“You feel better, Juan,” said Miss Hinckley, “because you have had a feast of the soul. You have been in an harmonious circle for the last thirty minutes, and it is the first time since your awakening. Many people with good intentions are made demons, because of inharmonious surroundings. As you grow strong in the Light, we will enjoy many an hour together, Juan.”
Juan left the room with a bow and a “thank you,” and Mrs. Serrano arose and walking the floor back and forth in intense excitement, said: “My dear child, that story is divine to me. Show me the way. I must know if I had a past existence.”
“I can do nothing more, Mrs. Serrano, than to get you a little of ‘Liquid from the Sun’s Rays,’ known as ‘Memory Fluid.’ If you take it, I feel quite sure that you will not be disappointed in the result,” replied Helen Hinckley.
“Get it, child; get it, and I will take it in honor of yourself and the good Governor.”
While Helen Hinckley knew the good housekeeper would take it mainly to satisfy her curiosity, she cheerfully gave her a vial of the liquid, and said: “Have no fears, Mrs. Serrano; no harm can result from it. When your memory is restored, I will gladly take you with me on a trip through space.”
“How charming, to be the envy of all eyes,” said the worldly Mrs. Serrano.
Helen Hinckley made no reply, but laughed heartily as the two separated for the night (so Mrs. Serrano thought); but Helen Hinckley knew they would not meet again until her wedding day. She knew how keenly Mrs. Serrano would feel the disappointment in not being able to tell her to-morrow what she remembered, and take a trip through space, yet she knew it was for her good, and she caused the delay.
Time in the Governor’s Mansion went very quickly, and Helen Hinckley was as happy as a mortal can be. How that the day had arrived which would be celebrated in her and the Governor’s honor with so much grandeur, she could hardly realize that she was the same Helen Hinckley who came to the great city of Chihuahua only a short time ago, homeless, friendless and almost penniless, searching in an ill-defined way for her other self, and for the one who had caused her to be an orphan in a life gone by, and who was instrumental in causing her grief and sorrow in her present life—the loss of parents, home and money.
She attributed all of her good fortune to the high life she had always aimed to live; to her delving with things pertaining to the occult, and the taking of “Memory Fluid.” She was happy and knew the cause, so nothing could mar her pleasure. Before she left her room, which was at an early hour, numerous congratulatory messages were brought to her from President Mortingo and others of note, as well as from many others, from various parts of the world, wholly unknown to herself and to the public.
When she was through reading the first lot of messages received, she dressed herself in a close-fitting black gown, from the bottom of which only her feet extended, and took a trip through space. When she reached the very outskirts of the city, she sat down near the top of one of the Sierra Madre mountains.