Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-02-13

room.
Leroy babe Xavier and Germaine sit
down in one corner Of the room, and
Boissier and me in the opposite one
"You WILL" he began, witness
some extraordinary manifestations.
Some Of the phenomena may even be
of startling nature, for am the first
man who has succeeded in making
persons communicate direct with de-
parted spirits without passing through
the hands Of medium. The expert.
ment is difficult one, and its success
depends on the relations that have
existed between the questioner and
the spirit evoked"
Addressing me, he continued:
Monsieur I shall begin with you.
Please think of a departed person
with whom you wish to speak,"
II have thought of one" replied.
The professor laid one hand on my
right shoulder, and, raising the other
in the air, uttered a few words in a
understanding tongue We waited a
minute, but no response came.
The same experiment was tried with
Xavier and BOLSTER, but with no bet.
ter results.
81 do rot know how to account for
this" said the professor, In vexed
tone 81 have never yet seen the
spirits so hostile. I shall now ask
mademoiselle to recall some one with
whom she would like to converse"
II have done So" said Germaine.
The professor then laid his hand on
her shoulder; but the moment he
lifted the other, a noise burst upon us
as if all Bedlam had been let loose. 1t
lasted only few seconds, but 1t
made our very bones leap.
Good heavens! what was that?"
asked Xavier.
81 don't know" said the professor;
"thls is quite new to me. We shall
soon see."
He again touched Germaine, and
once more the deafening din arose,
worse than before.
Xavier and Germaine, looking very
scared, rose from their seats, when
the professor stopped them.
"St down." he shouted. "Hark, the
spirits are there; can hear them!"
After a silence that seemed oppres.
sive, we heard a low moan in the dis
lance, which grew louder as 1t came
nearer. When 1t had reached our
room. 1t stopped. There was another
minute of suspense, and then a voice,
very far off, called out LILY! Lily"
Germane started. She was deathly
pale.
Again the voice was heard, but
much nearer:
Lilly! Lily! Why have you done
this?"
Germaine was shaking SO thought
she would drop. Then she cried:
Forgive me! Forgive me, Ger
maine promise to atone!"
Boissier jumped up to go toward
her. seized his wrist and whis-
pered in his ear:
II am not Martin; my name Is Cor
on. If you make a move or utter
sound, you are lost"
The seance broke up in a state OF
excitement. Xavier conducted the half
fainting Germaine to the drawing
room.
went to her and said
"Mademoiselle, suppose you would
like to speak to us now?'
YES" she replied; "call your friend
yaviar. hnt NOT Roissier"
She shuddered as she mentioned the
name.
/ returned to the dining-room.
Professor" I said. keep close to
that fellow Boissier TIL come back.
II he tries any nonsense clap the
handouts on him."
"Ill look after him, sir" laughed the
professor.
Germaine was sitting in an easy.
chair, with her eyes closed, the while
Xavier walked about excitedly.
what does it all"
"Hush!" l interrupted him. "You
will hear the truth now"
II have deceived you! Forgive
mel"
Suddenly Germaine went on her
knees before Xavier, and selling one
of his hands, exclaimed:
Reckoning Xavier to remain silent.
| raised the girl from the floor, and
said:
Whom is he to forgive? Is 1t Ger
maine, or"
NO." she shrieked In paroxysm OF
grief. Don't speak. I will tell every.
thing!"
And in broken sentences, mingled
with sobs, she poured out her story:
my name Is Lily Bradley, and am
the daughter of the farmers who took
charge of Germaine when her parents
died. My father and mother We're
very good to her; but Germaine was
sickly, and the doctor said she could
not live long. Then came the letter
of M. E. in Toulouse, proposing to
adopt his niece; and my parents, be.
ing poor, decided to let me take her
place. l begged them not to do this;
but I was only thirteen, and they
pressed me so hard that I consented.
Two years later Germalne died, and"
"Your parents committed a second
fraud by burying her under your
name" l said.
"How on earth, Goron, do you"
Keep quiet, Xavier. Please 60 on,
Miss Lily"
Some time after that my parents
died. too, when one day I received a
visit from that man, Boissier. My ia.
Their knew him, and remember his
saying the fellow was a scoundrel.
Somehow Boissier had got hold Of the
secret, and he threatened to denounce