vera, the medium-第19节

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〃Nothing　but　spirit　hands　can　move　those　ropes　now。〃

From　the　organ　rose　softly　the　prelude　to　a　Moody　and　Sankey
hymn；　and；　in　keeping　with　the　music；　the　voice　of　Vance　sank　to
a　low　tone。

〃We　will　now；〃　he　said；　〃establish　the　magnetic　chain。　Each
person　will　take　with　his　right　hand　the　left　wrist　of　the
person　on　his　or　her　right。〃　He　paused　while　this　order　was
being　carried　into　effect。

〃Before　I　turn　out　the　lights；〃　he　continued；　〃I　wish　to　say　a
last　word　to　any　skeptic　who　may　be　present。　　I　warn　him　that
any　attempt　to　lay　violent　hands　upon　the　apparition；　or　spirit；
may　cost　the　medium　her　life。　　From　the　cabinet　the　medium
projects　the　spirit　into　the　circle。　　An　attack　upon　the　spirit；
is　an　attack　upon　the　medium。　　There　are　three　or　four
well…authenticated　cases　where　the　disembodied　spirit　was　cut
off　from　the　cabinet；　and　the　medium　died。〃

He　drew　the　velvet　curtains　across　the　cabinet；　and　shut　Vera
from　view。　〃Are　you　ready；　Mr。　Hallowell？〃　he　asked。　Mr。
Hallowell；　his　eyes　staring；　his　lips　parted；　nodded　his　head。
The　music　grew　louder。　Vance　switched　off　the　lights。

For　some　minutes；　except　for　the　creaking　of　the　pedals　of　the
organ　and　the　low　throb　of　the　music；　there　was　no　sound。　Then；
from　his　position　at　the　open　door；　the　voice　of　Vance　commanded
sternly：　〃No　whispering；　please。　The　medium　is　susceptible　to
the　least　sound。〃　There　was　another　longer　pause；　until　in
hushed　expectant　tones　Vance　spoke　again。　〃The　air　is　very
heavily　charged　with　electricity　tonight；〃　he　said；　〃you；　Mrs。
Marsh；　should　feel　that？〃

〃I　do；　Professor；〃　murmured　the　medium；　〃I　do。　We　shall　have
some　wonderful　results！〃

Vance　agreed　with　her　solemnly。　〃I　feel　influences　all　about
me；〃　he　murmured。

There　came　suddenly　from　the　cabinet　three　sharp　raps。　These
were　instantly　answered　by　other　quick　rappings　upon　the　library
table。　〃They　are　beginning！〃　chanted　the　voice　of　Vance。　The
music　of　the　organ　ceased。　It　was　at　once　followed　by　the　notes
of　a　guitar　that　seemed　to　float　in　space；　the　strings
vibrating；　not　as　though　touched　by　human　hands；　but　in　fitful；
meaningless　chords　like　those　of　an　Aeolian　harp。

〃That　is　Kiowa；　your　control；　Mrs。　Marsh；〃　announced　Vance
eagerly。　〃Do　you　desire　to　speak　to　him？〃

〃Not　tonight；〃　Mrs。　Marsh　answered。　She　raised　her　voice。　〃Not
tonight；　Kiowa；〃　she　repeated。　〃Thank　you　for　coming。　Good
night。〃

In　deep；　guttural　accents；　a　man's　voice　came　from　the　ceiling。
〃Good　night；〃　it　called。　With　a　final；　ringing　wail；　the　music
of　the　guitar　suddenly　ceased。

Again　rose　the　swelling　low　notes　of　the　organ。　Above　it　came
the　quick　pattering　of　footsteps。

The　voice　of　Rainey；　filled　with　alarm；　cried；　〃some　one　touched
me！〃

〃Are　you　sure　your　hands　are　held？〃　demanded　Vance　reprovingly。

〃Yes；〃　panted　Rainey；　〃both　of　them。　But　something　put　its　hand
on　my　forehead。　It　was　cold。〃

In　an　excited　whisper；　a　voice　in　the　circle　cried；　〃Look；
look！〃　and　before　the　eyes　of　all；　a　star　rose　in　the　darkness。
For　a　moment　it　wavered　over　the　cabinet　and　then　fluttered
swiftly　across　the　room　and　remained　stationary　above　the　head
of　the　German　Professor。

