Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-03-23
THE EVOCATION.

tGlGDdluy anu DltIch UldSIcs Tic COuN el-
sation turned to aDparitions and medi-
umS. Among US all, men and women. as
Sembied in the drawing room after
long and formal dinner. there were sever
al who We're skeptical two or three vague
~ credulous, without certainty one way
or the other, and my friend Francois,
who was an ardent believer in what we
not of the faith agreed to call Spiritual
ISM IN his mind there were vast diff
ferences in the meanings of terms, but for
me Spiritualism covered them all. One
of the young women, making allusion to
the recent experiences of an English me-
dunn, asked:
and touched the spirits. or. rather, the
material forms of the dead? NJ. Crooks
is 4 very learned man, they say. If
he has not been the victim of an Illusion,
or an imposture, [ must confess that his
testimony would have great influence on
my Own faith"
1T is certainly a mystery" said Fran
co.'s, thoughtfully, land a mystery which
those who have never had an experience
are willing to deny the existence to. But
If this man has not been mistaken or
deceived, it he can, as he says, prove
scientifically that souls survive bodies,
preserve their identity, their personality,
their memory, and have the power to be-
come material and visions to living people,
what a revolution it will make in philoso-
ply
"Oh. how I wish I might have some e,-
perien1ce Of the kind, sighed young girl
We'll, / don't, responded one of the
men. I would fear for my reason if [
should see the phantom OF my mother
come at the call of medium. And, on
the other hand, | resent the idea that
my own soul, when it is freed from my
L Il IL
visibility at the command of a living per-
son..
'One of my friends" said Francois.
tried the experiment, and it cost him
dear
Tel US about it." cried the women,
drawn by the instructive delight in the
supernatural.
Francois responded: ct is not very
happy story. but it may be interesting.
1t shows that it is not always safe TO
interfere with those powers which gov
ern the unseen. Here is the story" and
he related the following:
Pierre Franckel was one of the best
friends of my childhood. | saw him again
when he was 20 years old, a pale young
man, with blonde hair, eyes as blue as the
sea, singular eyes. large and fixed, lit
as by an interior light. the eyes of 4 girl,
somewhat unusual in the face of q man.
With a delicacy Of coloring, a slightness
OF build and soft sweetness of voice,
the beautiful eyes gave to my poor friend
a charm almost effeminate. But he was
manly fellow, and had a great many
friends.
He was % years old when he met Mad
cline Meurice at 4 ball given in the
chateau of Changis. This young girl was
poor but brilliant and well-born, beauti-
full, Tiyaci0us and gracious. Her great
black eyes spoke eloquently to the blue
eyes of Pierre. and he was fired with an
nnThJ5Sia nd sincere love for her n q
had been skeDtic on the subject of love,
50 that it came to him with all the force
of a new experience, and she had moth
ing to lose by being compared to former
objects of alteration. She was the first
to enter his heart, and she took entire
possession. She returned his love and ac-
copied his proposal of marriage.
It took Pierre some time to talk his
family into conserving to the match. but
after they had seen and talked with Mad
cline they succumbed to the charm of
her personality. They were married. and
he took her away Immediately to a house
he owned in the country, where they
lived alone and reveled il the pure and
happy love they had found in each other.
Then, suddenly, death broke the
dream Nine. Franckel died without
any preparation for death, without suf-
fering, while she was seated at the piano
playing a sonata of Mozart, on a beauti-
full moonlight evening of summer. Her
husband stood leaning against the Win
dow listening to the music and breathing
the fragrance of the night. The music
stopped at the precise moment that the
soul left the lady, and Pierre, surprised
at the pause, turned to find his wife
dead, a smile on her lips, her head rest
ing against the back of her chair, and
her fingers still touching the keys of the
piano.
For several years the poor man shut
himself up and would see no one, hiding
his suffering from the world as he had
hidden his joy. One day | called to see
him, and, on account of our old friend
ship, was admitted. | found but shad-
dow of the young man | had known. His
hair was gray, and his movements be-
trayed him to be suffering from merry
Gus disease He soon spoke of his sOr-
row. and gradually opened his whole
heart to me.
The question of Immortality is con-
stantly in my thoughts he said. 'For
five years | have searched philosophy,
studied hypothesis and questioned re-
Iigion. and [ am still divided between
faith and doubt, which is killing me. If
Madeline's soul exists it will manifest it
self to me. | look for her constantly,
waking and sleeping, and | feel that she
must come. | would give all the years
of life that remain to me to see her for
one instant in all the sweetness Of her
youth and beauty"
| tried to turn my friends thoughts
from this idea, for [ feared his reason
would give way. But he persisted in his
hope. One day he asked me if [ knew
certain Claymore, a Scotchman, who
had made quite a stir in Paris as a
medium. He was a peculiar man. I'M
doubtedly sincere, and | had enjoyed
meeting him several times.
y on must introduce me to him." said
Pierre. HE has evoked spirits into ma
terial form, and if he can bring Made
lines TO me | will owe him more than
my life
| used all my power of persuasion
against this decision, but he was firm.
and finally | gave in. [ first went to
C.aymore, however. and told him my
friends history and begged him not to
abuse a credulity brought about by ex-
IRENE suffering.
L can give him what he wants." re-
piled the Scotchman. Take me to him.
You may trust me-"
VIII you permit the presence of a
Witness?'
The next day Claymore, accompanied
by Il medium. entered the house where
Nine Franckel had died FIVE years be-
fore.