An Astral Partner. would have come when she would have felt the need of other associations; but before it arrived, she too had passed beyond, and I was alone again. "During her illness she had promised with passionate earnestness to communicate with me if such a thing were possible. For months afterwards, especially while at my office, I felt that she was with me, guarding me. At length a friend opened the door between the seen and the unseen worlds, and I received a letter from her. "You smile at the confession. Perhaps you pity me as the dupe of some designing knave. Let me tell you that the letter was in her own familiar handwriting, and treated of matters known to no human beings but ourselves. Among other things, she advised me to sell a block of stock in which I had the utmost confidence, — indeed, urged their sale that very day. Merely because the re quest was made in her name, I hastened down town and sold every cent of my hold ings, more than a hundred thousand dollars. The next morning the stock fell, and from that day to this it has been going down, with now and then feeble rallies. I had paid a premium for those shares, and sold at a premium greater than their whole value at this time. If I had doubted before, I had no doubt after that. Thenceforth I com municated with her daily; and less fre quently with my wife. Being a less positive nature, it is more difficult for her to over come the obstacles in the way of such inter course. "You have no idea of the peace and comfort I have derived from the thought that these two loved ones are near me, watching over me and over my son, whose sensitive and dependent nature seems espe cially to demand such watchcare. A year or so ago, we learned by mere accident that he was a medium of rare powers. Since that time all our communications have been made through him, and I take no important step in business matters without consulting
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this silent partner in the unseen world, al ways following her advice. It no doubt seems absurd to you, but the fact that I have more than doubled my estate, and have made so few mistakes that my luck has passed into a proverb with my associ ates, will show you that I have at least good reason for my faith. To me, however, this is as nothing to the sense of association which has made my life during this time a constant gleam of sunshine. "It was my inability to communicate with Esther in regard to the Cooper Hill suit that affected me with hesitation no doubt ridiculous in your eyes. For a week or more all effort to communicate with her had been futile. I was greatly troubled. I felt that I ought not to proceed without her counsel, as she had always taken a great interest in the property, declaring that it would prove the best investment I had ever made. I took it for a debt, you know, and would have sold the claim to Cooper him self, at a very moderate price, ifhe had not been so arrogant. Esther always insisted that the sale could be set aside as fraudulent, and over and over again has assured me that she would put me in possession of facts that would prove her confidence in the in vestment to be well-founded. Naturally, her silence made me hesitate. "Well, we had hardly reached our room after I left your office when Willie felt the peculiar drowsy sensation which indicates that some one is desirous of making a com munication. In a few minutes we had a long and interesting letter from Esther. She says we must not try at this term for reasons which she cannot reveal, but hopes we may be able to do so at the next. She not only assented to my telling you this, but re quested me to inform you that it was through her suggestion that you were re tained, and the other counsel released. I think she would be glad to see you, and if you have no objection, I would like you to accompany me to the hotel and meet her, —
