The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-07
ASKING
THE SPIRITS
BY LUtU JOHNSON
Copyrighted. iass. hy Associated
Literary Press.
By LutU JOHNSON

i ~GhOStsr repeated Paul orford, with
a smile, ITO he sure there are ghosts
l have u personal Acquaintance with
/ half a dozen. ! was one once. That
was when the dramatic club put on
Hamlet"
Now yeu are frivolous" reprOvcd
Lucy 1T Is a very serious matter to
penetrate the vetl that separates the
present from the future and cross to
that other shore. Mrs, Glendls says
that we each should seek 10 test cur
medinmistk powers"
There Is one thing IKE about
ghosts" said Paul.
whats thaty' asked Lucy quickly
as be paused.
Their answers generally are yes
and no" explained Paul mcaninrly,
For nearly a year be had been trying
to pin Lucy down to a definite accept.
ance Or dismissal OF his suit but that
tactful yet uncertain minded young
woman would say him neither yea"
nor nay pFeferring 20 enjoy the
greater freedom of action which Is the
privilege Of the unengagcd, while At
the same time she held orfori her
slave.
Ghosts say lots more than that"
insisted Lucy. Mime, Goya was tell
ing all about II. You start with the
alphabet ard when you come to the 1
right letter they give nap. and IN
that way they spell out words. Nine 1
Goya says that II Is the duty Of every 4
earnest thinker TO develop medlumistlc
powers. because we never can tell .
whether We have the gift until we try ,
TO develop"
"She's right. declared Faul, with a
greater interest than be had previous
II shown IN the discussion. "Do you
know | have thought for some time
that could develop along those lines
with the proper sympathetic support I
"You must Join our circle" invited
Lucy heamingly. She had been grow
ing angry at Panl's covert sneers at
Nine. Goya and Mrs. Glendis
The latter had brought the adept 20
the attention Of the Tuesday dancing
class and bad turned that select little
company into a ''eircle."
The young man found II more inter
esting TO sit In the darkness OF the de-
Veiopment room and hold hands, for
there were times when something sent
thrills through the investigators and
caused the more timid among the girls
to clutch more tightly the arms Of their
escorts.
Paul was not q member Of the dane
Ing class in spite Of his devotion to
Lucy. and he rather resented these
seanees.
Il think" suggested Paul, that II
might be well to try me out before
seek to display my powers in public
Il viii be an hour before your mother
gets back from the Bradleys, and your
,ather Is too busy with that new book
he borrowed to interrupt Suppose we
hold a sitting nowY'
II never heard Of sitting with only
.wo," objected Lucy. Even with the
ifteen or twenty Of our circle we get
any return yet, and do not
believe that the two Of us could get
my response at all.
we can try It," pleaded Paul. "We
.annot do more than fail, and there
might come some slight indication that
me or the other had mysterious pow
r." {
''Yes, we can try IT," assented Lucy
brightly, glad 10 see Paups interest.
OF course you must promise that II |
here is no development you win not I
Ie discouraged" c
"I'll promise that" assented Paul Q
promptly. "Ill not be discouraged" }
"Then wen try" agreed Lucy as she
.Ieared the magazines and books from
light table and brought it into the |
enter Of the room. She placed chairs q
N opposite sides, dlsregarding PaurS t
that they be placed side by a
ide, and then. turnlng down the light, c
he took her place in one seat and
alled to him to take the other. Y
''Tbey almost always sing" she be. +