New-York tribune., 1909-06-20
Drswing by George Brehm

Iesa recognized the mood and waited for the ineva
ble parable For to Astro the Seer. modern science
was but an aegOrV of the intellect and the emotions
Isn't It like absence, While our friend IS pres
ent he is bathed in the matter OF fact light OF day
he IS radiant. luminous When he disappears. for a
time that impression OF him lasts, like the phoSphor
esceut glow Then. the light fades and we begin to
forget,-all save those who truly love, who truly
know, whose soul can still perceive the mysterious
astral black light he radldtcs through the dark lis
influence persists, transmitted from mental INTO
psychic energy. Selahl
He dropped his narghile and sat with folded hands
looking at her as If she miles away His smile
was the calm expression of a bronze Buddha.
But Xaleska took the parable to herself eagerly
Yes. YES. It true. and that lust what | need t.
know before | give YOU the answer YOU want l
don't know whether really love YOU or not.-youre re
too near me. too iutermngled with my lite and my
work If could try that test of absence if | could
wait till Your phosphoresceuce fades out. then
could tell if | was not affected by Your black
light. Id know then Just what YOU were to me
alone in the dark"
Shall we trv II: he asked gently. Shall dis
appear for a week, say
!Ah. I'm afraid it would take at least a month
she SAID.
He laughed We'll as long as YOU like"
"Wl YOU really
He bowed gravely i shall disappear tomorrow
You may use the studio on please. and. when
you've found out.-whcther or not YOU can be Al
feCted by my psychic black hEhi-yo VIII ie' me
know
TO care. Do care enough Tor him Naleska
- asked herself the next morning She walked -
the studio She had thought ot II almost all night.
she had risen with the question "n her lips she hti
seen him every day for two years The thought that
TODAY and perhaps for week or a month, She
would not See hirn gave her strange feeling Was
II a relief or a PAIN. As vet. she could not decide
b She entered the studio It seemed strange not
find him there al first Then. r-cuslhlE She began
TO find II hard believe that he was not there.
EVERYTHING suggested his prcscuoe-the CurlosItlcs
he had collected. the weapons, the Egyptian scuIl-
lures tapestries. gcms,-all evidences OF hs taste
and his researches She could rid herself OF the
feeling that at any moment he might come IN lie
was near her, somewhere waiting ana watching IoF
her
But TINS She sand to herself was only the effect OF
the familiar environment which She had been used
10 see him But II became at last too strong, too
sistrt Surely She could never decide till She sought
a new atmosphere She was sorry that She had not
disappeared instead OF Astro. But at least She
could leave the studio and be alone Tor aWhle, TO
think it out As She opened the outer door, She
heard the soft ringing Of the electric bell III the studio
which warned them of visitors l. still rang She
closed the door and II gave her unCauny feeling
the one spark OF life IL that dead empty place She
hurried away and walked swiftly toward the park.
10 care Va1eska had little doubt Of it when
IL the next morning she walked to the studio. one
dav had made her sure. She wanted to see Astro
again more than she wanted anything III the world
The dav had been empty and vapid She had
scarcely reached the before she knew what
a fool She had been ever TO doubt he product ot
mere propnquity not, the feel ing she had for nm
was paramount over every other emotion. She
wanted him back, to see hun, hear hnn' ana Well
ne would find out what else
Again the empty studio smOte her with the strange
feeling that despite the fact that she dld not meet
him there, he was near her Ne" II was t'tl6 if
thought Why had she not arranged how to notify
him. She had been she would need a
month that she had not asked where he was gong.
and She had now no means Of letting hum know. 1t
was absurd Must she wait for him TO write,
After all had she really means OF discovering
his whereabouts2 She looked eagerly about the