"Try," he said tremulously. She bent forward, resting both elbows on

the table and framing her lovely face in her hands.

Deep into the scintillating crystal her blue gaze plunged; and for a

few moments she saw nothing. Then, almost imperceptibly, faint hues

and rainbow tints grew in the brilliant and transparent

sphere--gathered, took shape as she watched, became coherent and

logical and clear and real.

She said in a low voice, still watching intently: "Blue sky, green

trees, a snowy shore, and little azure wavelets.... Two children

bare-legged, playing in the sand.... A little girl--so pretty!--with

her brown eyes and brown curls.... And the boy is her brother I

think.... Oh, certainly.... And what a splendid time they are having

with their sand-fort!... There's a little dog, too. They are calling

him, 'Snippy! Snippy! Snippy!' How he barks at the waves! And now he

has seized the little girl's doll! They are running after him, chasing

him along the sands! Oh, how funny they are!--and what a glorious

time they are having.... The puppy has dropped the doll.... The doll's

name is Augusta.... Now the little girl has seated herself

cross-legged on the sand and she is cradling the doll and singing to

it--such a sweet, clear, happy little voice.... She is singing

something about cherry pie--Oh!--now I can hear every word: "Cherry pie,

Cherry pie,

You shall have some bye and bye.

Bye and Bye

Bye and Bye

You and I shall have a pie,

Cherry pie

Cherry pie-"The boy is saying: 'Grandpa will have plenty for us when we get home.

There's always cherry pie at Grandpa's house.' "And the little girl answers, 'I think Grandpa will come here pretty

soon and bring us all the cherry pie we want.'... Her name is

Jessie.... Her brother calls her 'Jessie.' She calls him 'Jim.' "Their other name is Colden, I think.... Yes, that is it--Colden....

They seem to be expecting their father and mother; but I don't see

them--Oh, yes. I can see them now--in the distance, walking slowly

along the sands--"

She hesitated, remained silent for a few moments; then: "The colours

are blurring to a golden haze. I can't see clearly now; it is like

looking into the blinding disk of the rising sun.... All splendour

and dazzling glory--and a too fierce light--"

For a moment more she remained bent over above the sphere, then

raising her head: "The crystal is transparent and empty," she said.

[Illustration: "She said in a low voice, still watching intently:

'Blue sky, green trees, a snowy shore, and little azure

wavelets....'"]




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