Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19
Drawing by Joseph Clement Coll

recognize her mother myself, and demands to be
taken to your house
At this amazing information, Mrs. Rolf and her
surviving daughter Minerva, who since Mary's death
had married Mr. Alter, promptly went to see Lur-
ancy. From seat at the window she beheld them
approaching down the street, and with an exultant
cry exclaimed, Here my and Nervie!'
the by which Mary Rolf had been accustomed
to call her sister in girlhood. Running to the door
and throwing her arms about them they entered
endearment, and with whispering illusions to past
events of which she Lurancy could in their opinion
have had absolutely no knowledge.
Rolf, who came afterward she greeted in the
affectonate way, while treating the members of her
own family though they entire strangers
To her father and mother it seemed that this must
there remained doubt that in her they beheld
an actual reincarnation of the girl whom they had
buried twelve years before,-that is to say, when
Lurancy herself was puny wailing infant Eagerly
they seconded her entreates to be allowed to return
with them; and, Mrs. Vennum being completely
Frustrated by this unexpected development, it was
decided that the little girl should for the time
being take up her residence under the Rott roof.
Back to the Rolf Home
SHE removed there February H. and on the way
event occurred that vastly strengthened belief
in the reality of her claims. The Vennu1ns and the
Roffs lived at opposite ends OF Watseka; but the
had been occupying dwelling in central section
of the town. Arrived at this house, Lurancy
hesitatingly turned to enter it, and seemed much
astonished when told that her home elsewhere.
why said she in positive tone, Il know that
I live here.
1t was indeed with some difficulty that she was
persuaded to continue her journey; but at its
end all signs of disappointment vanished, and she
passed gay from room to room, identifying objects
that she had never seen before, which had been
well known to Mary Rolf
Her pseudo-parents in ecstasies of joy.
Truly, they said to each other Our daughter who
was dead has been restored to and anxously they
of orh hOn fO haXy
her with them
1.-The angels" was her response, will let me stay
till sometime in May-and oh how happy ! ami
Happy and contented she proved herself; and,
which remarked by all who saw her, entirely
free from the malades that had sorely beset both
the living Lurancy and the dead Mary. For her life
Lurancy she appeared to have no remembrance;
but she readily and unfalingly recolected every
thing connected with the career OF Mary, She was
well aware also that she was masquerading as it
were, in a borrowed body.
DO you remember DR.. Stevens asked her one
day, the time you cut your ARM"
y indeed th and slipping her sb sleeve essed
and quickly added, ooh, this is not the arm; that
one is in the ground and proceeded to describe
circumstances attending her funeral Old acquaint
of Mary's greeted though they had
been only the day before; although in one
or two cases there lack of recognition, due, it
was inferred, to physical changes in the visitors
appearance since Mary had known them earth.
Tests, suggested and carried out by DR.: Stevens
ana NOH, only REINFORCED the view IndC tney were
really dealing with visitant from the world.
For instance, when the little girl playing out
doors afternoon Rolf suggested to his wife that
she bring down stairs velvet hat that their daugh
had the last year of her life, lay it the
hat stand, and if Lurancy would recognize it.
This done, and the recognition instant.
With a smile of delight Lurancy picked up the hat,
mentioned an incident connected with it, and asked,
Have you my box of letters a1so?"
The box was found, and rummaging through it the
child presently cried, "Oh, ma, here is collar
tatted Ma why did You not show my letters