The Argosy — page 77: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

On the Supernatural. 47 “ My mistress down stairs, sir,” said the man, looking perplexed and alamed. ‘ Why, nurse did not think she would live till morning !” She was still living, however, but died that night. I will now only add one or two more cases, where the departed have appeared to the living. While nursing a beloved brother during his last illness, I went to my room one morning, after a night of anxious watching, in order to obtain the refreshment of a bath and hair-brushing, so desirable at all times after fatigue of any kind, but particularly after sitting up all night. It was a glorious morning, the bright sun lighting up the gay colours of all the lovely flowers which adorned a very pretty garden, on which my room looked out. This garden was separated from the road and foot- path by iron palisades, in the centre of which was a gate, from which a long walk ran through the garden to the hall door. I was in the act of putting on my dress when my attention was attracted by a lady, rather tall and slight, who entered the gate, though I know not how, for I did not see her open it, and yet she passed through it and walked up the path with her head bowed. Though the figure and dress were quite familiar to me—for I did not see the face—I could not recall who it was. I particularly noticed the dress, as having seen it before, but it did not help me to recognise the wearer. Waiting in momentary expectation of hearing a knock at the front door, and failing to do so, I leaned out of the window and looked below. But not a living soul was there ; the lady had vanished. Yet it was quite impossible for her to have left the garden without my seeing her. ‘Then, and not till then, did I recognise in the lady my beloved mother—and the dress also as the last she ever wore. My brother died the next day. Shortly before his death there was aknock at the front door, which was heard by him; he spoke of it, and enquired who it was. Everyone else in the house heard the knock, but upon the door being opened nobody was to be seen. That some of us do possess the power to see supernatural appear- ances and to hear supernatural sounds cannot be denied. It is a Inystery, as all that is connected with the world of spirits is a mystery, possibly never to be solved in all time. But what we know not now we shall know hereafter. S. M. L GOMMGIO@ S com