“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.”