Evening star., 1902-09-13
Copyright. 1902, by Cyrus Townsend Brady)

will tell you that 1 am a man of uncom-
mon sense-but IT is to common-sense
people that 1 address myself; people who
say. If they ever far forget themselves
as to read ''Rappaccinis Daughter" for in
stance. or that other story by the gifted
son of hia gifted father which hides its
weird fascination under the name of Archi-
bald Malmaison, and you ask them If they
like the stories: "Oh. of course not: 1 never
heard OF such improbable things. Why!
How Is It possible for man etc. 1t is
20 these people 1 write.
live in the enterprising western city OF
Kalamantf AS my family and Geraidine's
family have lived there many years, we are
all well-known. and any of my neighbors,
among whom are judge OF the dlstrlct
court, a retired major general or the army,
a United States senator and other persons
of undoubted yeracity, who can affirm the
truth of the strange incidents of which
say that this is not the only case in which
] am the principal sUbjeCt-Toyaly assum-
ing for the Once-but dtgress. Geraidlne
says / always take too much time IN get
ting at the point of the story, and as Gera!-
dine is the only critic of whom l am AFRAID,
here goes:
/ James Henry Rettew, commonly called
Harry, was about twenty-six years oId IN
the year Of our Lord 1901. L was sleepy,
and people say, a dreamy, distracted
young man Geraldine thinks l am hand
some She is alone in her belief-unless
agree with her in this as in most things
/ was possessed of a little fortune, and was
a well-informed young man of studious
bent. having read largely in a rather desuI-
tory way. My favorite study was the spirit
nal essence, or soul of man, especially my
own.
1t IS a thing I believe most people have
though Geraldine says you have TO take
people. What was It? Where was it?
This pervadng vital force within me? How
did il exist within my body? What Kept
it there? Was death the result of a dis
association of the two2 Was no man capa-
bic OF ever separating the one from the
other? These are but a sample of the
sPeCUat!ons IN which l INDUCED. And
actuaIy found myself IN the way of solV-
ing some Of these problems at last Rum
maging IN the library of deceased phil
OsOpher / came across treatise on this
very subject by sage of ancient times, the
learned Egyptian ArChideChus. No, you
will not find his name in the encyclopedias.
/ have purposely altered It, lest anyone
should search for the pamphlet and finding
IL become as l waS-but l anticipate. !
seized upon the old moth-eaten parchment
volume with avidity.
This rare-I do not think there was an
other COPY in existence except the one I
read-and wonderful book treated Of
the spirit or essence of life as distinguish
Cd from the gross and visible body; the
writer held that 1t was possible to separate
the from the other, in other words,
according TO ArChideChus, the spirit might
leave the body and return to 1t at pleas
ure; in fact. the writer knew of such a
case and cited it; he also gave minute di-
rections for accomplishing this wonderful
feat. ! shall not reveal them TO you. nor
10 Geraldine, though that is the only secret
/ do not share with her, so beware how
You confide in me.
OF course the thing was ridiculous; no
such separation was possible, so l reasoned.
There were the directions, hOwever-they
fascinated me. l was always an ina gina
fol md a 7f all IF
strange experiments; why should l not try
this one? l confided my intention to one,
not even Geraldine. 1 locked myself up in
my room and deyoured the old book. Great
stress was laid upon the faith necessary
and the condition Of the mind. 1t was
stated that any violent emotion might be Of
great assistance at the final moment Of
shall | call 1t dissolution?
Now / was at peace with all the world
except John HaverfOrd. HaverfOrd was IN
love with Geraldine Holabird. but as I felt
sure Of her affection 1 was not able to get
up any violent Jealousy his account.
Geraldine has since told me II she had
known l felt so confident Of her affection
she would have supplied me. with several
emotions on that score Of an exceedingly
violent nature. I don't believe 1t.
However. l complied with the other di
rections. and 1 even contrived to assume a
reasonable amount of faith. but could not
quite manage the separation. I could APP
parently concentrate my vital force on one
spot. for instance. but exert myself as l
L
possessed me- I could think of nothing
else. Geraldine says 1 was the most in
tensely Unsa tfsfactory lover at this time
that one could imagine. and that she had
serious thoughts Of giving me up for John
Hayerford.
Our love. which was a secret affair-and
none the less sweet for that. by the way
was violently opposed by the heads of both
our houses. there being some grudge be-
tween them. Although l was devoted to
her and she TO me, as now know. though
7 l. 4 l..
to take more of a lovers privilege than
respectful salute upon her hand Geraldine
was tall and extremely dignifed girl, and
how she ever came to meet me clandestinely
and write me those little notes-I have
them yeti don't know; she says she
doesn't either
But to come back TO my experiment. My
want Of complete success preyed upon me.
grew thin, lost my appetite, could think
OF nothing but that. This, / imagine. was
one OF the reasons for my final success.
Geraldine says l ought not TO have said
that. as It will spoil the denOuement. How
ever, II is too late now. one afternoon
more than usually discouraged at my re-
Peated failures. when l was about TO con-
sign the volume TO the fire a false
prophet, my sister. who acted as our Mer-
curry, threw a note iDtO my room from
Geraldine. l opened 1t, l must confess,
rather lis;lessiy.
Good heaven! Her father had discov-
cred my last letter; he was furiously angry;
swore she should marry John Hayerford,
ana She was now locked IN her own room,
] would recognize Il by the white ribbon
hanging on the window sill, and l must do
something soon. for her father was terribly
angry and she loved ME and me only, her
OWN Harry-you know the resti Geraldine
protests against these unfiattering illusions
10 her nOteS)
What happened moment after, or how
II happened, / am not prepared to state.
One thing l do know, 1 found myself in
the street and without a thought of how l
came there, was hurrying toward Geral-
dimes house. With reckless speed 1 ran
headl0ng fun tilt into lady OF my ac
quaintance. The conclusion nearly stunned
me. What was my surprise / hastily
took of my hat to apologize for my care
Iessness to see the young lady calmly walk
past me, apparently unconscious of my
presence and giving evidence OF having
been in collision with me, This rather as
tonished NE, but Geraldine was so much
In my mind that l dismissed it and has
tened on. II was not far 10 her house and
sure enough, there was a white ribbon
futterlng from the window L knew TO be
hers.
In my RECKLESS desire to do sonnet hing