"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....'"]