Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-08-08

perience, and she had nothing to lose
by being compared to former objects of
alteration. She was the first to enter
his heart, and she took entire posses
sion. She returned his love and accept
ed his proposal of marriage.
1t took Pierre some time to talk his
family into consenting to the match,
but after they had seen and talked with
Madeline 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 reyeled in 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'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 suffering from the world as he
had hidden his joy. One day called
to see him, and on 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 a nervous disease. He soon
spoke of his sorrow and gradually
opened his whole heart to me.
THE question of Immortality is con
stantly in my thoughts" he said. "Fo1
five years l have searched philosophy
studied hypothesis and questioned reli
gion, and l am still divided between
faith and doubt, which is killing me-
If Madelines soul exists it will mani
fest itself to me. l look for her con
stantly, waking and sleeping, and fee
that she must come. l would give all
the years of life that remain to me tC
see her for one instant in all the sweet
ness of her youth and beauty"
l tried to turn my friends thoughts
from this idea, for l feared his reason
would give way. But he persisted il
his hope. One day he asked me if
knew a certain Claymore, a Scotch
man, who had made quite stir in Paris
as medium. He was peculiar man
undoubtedly sincere, and l had enjoyed
meeting him several times.
"You must introduce me to him." sale
Pierre. He has evoked spirits int
material form, and if he can bring Mad
elines to me l will owe him more thai
my life"
l used all my power Of persuasion
against this decision, but he was firm
and finally l gave in. l first went t,
Claymore, however, and told him my
friends history and begged him not t,
abuse a credulity brought about by ex
treme suffering.
81 can give him what he wants." re
piled the Scotchman. Take me t
him. You may trust me-"
"Will you permit the presence of
witness?"
Certainly"
The next day Claymore, accompanies
by medium, entered the house wher
Nine Franckel had died five years be
| fore.
1t was in June. The villa, with it
closed windows. seemed to desire t
keep out the soft beauty and warmth
of the night air. Inside the house al
was dark and chilly. AS Pierre met u
he shivered.
| ''If her soul lives" he said, at is 1
this ROOM" His voice shook with mir
gled joy and fear.
For the last time" said l, ''do nc
commit an act at once sacrilegious an
| dangerous" But he did not even hea
me.
The medium was a young woman
pale and slender, who fixed her lido
| izing looks on Claymore's face. Th
light in the room was very dim, comm
from a single candle, which stoo
above the fireplace. The window ha
been opened wide and the moonligh
came family in. The spiritualist pu
out the candle and led the young won
an into a dark corner of the room
Then in low. solemn voice he abjure