Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-08-06
and happy love they had found in each

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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-
ferinS, While she was seated at the
piano playing a sonata of Mozart's, on
a beautiful moonlight evening of sum-
mer. Her husband stood leaning
against the window 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, smile on
her lips, her head resting 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, hid
ing his-auifering from the world as he
i-is,stie hidden his joy. One day l called
to sec him, and OH account of our old
friendship was admitted. found but
a shadow Of the young man l had
known. His hair was gray, and his
movements betrayed him to be suffer-
ing from nervous disease. He soon
spoke of his sorrow and gradually
opened his whole heart to me.
1.-THE question of Immortality is con.
stantly in my thoughts" he said. "For
five years l have searched philosophy,
! Sfl,lfad byppfl,asoc nnd r,,oe+;,,,.., -.
gion, and l am still divided between
faith and doubt, which is killing me.
Ii Madeline's soul exists it will mani
fest itself to me. look for her con-
stantly, waking and sleeping, and feel
that she must come. l would give all
the years of life that remain to me to
see her for one instant in all the sweet
ness. 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 n certain Claymore, Scotch
man, who had made quite stir in Paris
as medium. He was peculiar man,
undoubtedly sincere, and had enjoyed
meeting him several times.
you must introduce me to him." said
Pierre. HE has evoked spirits into
material form. and if he can bring Mad
eline's to me will owe him more than
my life"
| used all my power of persuasion
against this decision, but he was firm,
and finally l gave in. first went to
Claymore, however, and told him nv
friends history and begged him not to
abuse credulity brought about by ex.
IRENE suffering
II can give him what he wants." re.
piled the Scotchman. "Take me to
him. You may trust me-"
"Will you permit the presence Of u
witness?'
Certainly"
The next day Claymore, accompanied
by medium, entered the house where
Nine. Franckel had died five years be-
fore.
1t was in June. The villa, with its
closed windows, seemed to desire to
keep out the soft beauty and warmth
of the night air. Inside the house all
was dark and chilly. AS Pierre met us
he shivered.
"If her soul lives" he said, at is in
this ROOM" His voice shook with min
gled joy and fear.
"For the last time" said l, do not
commit an act at once sacrileglous and
dangerous" But he did not even hear
me.
The medium was young woman
pale and slender, who fixed her idol
izing looks on Claymore's face. The
light in the room was very dim, coming
from q single candle, which stood
above the fireplace. The window had
been opened wide and the moonlight
came family in. The spiritualist nut
out the candle and led the young wom-
an into q dark corner of the ROOM
Then in low. solemn voice he abjured
the spirit of the dead woman to mani
fest itself.
"Oh, my sister," said he, my I'M
known sister, departed from this earth,
come back for one instant in the ma
terial form you once took on. Appear,
evoked by faith and love. Come! Mad
cline" His voice rose and grew ar
dent, while the medium became CON
vulsed with trembling movements.
All at once Pierre cried, Listen!
Listen! The sonata of Mozart!"
A harmony, light and soft as sigh,
loated from the motionless keys of the
piano, which stood just within the pale
stream Of moonlight.
"She is coming" said Claymore, SOL
emily, stretching out his hand.
Madeline! Mudeline! cried Pierre,
falling on his knees.
| am telling you what l SAVIOR
thought l saw. The room was dark
save for the one thread of moonlight
which touched the piano and traced a
line upon the floor. Suddenly the mys-
FERROUS music ceased and in the moon
light. before the piano, the whiteness
seemed to thicken and slowly to form
itself into the contours of the human
body. More distince 1t grew until |
saw sitting there a woman dressed in