The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-02-24
ASKING
THE SPIRITS
BY LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated
Literary Press

"Ghosts| repeated Paul Oxford, with
smile. ITO be sure there are ghosts
| have personal acquaintance with
half dozen. l was one once. That
was when the dramatic club put on
Hamlet"
Now you are frivolous" reproved
Lucy. at Is Il very serious matter to
penetrate the veil that separates the
present from the future and cross to
that other shore. Mrs. Glendis says
medlumistie powers"
"rhere Is one thing l like about
ghosts" said Paul.
whats thatY' asked Lucy quickly
as he paused.
''fheir answers generally are yes
and no." explained Paul meaningiy.
For nearly year he 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 may" preferring to enjoy the
greater freedom OF action which IL the
privilege OF the unengaged. while at
the same time she held oxford her
slave.
Ghosts say lots more than that"
insisted Lucy mime. Goya was tell
Ing all about It. You start with the
alphabet. and when you come to the
right letter they give rap, and In
that way they spell out words. Nine.
Goya says that 1t Is the duty Of every
earnest thinker to develop mediumistic
powers, because we never can tell
whether we have the gift until we try
to develop"
"Shes right" declared Paul, with a
greater interest than he had previous
ly shown In the discussion. do you
know have thought for some time
that could develop along those lines
with the proper sympathetic supportT'
you must Join our circle" invited
Lucy beamIngiy. She had been grow
Ing angry ut Paul's covert sneers at
Nine. Goya and Mrs. Glendis.
The latter had brought the adept to
the attention of the Tuesday dancing
class and had turned that select little
company into circle
The young man found 1t more inter
esting to sit I'm 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 thei
| escorts
srnui was not Il member of.tiie dane
Ing class In spite of his devotion t
Lucy, and he rather resented these
seances.
81 think" suggested Paul, that !
might be well to try me- out before
seek to display my powers In public
1t will be an hour before your mothe
gets back from the Bradleys, and you
father il too busy with that new bool
he borrowed to interrupt. Suppose w
hold sitting nowY'
II never heard OF sitting with ONLY
two" objected Lucy Even with tn,
fifteen or twenty OF our circle we ge
scarcely any return yet and l do MOI
believe that the two Of us could gel
any response at all"
we can try It," pleaded Paul. 1--WE
cannot do more than fail, and there
might come some slight Indication that
| one or the other had mysterious pow
err
Yes we can try it." assented Lucy
brightly, glad to see Paul's interest.
"of course you must promise that II
there Ii no development you will not
be discouraged.
"Pll promise that" assented Paul
promptly "Fll not be discouraged"
."fhen Wen try" agreed Lucy as she
cleared the magazines and books from
IL light table and brought It into the
center of the room. She placed chairs
on opposite sides, disregarding Paul's
suggestion that they be placed side by
side, and then, turning down the light.
she took her place In one seat and
called to him to take the other.
"They almost always sing" she be-
gan uncertainty.
"rhen wen sing" assented Paul.
"We'il follow all the process"
His hands closed over Lucy's, rest
ing on the table, and softly Lucy sang
one OF the songs approved by her cir
Gle.
| "Now you must keep very STILL" she
| whispered Just concentrate ON the
desire to obtain u communication. II
may be some time before we feel any
response"
"Thats all right" was the ready re
| ply. I'D be willing to walt hours to
absolutely make certain"
"You don't have to hold my hands
% tight" suggested Lucy Just rest
| your finger tips on mine to complete
the circuit"
This is better" objected Paul, with
truth I'VE establish better contact
or whatever you call It."
"DoD't talk any more" cautioned
Lucy 1.-The spirits won't come while
you are tolklng."
| Paul subsidized into silence, 1t was
very pleasant sitting there In the half
light with Lucy's hands in his own
In the soft gloom he could Just make
| out the oval Of her face and catch
family the eager CLEAN In her blue
eyes He WAS willing to experiment
along these lines forever.
Outdoors the rain beat against the
plate glass OF the windows with a
sharp rattle that added to the com.
Portable feeling of those within. and
apart from that only the crackle OF
coal In the CRATE broke the silence.
For twenty minutes no sign came
and then there was heard a succession