Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-12-11


long conference with this good father,
who hath much interested me with his ac-
count of tho extension Of our holy relig ion
among the -pagans. He hath commune
Gated to mo much to rejoice at, and much
to grieve for; but, among other questions
put to him, have lin consequence of
what have learned during the mental
Alienation Of your wife) Intercepted him
upon the point Of supernatural appear
ance of vessel in the eastern seas. You
observe, Philip, that your senret is known
to me, or could not have put that ques-
tton. 70 my surprise he hath visitation
OF the kind, to which he was eyewitness,
and which cannot reasonably be accounted
for except by supernatural interposition.
A strange and certainly most awful vista
tionl Philip, would it not be better (in-
stead OF leaving me in a maze Of doubt)
that you now con1ded to us both all tho
facts connected with this strange history,
so that we may ponder ON them, and give
you the benefit Of advice of those who are
older than yourself, and who by their call
Ing may be able to decide more correctly
whether this supernatural power has been
exercised by good or evil intelligences"
THE holy father speaks we'll, Philip
Vanderdecken, y observed Matthias.
If it be the work of the Almighty, to
whom should you contide, and by whom
should you be guided, but those who do
his service on this earthp If Of the evil
one, to whom but to those whose duty and
wish it is to counterfeit his baneful influ-
ence9 And reflect, Philip, that this secret
may sit heavily on the mind of your cher
ished wife, and may bow her to the grave,
as 1t did your, I trust sainted mother.
With you, and supported by your presence,
she may bear 1t we'll; but recollect how
many are the lonely days and nights that
she must pass during your absence, and
how much she must require the consola-
ton and help Of others. A secret like this
must be as gnawing worm, and, strong
as she may be in courage, must shorten
her existence but for the support and the
balm she may receive from the ministers
of our faith. It was cruel and selfish Of
you, Philip, to leave her, lone woman
to bear up against your absence and at
the same time oppressed with SO fatal a
knowledge"
You have convinced me, holy father"
replied Philip; II feel that should be-
fore this have made you acquainted with
this strange history. will now state the
whole of the circumstances which have CO.
Cured, but with little hope your advice
can help me In case 80 difficult, and in
duty so peremptory, yet SO perplexing."
Philip then entered into minute detail
Of all that had passed, from the few days
previous to his mothers death until the
present time; and when he had concluded,
he observed:
''You see, father, that have bound
myself by solemn vow-that that vow
has been recorded and accepted; and IL
appears to me that have nothing now to
do but to follow my peculiar destiny"
My son, you have told us strange and
startling things-things not of this world
If you are not deceived. Leave us now.
Father Matthias and I will consult upon
this serious matter; and when we are
agreed you shall know our decision
Philip went up stairs to see Anime; she
was still in a deep sleep. He dismissed
the servant, and watched by the bedside.
when Sa M5 t s hSSFs add oWn to est the
two priests.
''We have had a long conversation, my
SON." said Father sSeysen, upon this
renee. say perhaps, for l woui1id 0Y have
rejected the frenzied communications Of
your mother as the imaginings of a heated
brain; and for the same reason I should
have been equally inclined to suppose that
the high state of excitement that you were
In at the time of her death may have dis
ordered your intellect; but as Father Ma.
thias positively asserts that strange, il
not supernatural, appearance of vessel
did take place, on his passage home, and
which appearance tallies with and cor
roborates the legend-if so may call it.
to which you have given evidence, 1 say
that IL is not impossible but that 1t is su.
pernatural. -
"Recollect that the same appearance Of
the phantom ship has been permitted to
me and to many Others" replied Philip.
Eyes, replied Father Seysen, tbut who
is there alive Of those who saw it but
YOURSELF But that is Of little Importance.
We will admit that the whole affair is not
the work of man, but Of superior intel
lgence"
Superior, indeed" replied Philip. SIT
is the work Of heaven!''
That is point not so easily admitted;
there is another power as well as that
which is diyine-that of the devill the
arch enemy of mankind! But as that
power, inferior to the power of God, can
NOT act without his permission, we may
indirectly admit that 1t is the will Of
heaven that such signs and portents
should be allowed to be given on certain
occasions
1t was now evening, and the sun was
fast descending; Philip wandered on, I'M
til at last he arrived at the very spot where
he had knelt down and pronounced his
solemn vow. He recognized it; he looked
at the distant hills. The sun was at the
same height; the whole scene, the place
and the time were before him. Again
Philip knelt down, took the relic from his
bosom and kissed it. He watched the
sun--he bowed himself to the earth He
waited for sign; but the sun sunk down,
and the veil Of night spread over the land
soape. There was no sign; and Philip
rose and walked home toward the cottage,
more inclined than before to follow the
suggestions Of Father Seysen.
On his return, Philip went softly up
stairs, and entered the room of Anime,
whom he found awake and in converse
ton with the priests. The curtain was
closed, and he was not perceived. With
beating heart he remained near the wall