The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-08-18


through and beyond one In way that
made lesser men suddenly realize their
snnllness, His long h2i. prematurely
leouched With gray, fell across his fore
head In a broad. careless sweep. He
was tall. but q slight stoon not unpleas-
ant. discounted his height.
All his writings were tinged With
symbolic mysticism and wonderfully
delicate fantasy. II had taken many
years for even the discriminating public
TO learn to appreciate tho subtle flavor
Of his writings In prose md poetry. but
now he had undoubtedly arrived his
name carried weight and his opinions
were listened 10 with respect by the
thinkers OF two continents. a Thin book
lot OF essays-"The World in Trayail''-
had even sprung to the position OF
best seller" much to the establishment
of its publishers.
Dr.. Wycherley. who he'd 4 natural gift
for the making Of friends. found an I'M
usual difficulty in getting in contact
with Norman Fordycc. II was not until
they had seen one another for two or
three days that he found himself able 10
approach the subject OF the spiritualisttc
seances. ..
It was evening. in the Piazza San Mar
CO. after dinner. They sat at table
outside Quadri's. under the broad COLON
rade Of the square. slipping their coffee
Mrs. Fordyce. planning 10 leave them
together. IN stopped at her hotel with
some slight excuse or a hcnda che.
Aa orchestra was playing light. gay
music In the open square. Around Il.
visitors IN evening dress. hat!css. mingled
With the strollors OF the city. The moon
rose htgh-screns. uncloudcd.
"Motha." unused the dreamer. as With a
slight movement OF his tapcr!ng fingers
he indlcst"d the c'rcl.ug crowd what
Is the soul OF n,nih" \ restless cr:sv-
Ing for the light OF p.c:suTe-a reaching
out with gross fingers for what can
never he touched witEcrt the soaring OF
dislusions. IL they would but turn their
backs u?cn the light and geek IN the
outer darkness tor the realities that have
no merctricous hrilllancc. The unseen
the real. the kecnly real
1T reeds a sure stcp to tread the
outer darkness" returned DR.. wycherley.
thinking Of the splritual.stIc experiments.
But the rewards are great-grcnter
than anything material earth has TO Of
fer. To clasp hands across the tnfnities
Of space-to thrill to rho thoughts Of
those who have passed into the realm OF
the untramucled spirit"
II. like yourself. am an inquirer My
life has been Apept on the borderland OF
the known and the unknown. Above all
have learnt this: TO tread very wariiy
In the unlighted region. There is firm
ground. and there Is the Quagmlre.''
DO you believe. Doctor. in the life
after DEATH
y belleve-yes. But have no proof
as yet
DO you believe that those who have
passed over can communicate with us
who Are left behind"
II wait tho evidence"
There 10 evidence already
THEORETICALLY tangled with fraud"
Not In my own case. I know-past all
doubling"
That Is very strong statement"
IT can prove It TO YOU: said Fordyce
with sudden fire.
How
Come with ms tonight to the house
of SiEnora Franchini. ! am TO have
sitting at ten O'Clock.
she would probably not care for my
presence" objected the doctor. knowing
that objections would fan the sudden
flame he had aroused.
"she would welcome any friend or
mine" answered Fordyce. II he comes
II
only the grossly material skeptlc We
object to-
"One must needs be skeptic before
one can be a thorough believer"
Yes. I agree. II was so In my own
case. Come. but do not expect too much
from the Srst sitting. Conditions are not
always farora BILE. We have 10 learn what
the best conditions are. We have to
grope In the outer darkness"
IF I come replied Dr.. Wychercr.
you must allow me to come as scien-
list
And that Means
That I must exhaust all normal eS-
plantations before I allow myself the gu
pernormal explanation"
A gondola threaded them through
labyrinth Of narrow waterways overhung
by the balconies Of dark and silent
houses musng on their dead past. The
curious warning cry OF the Eondolie- as
he steered his craft round a blind corner
cut sharply into the silence OF the dark
water-lanes. Occasionally an answering
cry would meet his and the two black
gondolas would steal past one another
like two. creatures OF the night bent on
errands OF mystery. Here a vine trailed
down its Icing cropping fingers over
wall that hid n garden. but mostly their
path lay through canyons of dead stone
unreiiered hy any green Of living plant.
The gondn!ier' brought them gently
against flight Of ston" steps l"adtnS
from the water-depths up 10 an oaken
door studded with heavy, iron bosses. The
windows on each side were guarded with
"a criss-cross of iron railing. II vas
the ancient palace Of some IonS-dcad
merchant prince OF Venice. The only
light In the house came FROM a window
on the second story. stealing out through
the chinks Of heavy curtains.
Fordyce pulled ut q bell-rore "t metal.
and an answering clanS echoed around
the canyons Of the waterway. After
long wait an aEet, manserrant appeared
at the door. holding a lantern in his
hand. He led the way into bare stone
entrance-hali and up a broad unliglted
flight Of steps to the second story.
It was a welcome relief TO arrive IN
the Lighted room where the Sisnora re-