Page:Randolph, Paschal Beverly; Eulis! the history of love.djvu/217

212 my boyhood and youth, long ere the fires of ambition had turned my face toward distant India. I beheld the simulacrum of a dear sister, whom I had left in perfect health. I saw her to all appearance very, very sick,—the physicians, nurses, troops of friends, and faithful servitors, gathered round her; ''she was dying! dead! I saw the funeral cortége'' set out for the cemetery, and I marvelled greatly that they buried her by the iron ribs of a railway; because when I left, no road of that kind ran through my native town. I saw the silver plate on her coffin, and most clearly and distinctly read the inscription thereon; but the surname was one I had never heard of! I looked up at the Sheikh, who was eying me with strange interest and intensity, as if to ask an explanation; but he only smiled and repeated the one word, 'See!' Instantly I turned my eyes to the ovoid again, as likewise did three of my European friends, and, to my and their utter astonishment, beheld a shadow, an exact image of myself, standing near the well-curb of my native manse, weeping as if its heart would break, over the prostrate form of my elder brother who lay there dying from a rifle-bullet through the groin,—the result of an accident that had just befallen him while in the act of drinking from the swinging-pail or bucket! Now came the most astonishing phenomena of all,—for each of the three friends who were looking with me, started in surprise, and uttered exclamations of undisguised astonishment, for each had seen things beyond the range or pale of trickery or the play of excited fancy. One beheld the three forms of his dead father, sister, and uncle,—the latter pointing to a sealed packet on which was inscribed the words, 'Dead—Will—heir—Oct. 11th. Go home!' The other beheld the drawing-room, and its occupants, of the old house at home; and on the table lay a large pile of gold coin, across which lay a legend thus: 'Jem and David's winnings: Lottery: Paris: June 18th: 10,000 Pounds!' The third man saw a battle or skirmish waging in the Punjaub, and his senior officer struck down by a shot in the side, thus opening the road to his own promotion. Much more we saw and noted in that wonderful scene of diablerie, portions of which I shall detail at length hereafter. But it became necessary to attend to other matters. I did so (as will