Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-08-07


itualized intelligence" continued her
guest with polished monotony of tone,
"is the observation of some worthy, !
capable female soul passing through !
life uulovrd and unwooed."
With Necie shifted with embarrass-
mcnt at this obvious personality, but
without waiting for a reply from her
the speaker continued earnestly:
"Whcn we are in this abstract state
we perceive charms where once we
would have seen none. Inspired by
motives too lofty to be understood by
one whose ideas are still in a chrysalis
of clay, have orrogated to myself the
right. nay more, the obligation to
ameliorate this deplorable state Of al
fairs"
Elegant language!" was Miss Nee
| lies mental comment. shouldn't
wonder if he'd been an eXhorter or
campaigner in his day" Then, aloud:
eff it wouldn't be presumin', sir, would
you mind tellin' me what your business
was when you went around like other
| folks?"
"a perfectly natural question,
madam, considering the circumstances
and your sex. When in the bondage of
! the flesh l canvassed the country set
| ting forth the virtues of certain in
! ternal remedy known as The Helper
to Happy Homes;' good for all nerv'
! Gus affections palpitation of the heart,
blind staggers and asthma. Unex-
celled for the cure of chilblains and
wonder-working in cases of earache!
! Lady, is your little child restless at
nights and fretful, take teaspoonful
| Of this great specific" then recalling
| himself as Miss Neele punctuated his
! speech with faint gurgle of maidenly
disclaim at so unseemly suggestion,
-"pardon me, madam! Your polite
! and defrerential attention, united with
the fact that only for brief time
have been untrammeled by the gross
ness ofmy earthly environments, caused
me to suffer a temporary illusion and
for the nonce | believed myself again
in the flesh urging the merits of most
worthy cause. Instead, | find myself
alone and at night with one whom |
recognize as an affinity and whose
yearning heart even now cries out to
me for sympathy and consolation"
Miss Neelie, like many others, pos
sessed that singular rectitude of char
acter which is more the result of lack
of opportunity than any especial in
herent moral integrity. This delight
full temporizing with the unusual and
impeachable was as rain in the barren
desert of her experience.
The oft-hoped for and long-deferred
was here at last She wished that the
erstwhile Widow Hoban could be wit
ness of her triumph, although she shud-
dered to think of what might be the
results of that rotund lady's tlorid
volubility if all the facts were made
known.
In the meantime her guest had
drawn nearer and now sat at the oppo'
site side of the hearth eyeing her with
spectral ardor Miss Neele bridled her
gray flannel shoulders with rosy CO.
quetry and impiously thanked her
guardian angel for the delay in put
ting up her hair in crimping-pins. 1t
could hardly be hoped that even so i'm
material a suitor as hers would be en-,
tirely obvious to such unbecoming
eXternals as crimpers. At last she
found voice again.
Il believe, sir, that your intentions
are perfectly honorable, but how can
live woman and a--and a-Well, you
get married? | don't for the life OF
me see!" This last rather eNplosively,
as she felt that any allusion to her
lovers unsubstantiality was tactless
not % say positively indelicate.
"Cornelia," the ghost replied, you
wilfully misunderstood my meaning.
My soul turned and looked upon yours
and instantly knew its correlative
Such worthy traits of character, such
noble and beautiful mental character.
istics as you possess cannot be over
shadowed by external appearances or
dimmed by any eccentricities of
speech! Physical attributes have no
charm for us of the spiritualized
vision; they are looked upon as mere
carnal appendages Of a fettered, intel.
ligence. AS to marriage! In this re-
lationship, which l now seek to estab.
lish with you, such material ties are
considered folly ard weakness. No
| nlSHeT DOHu Cun W uIStu, no moro
holy union instituted. than the recog.
milton of spirit for spirit, even though
one be hampered by the bondage to
flesh. Cornelia, my soul-bride, my
hitherto unloved ! see you yielding
to the force of my reasoning and to
your own inclinations. Permit me to
console You with the assurances OF
my denthless devotion and press uDor
your lips the nuptial kiss"
So saying, the specter arose and
stretching out his transparent hands
sought 20 draw Miss Neelie to his ca.
daverous breast when, with one great
cry of terror and revulsion of feeling
she rose to her feet and looked wildly
about the room.
The log had broken into beautiful
glowing Goals; the wind moaned dowr
II. I. : n. i.