see 1t, Who
would have imagined that mere piece Of stone
could treasure such memor1esY p
"And saw truly then" asked Loretta. 'It
almost startles me-"
4 Reuben was thinking. Presently he said
'Well, enough of this mystery. Let us go see
Gertrude's Daddy Hermit tomorrow. You must
meet him, Miss Lfburne,"
'It will afford great pleasure. Perhaps, living
In solitude and being driven in upon himself ne may
have thought of these strange things and discovered
some explanation Of them, Hermits are said to have
mysterious communings."
"But Daddy Hermit is no hermit at all, said
Gertrude. "He is just real good man, and dear