Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-02-27


practical man, while next in order
came a practical woman. lie had
never ceased to thank his lucky stars
that lie could be classel among the
high grade elect, and lie devoutedly
hoped that when he married his wife
might be one of the second rate NOR
tails,
1t was a great shock to him to learn
that Miss Pearson was several degrees
below that exalted niche. He didn't
know it till the day he proposed to
her. She poised her tapering fore.
finger lightly against her right temple
Ms he spoke-it was way she had OF
doing whenever she became unusually
serious-and looked ut him with u
steadiastness that thrilled him with
apprehension for his future happiness.
III believe" she said, "that you
don't understand me as you should. l
think if you knew me better You
wouldn't want me"
He was really frightened then. The
answer was 80 unexpected and savored
go strongly of secrets and mysteries in
her past life that he recoiled in horr or
from the mere thought OF being bur-
dened with q crowd of personal ghosts
that would ever be lowering around
him.
81 am afraid" she went on, after a
brief period of reflection" that we
should not prove congenial, and life
with person whose tastes are radi'
cally opposed to mine would be simply
uncomfortable, not oply for myself but
for my husband. Before answering
you, Mr.. Hay, 1 must be assured that
we are thoroughly suited to each other.
l have test by which that may be
proved. If it should prove that there
is an imperishable affinity between us,
shall be perfectly willing to marry
you and thank you for the honor done
me-"
her words and the tone in which
they were uttered were both SO un
natural that Clarence leaned back in
his chair and regarded her with amaze
ment while trying to determine wheth
er or not the shock of sudden pro
posal had turned her mind.
"What is the test?' he asked, eau
tiously.
"Next week." she said, ~ shall
begin new story. 1t is to be writ
ten at the order OF an Eastern pub
fishing house and will contain about
10, 900 words. I received the letter
only yesterday requesting me to con
tribute, and rs yet have thought ou
no plot or plan to be followed in its
construction. shall begin, however
on Monday. Now, Mr.. Hay, I pro
pose that you illustrate the story"
Clarence's brow cleared.
"That will be easily done" he said
with sigh of relief. "As soon as 20,
get it written, Miss Pearson, turn il
over 20 me and 1 promise you that
will produce set Of pictures that will
1ccentuate all the best points in you
story and add to your reputation AM
mine"
"You don't understand, Mr.. Hay.
she replied quickly. 81 don't meal
that you shall read my work first an
then illustrate it. Oh. no. Anybod
could do that. You shall illustrate
through a system OF mental telepathy
The publishers are III no great hurr
for the story and I shall not try t
finish it in less than month. Durin
that time you are not to see me at all
consequently you will not be able t
gain the slightest clew from word o
look OF luine as to what is the natur
of the article. All your knowiedg
must be derived solely through th
communication of your mind wit
mine. Your brain must move in un
son with mine, and the aspirations {
our souls must harmonize. You mus
be possessed of that fine intuitio
that will enable you to comprehen
my thoughts, whatever may be tn
distance between us. In short, 20
must turn author as we'll as artist an
conceive the same situations that
do. The only difference will be III tn
execution, I expressing them in words
you in pictures. "
Clarence groaned helplessly.
"Great heavens, Miss Pearson !" h
exclaimed. "What do you take N
for, anyway? am no mind reader
/ didn't kno~ YOU believed in sue
stuff.
''Of cours, y:'o didn't know. Th'
was what I meet ,,hen ] said you didn
understand ns as you should. hn,
dabbled ia all the occult sciences.
firmly believe in spiritualism, hypn
tlsm and theosophy
Socialism, syntax and prosody,"
interposed viciousIy.
"Don't interrupt me, please" 81
returned, with an air Of severity,
know that it is possible to read the f
turc in cards and in the stars, and
also know that mind reading will
time become as commonplace as col
.versing by rleans of spoken and write
4 4