The Columbus commercial., 1903-08-25

rs the observation OF some worthy,
capable female soul passing through
life unIoved and upwooed."
With Neelie shifted with embarrass-
ment at this obvious personality, but
! without waiting for a reply from her
| the speaker continued earnestly:
when 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, I have arrogated 10 myself the
right. nay more, the obligation to
ameliorate this deplorable state of af-
fairs"
| Elegant language was Miss Nee
/ lies mental comment. Shouldn't Z
wonder if he'd been an exhorter or g
campaigner in his day Then, aloud:
eff it wouldn't be presumin', sir, would
you mind telIin' 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 I canvassed the country set
ting forth the virtues of a 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-worlzing in cases of earache!
Lady, is your little child restless at
nights and fretfuI, take teaspoonful
of this great specific" then recalling
himself as Miss Neelie punctuated his
speech with a faint gurgle Of maidenIy
disclaim a so unseemly a suggestion,
pardon me, madami Your polite
and defferentiaI attention united with
the fact that only for a brief time |
have been untrammeIed by the gross |
ness ofmy earthly environment, caused |
me to suffer a temporary illusion and /
for the nonce I believed myself again |
in the flesh urging the merits of a most |
worthy cause. Instead, I find myself |
alone and at night with one whom I |
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 reetitude 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
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-
Tered to think of what might be the
results of that rotund lady's f1orid
if all the facts were made
Known.
In the meantime her guest had
lrawn nearer and now sat at the oppo-
lite side of the hearth eyeing her with
spectral ardor. Miss NeeIe bridled her
yray flannel shoulders with rosy CO.
luetrY and impiously thanked her
guardian angel for the delay in put
ing up her hair in crimping- pins. 1t {
ould hardly be hoped that even so i'm
material a suitor as hers would be en- /
irely obvious to such unbecoming )
as crimpers. At last she
Ound voice again. {
Il believe, sir, that your intentions [
re perfectly honorable, but how can
live woman and a-and a--well YOU e
ct married? | don't for the life of
lie see!" This last rather expIosively, c
s she felt that any allusion to her
overs unsubstantiality was tactless, j
ot 20 say positively indelicate. c
"Cornelia," the ghost replied, you
-ilfully misunderstood my meaning. t
Iy soul turned and looked upon yours b
nd instantly knew its correIative i
uch worthy traits of character, such o
oble and beautiful mental character a
tics as you possess cannot be over o
ladowed by external appearances or b
immed by any eccentricities of u
beech. Physical attributes have no "
larm for us of the Spiritualized
sion; they are looked upon as mere | (;
lrnal appendages of fettered, intel b
gence. As to marriage! In this re- b
tionship. which l now seek to estab- d
sh with You. such material ties are e
'nsidered folly ard weakness. No
CHER bond can be urged no more ol
)ly union instituted, than the recog- RI
tion of spirit for spirit, even though Sc
lie be hampered by the bondage 10 h,
ssh. Cornelia, my soul-bride. nv es
therto unlovedi 7 see you Welding n,
the force of my reasoning and to tn
ur own inclinations. Permit me TO "
nsole you with the assurances of
Y deathless devotion and press uron tb
ur lips the nuptiaI kiss M
So saying, the specter arose ard ma
retching out his transparent hands. di
ught to draw Miss Neelie to his ga rv
verous breast when, with one great s1i
= of terror and reyulsfon of feeling. tic
q rose TO her feet and IooIa5 1,-;35I- -.
out the room.
The log had broken into beautiful tai
owing Goals; the wind moanetl dt.vvn w:
e chimney like a lost and thwarted m,
Irit; Phineas lay upon the rug. an
ni-circle of contentment.
L must have dozed." said Miss Nexlie