〃There　is　your　star；　Professor；〃　cried　Vance。　〃When　the
Professor　is　in　the　circle；〃　he　announced　proudly；　〃that　star
always　appears。〃

He　was　interrupted　by　a　startled　exclamation　from　Lee。

〃Something　touched　my　face；〃　explained　the　young　man
apologetically；　〃and　spoke　to　me。〃

The　music　sank　to　a　murmur；　and　the　room　became　alive　with
swift；　rushing　sounds　and　soft　whisperings。

The　voice　of　Mrs。　Marsh；　low　and　eager；　could　be　heard　appealing
to　an　invisible　presence。

〃The　results　are　marvelous；〃　chanted　Vance；　〃marvelous！　The
medium　is　showing　wonderful　power。　If　any　one　desires　to　ask　a
question；　he　should　do　so　now。　The　conditions　will　never　be
better。〃　He　paused　expectantly。　〃Mr。　Hallowell；〃　he　prompted；
〃is　it　your　wish　to　communicate　with　any　one　in　the　spirit
world？〃

There　was　a　long　pause；　and　then　the　voice　of　Mr。　Hallowell；
harsh　and　shaken；　answered；　〃Yes。〃

〃With　whom？〃　demanded　Vance。

There　was　again　another　longer　pause；　and　then；　above　the
confusion　of　soft　whisperings；　the　voice　of　the　old　man　rose　in
sharp　staccato；　〃My　sister；　Catherine　Coates。〃　His　tone
hardened；　became　obdurate；　final。　〃But；　I　must　see　her；　and　hear
her　speak！〃

Not　for　an　instant　did　Vance　hesitate。　In　tense；　sepulchral
tones；　he　demanded　of　the　darkness；　〃Is　the　spirit　of　Catherine
Coates　present？〃

The　whisperings　and　murmurs　ceased。　The　silence　of　the　room　was
broken　sharply　by　three　quick　raps。　〃Yes；〃　intoned　Vance；　〃she
is　present。〃

The　voice　of　Hallowell　protested　fiercely。　〃I　won't　have　that！　I
want　to　see　her！〃

In　the　tone　of　an　incantation；　Vance　spoke　again。　〃Will　the
spirit　show　herself　to　her　brother？〃　The　raps　came　quickly；
firmly。

〃She　answers　she　will　appear　before　you。〃

There　was　a　moment　that　seemed　to　stretch　interminably；　and
then；　the　eyes　of　all；　straining　in　the　darkness；　saw　against
the　black　velvet　curtain　a　splash　of　white。

Above　the　sobbing　of　the　organ；　the　voice　of　Mr。　Hallowell　rang
out　in　a　sharp　exclamation　of　terror。　〃Who　is　that！〃　he
demanded。　He　spoke　as　though　he　dreaded　the　answer。　He　threw
himself　forward　in　his　chair；　peering　into　the　darkness。

〃Is　that　you；　Kate？；　he　whispered。　His　voice　was　both
incredulous　and　pleading。

The　answer　came　in　feeble；　trembling　tones。　〃Yes。〃

The　voice　of　Hallowell　shook　with　eagerness。　〃Do　you　know　me；
your　brother；　Stephen？〃

〃Yes。〃

With　a　cry　the　old　man　fell　back；　groping　blindly。　He　found
Gaylor's　arm　and　clutched　it　with　both　hands。

〃My　God！　It's　Kate！〃　he　gasped。　〃I　tell　you；　Henry；　it　is　Kate！〃

The　voice　of　Vance；　deep　and　hollow　like　a　bell；　sounded　a　note
of　warning。　〃Speak　quickly；〃　he　commanded。　〃Her　time　on　earth　is
brief。〃　Mr。　Hallowell's　hold　upon　the　arm　of　his　friend　relaxed。
Fearfully　and　slowly；　he　bent　forward。

