The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28

nat hurry you're in"
Am ~ asked Alec, attempting to cover
ms anxiety by laughing. "The thing is so
uncanny, you see."
Not bit of it. Why, it's Just a plate
mats been already used and got into the
packet by mistake" Drummon replied. per-
rectiy satisfied with an explanation which
Alec was not prepared to admit Now.
come along, I'm ready for you. All, man,
IL good to be alive on such day as this.
Are you ready for twenty-mile waIk?"
IL was late before Alec returned home
mat evening, but. tired as he was he went
INTO the library before going to bed to hunt
up magazine In which was an article on
the possibilities of thought photography
wnlcn ne had merely SKINNED a week ago
he now read with intense eagerness the
tneory advanced by a great scientist.
winch, stripped Of its technicalities, stated
that concentrated thought forcibly pro-
Jected by strong brain might, under GER
tain conditions, be able to reflect itself in
some form on a highly sensitised plate.
with this idea fixed in his mind he went
TO bed in state of excitement, slept light
iy' and continually dreamed of the face he
mad never seen in the flesh, but which for
months had been continually before his in
ner vision. and that probably had not re-
produced itself on a Photographic plate.
Soon after breakfast he hurried to Drum
mond's house, when print of the negative
was handed him. A glance showed him
that the face of the woman was the same
as that with which he had fallen i'm love,
and as he stared at it in bewilderment he
felt certain that the theory of the great
scientist had been practically proved, and
that the thought vibrations of his brain
had, under favorable circumstances, been
able to focus and reflect themselves on the
sensitised plate. However, his belief was
too sacred and too personal to be revealed
to another, and, therefore when his friend
asked him what he thought of it he replied
that 1t was wonderful, begged that he
might have copy of the print and hoped
that the negative might be kept instead of
being returned to its seller.
Oh, I'll do that If you like and keep it
as curiosity" agreed Drummond. "But
at the same time think the manufacturers
ought to be more careful and not mix up
an old plate with new ones, like this
That Is your explanations said Alec.
"Of course 1t is. How otherwise could
that face appear on the platter
A fortnight later Robert Cameron was
we'll enough to attend business as usual a
fact that brought Alec great relief The
day on which the old man first returned to
work became forever memorable to his son.
The latter had been feeling unusually
cheerful that morning, and, seated at his
desk in his private office, was mapping out
tour for his holidays abroad, when one of
the clerks interrupted him to say that a
young lady, who gave her name as Miss
MacNeil, particularly wished to see him.
Alec at once concluded that his visitor
must be the doctors sister, whom he had
never seen, though he had frequently heard
Madge speak of her. Though surprised that
she called on him, he Immediately asked
the clerk to show her in.
He was bending above an open drawer
with his back to the door when she en-
tered, and on turning quickly around. re-
manned perfectly still, his eyes fixed on her
in amazement, his lips parted his face
blanched as If he had seen a ghost, for be-
fore him stood the woman of his day
dreams, the same whose photograph was
then lying close to his heart.
She seemed too much confused to notice
anything unusual in his appearance or
manner and he was too bewildered by the
mystery ard wonder of seeing the mater
ialized form of his visions enter his Office
to understand what she said. His heart
swelled from force of the love he bore her
whom he seemed to have known for ages,
who he felt was, in some incomprehenslble
way, destined for him from the worlds
gray beginning. He longed to draw near
and clasp her to himself, and had advanced
step or two when the recollections of
Madge rose before him an insurmounta-
BILE barrier. He was not free to act as his
feelings dictated; he was irrecoverably
bound to another woman, and without
wronging her and bringing dishonor on
himself he could not break their engage
ment.
With look of despair he turned away,
but the words he caught made him face his
visitor once more.
Believe me-" she was saying, in a voice
he thought was the sweetest that ever
came from womans lips, 81 am very. very
sorry. I don't think she would have done
it If she knew you would feel 1t so much,
but she believed you really never loved her.
and that you only agreed to marry her be-
cause your father wished it"
wv no.! he Sdsptu, Ills dStoLiShhiche III
creasing.
'Madge She said she could never marry
any man but my brother, DR.. MacNeil; and
he worshiped her. j never saw anything
like it." the visitor remarked with a smile
that made her grave face irresistibly win
ming.
But"
Don't be too angry with her. She knew
her uncle would never consent to her mar
rying any one but you, so she and my
brother got married quite privately this
morning, and have just started on their
honeymoon"
ssMadge-Madge is married?" he gasped,
in amazement.
"She is. You would laugh If you saw how
frightened she was. She thought wild I'M
Giles would come and tear her from her
bridegroom, and she didn't feel quite safe
until the train steamed away with her out
of the station. Then, by her wish, I came
here to tell you about her marriage and to
ask you to break the news to your father
Here is a letter she wrote asking his for
giveness. Will you please give it to him."
In taking it from her he clasped her hand
and held it in his own while he looked into
her wistful eyes, in which he fancied he
saw an expression of newborn wonder and
JOY "Madge was right" he said. Il never