Miss Ludington's Sister

her former self had an immortal existence, apart and distinct from her present self,

ute assurance of sight. The effect of the vision which they had witnessed in Mrs.

me, but, as they were crossing the ferry, Mis

was it no

e mortals were isolated here on this little island of time, with no communication with the mainland of eternity; but how can you c

you had seen any more than I shall ever expect any one to believe me. Think, Paul, if I had not gone, if I had not seen her, if she had not given me that look! I kn

s the way she knew me, and knew that I loved her,

e, in looking back, yearn after them, and not merely await us at the end, but are permitted to watch over us as we co

when they reached home

th a set smile, motionless, and breathing only by deep, infrequent inhalations. What were the joys of mortal love to the transports

eil between time and eternity was melted by the hot breath of his passi

previous evening. A tranquil happiness succeeded his exalted mood, and, lying down, he slept soundly till noon, when he went downstairs to find Miss Ludington

siness for Miss Ludington that day, but th

the temptation of drawing near to the place where she had been only a few hours before. He walked to and fro before Mrs. Legrand's house for an hour, and then stood a long time on the opposite side, look

onsiderable interval, by Alta, the elfish little girl. Paul asked for Mrs. Legrand. Alta said that

ange for another

call to-morrow?" asked Alta

ould call. The

k you if there is any one now in th

re," replied t

e where she was?" asked Paul, humbl

bent on queer errands. She merely asked him to step within the hall, saying that she would speak to her mother. Pre

that all was just as it had been the night before. The sounds of the street penetrated the closed apartments but faintly. With th

it was impossible for him to distinguish from reality. Once more a radiant figure glided noiselessly from the cabinet, which was darkly outlined in the corner of the room, and stood before him. Once more h

her. He had no doubt that, aided by the mediumship of love, she had actually appea

ngton. This interview, which Ida had granted

saw Dr. Hull. That gentleman was unable to promise him anything defi

sick?" asked Paul,

ult of the nervous crises which a trance medium is necessarily subject

she has not, and if her pecuniary means do not enable he

itutional peculiarities, Mrs. Legrand considered him, and he considered himself, better able to treat her than any stra

and the world of spirits where my love is? Don't think me brutal if I confe

," replied Dr. Hull; "what

to his feelings, "that the key of the gate between the world of s

en? What the world loosely calls spiritualism is no isolated phenomenon or set of phenomena. The universe is spiritual. Much as we claim for our mediums, the mediumship of motherhood is far more marvellous. Our mediums can enable spirits already alive, and able by their own wills to coop

ing his head. "It is not stran

pon Paul. To her it had been a lofty spiritual consolation, setting the seal of absolute assurance

ugh she was deeply grieved, yet the thought did not seem so intolerable to her as to him. She had, indeed, hoped that from time to time she should see Ida again; still, her l

inexpressibly long and dreary. The nature of his sentiment for Ida had changed since he had seen her clothed in a living form, from the worship of a sweet but dim i

ad always been so tender, now lacked expression. The lips that the boy had climbed up to kiss, how had the artist failed to intimate their exquisite curves! The whole picture had suffered a subtle dete

urable turn, and according to her previous experience with such attacks, she would probably be as well as usual by the following day. Dr. Hull said that she had heard of Paul's frequent inquiries for her, and while she did not flatter hers