The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-07-03
The Wages

The Cafe Jean was situated at
the corner of a quiet street in
Paris = remarkably quiet at all
times, considering the near proxim-
ity Of a noisy and much frequented
boulevard, but particularly SO after
IL o'clock at night.
Late one evening most of the ha-
bitues Of this bright and comforta-
bic cafe had taken their departure,
raising their hats, as the manner is
In France, to Nine. Jean, the smart
~ dressed and digniied proprietress,
who, sitting at her post behind the
marble compton, smiled and bowed
In return as they went out. The
blinds were already down and the
doors closed in preparation for the
night.
Madame sat a little longer, lis
tening to the gossip of the neigh
borhood gathered during the day
by the head waiter to retail for her
special amusement when the days
work was over and one could in
dulge in a little relaxation. Then,
looking round and seeing that near
" all the well known customers
who every evening played dominoes
or cards and slipped coffee or drank
eau sucre or stronger mixtures I'M
der her vigilant but friendly eye.
had left, she retired for the night,
leaving the remainder to the care
of her faithful Alphonse. There
were only about dozen people now.
and everything was, sleepily quiet
IN the cafe, when suddenly the still
ness was rudely broken by a loud
voice exclaiming angrily:
ct is a iel / don't believe a.
word Of it, and I defy you to prove
it,"
AL looked up, startled, from
game or newspaper as these words
burst from one of the occupants Of
a small table at the farthest end Of
the room. The speaker seemed very
much excited. His companion, on
the contrary, remained cool and
self possessed under the provoca-
ton, but his white face and peeul-
lar glittering eyes belied that out
ward appearance and arrested at
tention when noticed.
The two had been engaged for
some time in close and earnest con-
yersation, without raising their
voices, interrupted only now and
then by subdued EXPLANATIONS and
incredulous remarks from the ex-
cited man, which evidently did not
succeed in either shaking or NOV
ing the pale man, who continued
talking to him and answering his
objections quietly until his oppo-
nent, losing all self control, sprang
TO his feet and violently disturbed
the inmates Of the cafe by the angry
words quoted above.
Seeing that he had attracted gen
eral attention, he looked around
and said:
Gentlemen, I appeal to you all.
I am sorry if I have disturbed you
with somewhat violent language,
but you shall judge whether am
justified In refusing to believe the
story I have just heard. We hap
pened to sit at the same table and
naturally entered into conversation.
Our talk drifted from one subject
to another until [ made some jok-
ing remark about the so called
scientific research into the mystic
ries of the spiritual world. / grant
it is a fascinating subject even for
an unbeliever like myself and a
good one for conversation and play
full badinage, but to beltold serious
1y and as an undeniable fact that
the spirits of the departed can and
do revisit this earth when they
have promised to do so passes the
bounds Of credulity. Ny neighbor
tells this most extraordinary story:
Two years ago tonight he lost his
dearest friend, a lifelong friend,
who on his deathbed. seeing his
despair, solemnly promised that he
would appear to him on the ami
Versary Of his death, which took
place about midnight, if this friend
invoked his spirit. He afirms that
he has already seen him once since
he died. Now, | ask you as men of
sense, living in the nineteenth CEN
tury, is it possible to believe such a
statement ?"
The pale man had flushed angrily
during this speech. but it was only
a transient betrayal Of feeling, for
his face resumed its former pallor,
although his eyes retained their
strange light, and it was with a
marked EXPRESSION more of annoy-