Evening star., 1928-06-08

Other we'll known works OF his are The
Appartion of Mrs. Veal ana MOL
Flanders. }
There was once man who was hap
pily married and had several children.
But his wife died and when he married
again he was far from happy, for his
second wife was unkind to the first
wife's children~-so much so, In fact,
that the eldest SON and heir took leave
and went out into the world. At first
the father resented this action on the
nart of his son. but afterward, being
somewhat reconciled, he advanced his
son money.
The sons stepmother. however. was
Jealous and finally put stop to send
ing funds to the absent son. She began
to do everything she could to persuade
her husband to disinherit his eldest
son and leave papers giving all his
estate to her eldest son instead. He
would not hear of it and he would not
be persuaded, no matter what nap
pened. a..
man and talked so much and said so
MANY things that he finally agreed
to disinherit his son If he did not return
home or send some message within a
YEAR. for the SON had not communlcated
with his father since the funds mac
Seen stopped. ,......
The father wished heartily. however.
that his son would give some mani
festation of being alive. He thought
n quite AS possible for a living man
fo have an apparition as dead one.
AS a matter of fact. one night there
was n face seen at the window and 1t
was the face of the absent heir. His
Stenmother saw It and so did his father.
she was much frightened at first. but
then she saw how to take advantage
of it to gain her ends.
THE stenmother accused her husband
of being in league with the devil ana
of calling up a familiar In the image
of his son to fool her and scare her,
He denied the charge. But, neverthe-
less. she had warrant sworn OUT
charging him with wizardry and rafnc
with Satan. This frightened the man.
for. though he knew he was innocent
he was not sure what otner people
world think, So he finally signed q
ra,er disinheriting his son in favor OF
his second wifes eldest son II the absent
one did not return within four months
since the son did not communicate
with his father, and after all that had
been said, the man agreed 10 carry out
the terms of the paper. SO the VII
nesses. friends of the stepmother, gain.
cred together on the appointed DAY ano
all was in readiness to destroy all pre-
yious papers and give everything 10 the
woman's eldest son.
when they had discoursed upon all
the particulars and the new deeds were
read over, she took the old WRITINGS
up to cancel them and was jnst gong
70 tear the seal when of a sudden tney
heard a rushing noise in the parioi
where they sat. as II somebody mac
come in at the door of the room wnich
opened from the hall and went through
the room toward the garden door, when
was shut. !,
They were all surprised at 1t, ior u
was very distinct. but they saw nothing
The woman turned pale and was IN 9
terrible fright. However. as nothing
was seen, she recovered little.
"What." she said to her husband
"have you laid your plot to bring more
devils again?'
The man sat composed. as though he
was not a little surprised, too.
One of the gentlemen said to him
what is the meaning Of all this "
II protest, sir" said he, I know nc
more of 1t than you do"
''WSlat can 1t be. then?" asked the
other gentleman.
, at cannot conceive" said he, "for
am utterly unacquainted with saoh
things"
Have you heard nothing from your
SOM" asked one.
mot one word" said the father, no
not the least word these five years.
Have you written nothing To nm
about this transactions"
mot word. for / know not where
to direct letter TO him"
"Sir." said one gentleman, Il have
heard much of apparitionS. but never
saw anv in my life, nor did ever
believe there was anything of reality
In them-and indeed. ! saw nothing
now--but the passing OF somebody, OF
spirit, or something, across the loom
just now Is plain. heard IT distinctly
| believe there is some unseer~ thing In
the room. as much as If saw 1t"
"Yes," said the other arbitrator, Il
felt the wind of 1t as 1t passed by me.
do you think your son Is dead?'
asked the other,
mo, indeed" said the father. y
have dreamed he Is alive still. de
believe In my conscinece he's alive. aS
much as / believe l am alive myself
| think / am doing as wicked a thlne
now as ever man did"
Truly" said the other gentleman
| ''it begins to shock me. / don't like
| driving men to act against their con.
| sciences"
| With this the wife. who. as I said
| having a little recovered her spirits
and especially encouraged because she
saw nothing, said: What's all this Il
| the purpose? In II not all agreed
| already? What do we come here for?'
True" said the first gentleman, ''wt
meet not TO inquire why 1t is done. hul
| to execute things according TO agree
ment. And why should we fear9"
"I'm not afraid said the wife.
Nor T." said the husband. Come
| I'll cancel the old writings II 40 devils
are i'm the room' He took up one o
the deeds and went to tear off thu
seal. But his wife took It and woult
| do 1t instead, to be surer,
That moment the easement fieW oper