The highest forms of their ideal.”—Chapin.

Ruth was a lovely, tall, dark-eyed, Southern girl. Her family and most intimate friends called her Dolly. She had heavy, light brown, long, curly hair, that hung below her waist in six perfect curls. Doll was very slender and graceful, her mouth a perfect cupid’s bow, her head well poised, and small. Her most charming feature was her large, wonderful, soft brown eyes. Everyone loved those lovely eyes. The soul seemed to express her thoughts, and yearnings through those eyes. Ruth was a lovely Christian and inherited her mother’s sweet, cheerful, sunny disposition. She also was an exquisite violinist, and could paint, sketch and cook. Our heroine is just sweet sixteen. Ruth is sitting by a big window watching an awful southern storm rising from the Gulf of Mexico. She and her young companion, Cathy de Bathe had been dear friends and schoolmates. The girls were now visiting Ruth’s grand parents in Mississippi. It had been raining for days in Escawtawpa,—a small country town on the Escawtawpa river. The Indians and darkies called this strange river haunted; this is a fact too. Every night weird music came from the river bed. The ghostly musicians had chosen the large hollow reeds for their musical instruments. It sounded as if they were practicing the scales on a golden, magical, flute. This weird music would often end at sunrise in a low, sad funeral dirge. People came from all over the world and hired darkies to row them out at night to hear and investigate these strange magical sounds. The music became more weird and much louder about midnight. Ruth and Cathy often wondered if the river was truly haunted.

One calm, beautiful night, while she was sleeping soundly, Ruth dreamed her soul was transported to another world. She dreamed this beautiful world was Mars. It was a world of love and romance instead of war. The dream seemed real as life. At first she was surprised to find herself carried as if by magic so quickly and safely through space to this lovely new world,—it seemed like a lover’s paradise. This strange new world was the world of the soul. Ruth wondered how she came there. As she looked around she saw a tall, dark, handsome young stranger, who spoke, smiled, and bowed to poor little surprised Ruth. He was very courteous and gently told her that once, he was an ancient Indian prince. He said an old Indian living near her grandfather’s home would tell her the same truth, and this would prove that all he said was true, and no dream at all. “Remember, Ruth, many dreams are true and real—soul facts. A wicked Black King drove us away from India many years ago and captured my son with his lovely bride, and took all our wealth except a few jewels. Mara was then my princess yet did not belong to me, and is now happy with her twin soul. They are now wealthy and live in Neptune. We made a mistake then, as many do now in marrying the person not intended for us. In India we taught the immortality of the soul. This wicked and powerful King Pootana did not believe in the Communion of Saints or would not permit it to be taught, if he could help it. We taught one God, one love, one wife; he had many wives in those days. He killed good priests. His soul now suffers in Purgatory, and will for some time. My tribe and myself were drowned in a terrible storm on the river Escawtawpa.”

“O! Prince Cresto, an old negro we call Aunt Mary told grandma this same story. She said it was all true, but we all laughed at her. Is it a real fact?”

“Yes, child. I can remember the storm, and the rain pouring down on us, how terrible it seems now. The old raft sank slowly down, down, to our death. On that very spot where our ship sank these magical reeds grew. In love and immortal sympathy and pity they sway, they sing their sad doleful hymns. These musical sounds are the sobs and groans of a great tribe mourning for their Prince and loved ones.”

“I have often dreamed of you, Prince Cresto, and now I see you face to face. Are you truly alive?”

“Yes, I am a real live man; asking you if you would like to visit some of the scenes and wonderful sights in Mars, would you, Ruth?”

“I would love to!”

Cresto (they have no titles in Mars) sent a mental wireless message, and soon a boy came with a lovely little airship called “The Golden Butterfly.”

“Oh! how lovely! We are sailing far above the Martians,” Ruth cried. The air was pure and bracing, the ride very exhilarating. They descended slowly—for Ruth was afraid to descend; the lovely little airship alighted in a public park. Many little children were playing here. She saw lovers strolling down the walks in perfect peace and happiness. There were lovely beds of flowers everywhere. They soon came to a beautiful blue lake. On this lake they saw pretty, tiny boats with large white swans, beautifully carved, in front. These little boats, at a distance, looked like graceful, white swans; couples that row in these boats seemed to be lovers.