〃Kate！〃　he　pleaded；　〃I　must　ask　you　a　question。　No　one　else　can
tell　me。〃　As　though　gathering　courage；　he　paused；　and；　with　a
frightened　sigh；　again　began。　〃I　am　an　old　man；〃　he　murmured；　〃a
sick　man。　I　will　be　joining　you　very　soon。　what　am　I　to　do　with
my　money？　I　have　made　great　plans　to　give　it　to　the　poor。　Or；
must　I　give　it；　as　I　have　given　it　in　my　will；　to　Helen？　Perhaps
I　did　not　act　fairly　to　you　and　Helen。　You　know　what　I　mean。　She
would　be　rich；　but　then　the　poor　would　be　that　much　the　poorer。〃
The　confidence　of　the　speaker　was　increasing；　as　though　to　a
living　being；　he　argued　and　pleaded。　〃And　I　want　to　do　some　good
before　I　go。　What　shall　I　do？　Tell　me。〃

There　was　a　pause　that　lasted　so　long　that　those　who　had　held
their　breath　to　listen；　again　breathed　deeply。　When　the　answer
came；　it　was　strangely　deprecatory；　uncertain；　unassured。

〃You；〃　stammered　the　voice；　〃you　must　have　courage　to　do　what
you　know　to　be　just！〃

For　a　brief　moment；　as　though　surprised；　Mr。　Hallowell
apparently　considered　this；　and　then　gave　an　exclamation　of
disappointment　and　distress。

〃But　I　don't　know；〃　he　protested；　〃that　is　why　I　called　on　you。
I　want　to　go　into　the　next　world；　Kate；〃　he　pleaded；　〃with　clean
hands！〃

〃You　cannot　bribe　your　way　into　the　next　world；〃　intoned　the
voice。　〃If　you　pity　the　poor；　you　must　help　the　poor；　not　that
you　may　cheat　your　way　into　heaven；　but　that　they　may　suffer
less。　Search　your　conscience。　Have　the　courage　of　your
conscience。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　consult　my　conscience；〃　cried　the　old　man。　〃I
want　you　to　tell　me。〃　He　paused；　hesitating。　Eager　to　press　his
question；　his　awe　of　the　apparition　still　restrained　him。

〃What　do　you　mean；　Kate？〃　he　begged。　Am　I　to　give　the　money
where　it　will　do　the　most　good　　to　the　Hallowell　Institute；　or
am　I　to　give　it　to　Helen？　Which　am　I　to　do？〃

There　was　another　long　silence；　and　then　the　voice　stammered；
〃If　　if　you　have　wronged　me；　or　my　daughter；　or　the　poor；　you
must　make　restitution。〃

The　hand　of　the　old　man　was　heard　to　fall　heavily　upon　the　arm
of　his　chair。　His　voice　rose　unhappily。

〃That　is　no　answer；　Kate！〃　he　cried。　〃Did　you　come　from　the　dead
to　preach　to　me？　Tell　me　　what　am　I　to　do　　leave　my　money　to
Helen；　or　to　the　Institute？〃

The　cry　of　the　old　man　vibrated　in　the　air。　No　voice　rose　to
answer。　〃Kate！〃　he　entreated。　Still　there　was　silence。　〃Speak　to
me！〃　he　commanded。　The　silence　became　eloquent　with　momentous
possibilities。　So　long　did　it　endure；　that　the　pain　of　the
suspense　was　actual。　The　voice　of　Rainey；　choked　and　hoarse　with
fear；　broke　it　with　an　exclamation　that　held　the　sound　of　an
oath。　He　muttered　thickly；　〃What　in　the　name　of　　〃

He　was　hushed　by　a　swift　chorus　of　hisses。　The　voice　of
Hallowell　was　again　uplifted。

〃Why　won't　she　answer　me？〃　he　begged　hysterically　of　Vance。
〃Can't　you　　can't　the　medium　make　her　speak？〃

During　the　last　few　moments　the　music　from　the　organ　had　come
brokenly。　The　hands　upon　the　keys　moved　unsteadily；　drunkenly。
Now　they　halted　altogether　and　in　the　middle　of　a　chord　the
music　sank　and　died。　Upon　the　now　absolute　silence　the　voice　of
Vance；　when　he　spoke；　sounded　strangely　unfamiliar。　It　had　lost
t