The Ghost of Guir House

ing the town, upon which stood a temple of transcendent splendor. The sunlight flashed upon its marbl

see for ourselves," answere

portals of the temple; and when sufficiently near, P

n of the Birth o

a look of resignation. "It is the most stup

endless pageant. It was a miracle of art and trembling iridescence. White pillars, set with jewels, rose and branched above their heads like the spreading boughs of gigantic trees. The throng of humanity surged hither and thither, and yet so vast was the nave of the temple that nowhere was it crowded. Paul clung closely to his comrade's arm, fearful lest his only friend in

ape of rare beauty. Beneath lay the marble city with its palaces, parks, and fountains. In the distance were shadowy hills and gleaming lights; and above, a sky whose singular purity was reflected over all. The height was great, b

e meaning," he said, looking up at

l, so that all men can see it in any part of the world at any time quite as well as if present at the original performance. We photograph our thoughts and those of our friends. We reproduce the voices of the departed. We commune with each other without the intervention of wires. We have lately pictured the human soul in its various phases. We see plainly through iron plates many inches in thickness, and look directly into the human body. Our food and precious stones are made in the laboratory, and a syndicate of scientists has recently been formed for the transmutation of the baser metals into gold. When man can produce food, clothing, and all the precious metals at will; when he can see what is occurring at a distance without the necessity of lugging about a cumbersome piece of machinery like his body-when all these and many other discoveries ha

fumed with strange aquatic plants, they watched the brilliant scene that surrounded them. Aerial chariots flashed above, and men, women, and children moved through the air entirely re

these people!" cried

anything Henley had seen. For a moment neither spoke, and then Ah Ben, passing the back of his hand acro

be," answered Paul, who was conscious

e day, perhaps, you may kno

e that surrounded them, Paul observed that many of

experiencing the slightest obstruction. Likewise light and air are not here confined to special material and apertures for their admission. We are only just beginning to dis

nhabitants move from place to place through

has believed himself the slave of matter, it becomes his master. I mean that the belief ens

ar transcending any previous experience of Henley's that he no longer even tried to

turn; the time i

expression. "I thought you told me t

the same inexpressibly sad look; "but did I

ut observe the change in the man's manner as they retraced their steps. Indeed, he was co

en, with authorit

the room at the same window by which they had left it, an

moon, and the forest beneath lay bathed in its mellow light. The sudde

asked the old man, "the scene before u

d. It was not a whit less tangible, visible, or audible than that in which he had always lived, and he could not help looking upon Ah Ben as a creature far removed from his own

into the hall again,

use to the old pew by the fire; and Ah Ben, sti

feel inclined for bed; and if you are of th

en more deeply involved in mystery than they had upon that occasion. Paul was now beset with conflicting emotions. The gloom of the house was more oppressive than before; and were it not for his sudden and unaccountable affection for Dorothy, he might have left it at once, had it not again been for the vision of splendor and happiness just faded from his sight. He could not bear the thought of losing forever the sensation

a man has only just begun to experience the sensation of life-of real life-to find himself suddenl

the escape into that life which you were at first inclined to call unreal; and yet, Mr. Henley,

and beyond my power to recall. What amazes me to the point of stupefaction is the marvelous impression of truth with which hypnotism can fill one. I had always imagine

fact. You insist that because the minority of men only are subjected to hypnotic tests, the impressions produced must be false. You will not admit that a minority has any claim to a hearing, although their evidence is based upon precisely the same testimony as t

it the more difficult to comprehend; still, of course, I know t

ty of men would see this as you see it. What

impossible,"

you, you will see for the first time the way in which this old house looks to the great majority of mankind-indeed, to such a

r boughs, and beyond were the pines and hemlocks. Paul stood erect, and stared around him in blank amazement. Where was Ah Ben? He too had departed with the rest. Dazed and wondering, Henley sauntered toward the door, or rather to where the door had once stood, now only an open portal of crumbling stone, from the crevices of which grew bushes and a tangled network of vines. Climbing down over a mass of fallen bricks, he wandered out into the grounds. The lawn was buried beneath a confused jumble of rubbish and weeds, and the forest encroached upon its rights. The graveled road was no longer visible, wild grass, moss, and piles of fallen stone having covered it far below. As he looked above, the moon shone through the casement of a ruined window, and an owl hooted dismally from the open belfry. The ol

ime in which you have perceived Guir House in what you would call its

ince my arrival!" exclaimed Pa

d of it is quite as truthful as the one now before you. Indeed, it is as truthful as the view you now have of yonder star," he pointed to a twinkling lu

te undoing me," answered Paul,

men would see if here to-night. But I perceive that it is troubling you. Let us return to our old place by the fire, and the hou

ne, and mortar; and then Ah Ben lifted his withered ha

old seats, just as they used

. The old lamp and the strangely decorated staircase were all restored, just as he had left them a few minutes be

held is the existing fact, might I ask in what part of the wreck you and Miss Guir hav

you care to listen I will tell it to you, alt

oy nothing mo

eir pipes, and Henley listened wh