“O! Cresto, what perfect little love-boats!”

“Ruth, the couples in the boats are soul-mates, they have been married for years, and will always be lovers.”

The longer they had lived together the more devoted they seemed. Many were swimming; all seemed very fond of the water. Cresto took her to the immense bath house, hired suits; they went into the plunge first, then to the lake outside. No one called him Prince Cresto over there. No one can take a title or any money to another planet. They are all brothers and sisters, all one big family, all humble and Christlike, yet they seem to have plenty to live on. They are very busy and happy; they all play as much as they work, and study. Ruth could swim well and gracefully on earth, so it did not take her long to swim there.

“Ruth, when we learn to swim or dance well on earth, we can do the same on any planet. If we can learn to sing and become great musicians on earth we never forget it. We begin here just where we left off on earth. We never go backward, but forward—unless we are punished for some sin.”

“Cresto, I wish we could go and visit other places of amusement?”

They walked on and on, each spot seemed a garden of Eden. They often saw lovely angels—always two together.

“Ruth, these couples are spirit mates. I suppose they look strange to you, for they do not fight or get divorces here; they are contented and are industrious.”

Ruth soon learned that they carried on their daily conversation by thought transference. They also talk the same as we do and sing the same as we do when together, when parted they use thought transference—for husbands go to work there and wives attend to the home as on earth.

“If our loved ones visit another planet we can send them messages quickly, by thought transference. This can be done on earth or anywhere. Ruth, thought transference is only reading another’s thoughts and answering mentally.”

“Cresto, what a wonderful fairyland Mars is! I hear beautiful music everywhere, everyone singing in perfect love and harmony, their sweet, dear voices are soft, tender and melodious. Oh, I am in a magic world of love, music and beauty. Mars is a world of love and peace instead of war.”

“We think too much of our lives and sweethearts to ever go to war. War is a sin. All trouble could be settled by arbitration on earth. We only fight to protect dying souls on your planet. This is a mental fight to protect our loved ones from enemies. Ruth, my dear child, can you guess who I am? After seeing all you have just seen?”

“No, Cresto, I can not!”

“You are only a child, but so highly educated you can understand, you are my other half, my twin-soul, my very own. I have watched over you and protected you since your birth. Darling, I would not have been parted from you so long, if I had not married poor Princess Mara for her wealth and caste. I have suffered a thousandfold for my ignorance, selfishness, and sin. It is a sin to marry without love. All true marriages must be founded on love and honor. Love without honor and respect is only misery. Ruth, my darling child, do you trust me now?”

“Yes, I do Cresto dear, I love you, for you seem to be the soul of honor. You are my ideal of a gentleman. I never have had a lover in all my life. I don’t like the young men on earth. I do not know why.”

“You are only a child and are too young yet.”

“Cresto, I long to give up my life to good, instead of accepting the attentions of admirers as other young women do. I don’t care for society, it is only wasting my time away.”

“Please make me one promise, in answering this question, I know you will not break your word. Which will you choose: Society and idleness, or doing good and hard study? Please do not let me influence you, do as you please. There is no sin in going into the social life if you do not wrong any one.”

“I choose to do good. I long to develop my mind and help others.”

“Dear, if that is your choice, we will begin our good work now. My darling doll if you will fast and pray for a few days I will take you to Purgatory. I only take you so you can prevent others from going there. Just so you can save lost souls. I take you only to show you how cruel, wicked, heartless, souls suffer. My dear, pray sincerely and try to fast until I see you again. There are no children in Purgatory, love. I will protect you and keep you close to my side. Many saints will go with us,—for it is not safe to go alone. Darling, if you see the underworld as it is, you will be better able to do good and prevent others from going there. First, my pet, promise to forgive me for taking your pure, sweet soul to such a place? O! you don’t answer me? I will keep you here in Mars until you do, love.”

“Yes, I forgive, I want to go. It will be a wonderful new lesson for me to go. I can hardly wait for the time to come. Please take me now.”

“No, dear, you must fast and pray first. I will get angels to protect us. I must make everything safe for our visit there. Please light all your candles after I take you home. Pray, go into the silence; later I will return for you.”