The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-01-30
- = \
WILLIAM W1STER'S Will, A MESs
SAGE FROM BEYOND TIE qRXvE


about uncertainties, characteristics. Of
youth.
"Father,' said he, "here' 8 a maya
zine writer saying that the late Prof.
James has since his death been com
munlcating with people still alive, and
has even appeared in cap and gown
toa woman. Such stuff imposes on the
weak and credulous to their injury. It
ought to be barred from publication. ,,
The oldbanker put down his paper,
took off his eyeglasses, carefully plac-
ed his finger tips one against the other
and replied: "Wen, I don't know
Maybe we are all more or less like Ho-
ratio: our philosophy may not embrace
all the things in heaven and earth.
I've seen so many possibilities become
realities-all the marvels Of modern in
vention-that I IN rather more credu-
lous than was at your age.
Then [ had very few doubts about any
thing. For instance, I thought Tenny-
son s vision Of
sThe nations airy navies Crap
pling in the central blue
very beautiful as poetic imagery, but
I quite impossible. Yet we know now
it was a prophecy, since it has been
fulfilled in the European war. I don It
know; the time may come when we
shall not be at all surprised that living
ears are hearing voices from the undis-
covered country beyond the grave.'
The old banker shifted his position,
looked his son squarely in the eyes and
continued: ~ was myself once start
led when one Of our customers told me
that on the first day Of every month
she receives a message from her dead
! husband.'' ..+ -
"She's crazy" exclaimed John,
"clean crazy I did not know your
| depositors included lunatics,'' he ad-
ded jokingly.
The old banker smiled tolerantly,
edo YOU think Mrs. Wister insane,
my son?'
John WINGED Had his father sensed
his feelings toward the young widow 2
But he answered promptly, "of course
not; she is the sanest person / know
But what has Mrs. Wister to do with
it?'
"Oh, only this, that she is the Gus
toner I alluded to-your sister g friend
and yours. You know her husband died
with nothing to dispose of by will, yet
he left a will It is a strange one.
have a copy of it and will read it te
you. - ~:
The old. banker replaced his spec
tacles, turned to drawer, took out
paper, unfolded it, and, leaning bach
in his chair and real aloud:
This my last Will and Testament
needing neither probate nor executor
since I leave no estate subject to ad
ministration. But to my beautiful AM
i beloved wife and our precious httl
oir1 7 leave a love that shall outliv
death and find expression from me OF
the first dav Of each month after l hav
gone on ahead to Heaven.
uThat's al Of it, John, but Mrs
Wister tells me that not once since he
husband died two years ago has sh
failed to receive on the first day o
each month the promised reinsurance o
his devotion. Ah-h-h, this happens to b
the first dav Of the month, son; suppos
YOU call on Mrs. Wister today-say
, about two O'Clock this afternoon-an
get her to tell you the whole story. TIL
message may come while you are ther
, with her and you may judge for your
self it's substance and authenticity
=
emo, John,'' said Mrs Wister, 81 J
!, not spiritualist; IN not even an a(
!, vanced psychologist. / know and cal
nothing about occult science, SO calle'
II I am, as you have just said, yer
level-headed person. But what yor
father told you is true. Ny husban
- had bought this cottage, paid for
in my name. When William died tW
e years ago he was thirty seven yea
= old, was twenty and our daug
ter was in her second year. Of cours
~ his salary stopped with his unexpec
! ed death-he was i'll less than wee
and when his funeral expenses ha
= been paid, our little hoard in your +
- theirs bank was almost wiped out.
felt very helpless, very much alon
:, 7 didn It know what to do.'
# The young widow bent over her b
N by and stroked her head. The mel
orv Of her double distress-the loss
a her husband and her anxiety Tor
L 81 ,ti rfrOnO