Robert was greatly impressed with this story and what they told him
about the wonderful powers of Lady Bersford. After consulting with his
friends, he decided to go immediately to Silver Springs to see her.
On Sunday morning about 10 o'clock he boarded a local airplane for
Silver Springs and arrived in the afternoon. It was a fitting setting
for the scene. The day was beautiful, the sunshine at its best. Robert
had watched the plane as it flew swiftly across the country. He had
viewed the many beautiful orange groves and thought of the wonderful
work of the hand of Nature in painting beauty grander than any hand of
man could ever do. Here he thought of something that he would write of
Marie in contrast to her beauty.
After thoughts of Marie's beauty had flitted thru Robert's brain and
his dream and hope for Marie had revived, he was feeling hopeful and
enthusiastic. Lady Bersford upon receiving the letter of introduction
from her friends, greeted Robert with unusual courtesy. He told his
story. She listened attentively and when he had finished telling her
about the mysterious letter, she said that there was an interpreter
at the hotel who understood most any foreign language and that she
was sure he could interpret the letter. Robert was elated because
Lady Bersford showed such a great interest and desire to help him.
He related all the obstacles he had met with in trying to get the
letter interpreted before, and had almost lost hope of ever getting it
interpreted. She assured him that her friendship with the interpreter
would at this time bring results.
Robert was anxious to see Silver Springs and Lady Bersford was anxious
for him to go and see it immediately and said that after their return
she would see the interpreter and get the mysterious letter read. They
went to the Springs and slowly rowed out on the beautiful waters.
Robert had heard the story and when the boat slowly came to a stop
over "The Bridal Chamber" and he saw the face of a beautiful woman in
the rocks his heart almost failed him. He thought of the sorrows he
had gone thru and wondered if such a fate might have been Marie's.
The beautiful waters reflected the most radiant colors Robert had
ever seen in his life. He secretly prayed the greatest prayer of
his life, that he might meet Marie here and with all of her beauty,
where they could enjoy the beauty of nature together. When he looked
thru the transparent waters into the bridal chamber, it brought him
back to Sunday morning, June 5, 1927, when he had expected to marry
Marie. Tears streamed down his cheeks and Lady Bersford realizing the
situation and knowing that she could say little, remained in silence
until Robert's emotions had passed. Then she told of her admiration for
his love and devotion to Marie and said that a scene like this, painted
by the hand of Nature was calculated to melt the heart of the most
cold-blooded man on earth. Robert asked the man who was rowing the boat
to row back to the place where the face of the spirit bride showed in
the water and as he looked down at the face again, he thought of Marie
and this is what he said: "Most beautiful face in all the world, best
beloved eyes that inspired the best in me, the days pass by on leaden
wings, when only in memory your dear eyes shine for me." Somehow the
beautiful waters and the scenery inspired a new hope in Robert, for
love must ever inspire hope in man when his faith in a woman keeps the
lovelight burning on the altar of his heart.
Robert and Lady Bersford returned to the hotel. After dinner, Lady
Bersford met Robert and told him that she had found the interpreter
and he had agreed to read the mysterious letter that evening. Robert,
having met with so many disappointments, felt that he must make sure
this time he would get the letter read. He met the interpreter, went
over the whole story with him, told him that no matter what the letter
contained, good or bad, he must know the truth and nothing but the
truth. Said he would pay any sum that the interpreter might name, and
pay it in advance, if he would agree to read the letter regardless of
what it contained. His plea was so earnest that the interpreter saw
that his heart was breaking and told him that no amount of money would
influence him as much to read the letter as the desire to relieve an
honest, loyal heart which was breaking for a great love. Such men as he
was our country's need in time of peril and such loyalty and devotion
to a woman was found in but few men; that it seemed more divine than
real, and that he would interpret the letter gladly and willingly.
When Robert was fully assured at this time that there would be no
disappointment, he was supremely happy. He grabbed the hand of Lady
Bersford, thanked her, and fell upon his knees before the interpreter
and thanked him in advance for his promise to interpret the letter.
"Now let us delay no longer," said the interpreter, "give me the letter
and I will read it." Robert had always carried the letter in a wallet
in his pocket, never letting it get out of his possession. Had it
carefully folded up in some other papers. He pulled forth the wallet
from his pocket, opened it up and looked for the letter. It was not
there. He searched the wallet carefully but there was no mistake about
it. The letter was gone. The disappointment was another great blow to
him. He talked the matter over with the interpreter and Lady Bersford
and was at a loss to understand how the letter could have disappeared
from his pocket. Was sure that he had it when he was in Palm Beach.
He telegraphed the hotel in Palm Beach and after making a search,
they reported that they were unable to find the letter. Lady Bersford
realized the keen disappointment that the loss of this mysterious
letter had brought Robert, so she told him that she would use her
spiritual powers every way possible to solve the mystery of the letter
and try to help him find Marie, and that if he would leave her alone
in silence that night, the following day she would report to him the
information she received.
Robert arose early the next morning and decided that he would go to
Silver Springs and see this beautiful spot just as the sun was rising.
It was a beautiful morning and he rode out upon the waters, listened to
the songs of the birds, watched the beautiful fish running to and fro
in the clear waters. He again thought of the story of the spirit bride
whom the legend said appeared upon the waters on moonlight nights. His
mind went back to the fishing trip at Spirit Lake, Arkansas. He thought
of the story of Spirit Lake and how he was impressed as a child with
that story. Now it seemed more vivid and real. His mind reverted back
to the death of Henry Watson and he thought "Is it my fate to visit
places and to hear stories of tragedy and disappointment of lovers,
and in the end, will my fate be like theirs? Must I sink into the
waters of forgetfulness without ever again seeing the best beloved
face in all the world, Marie's? After all, is it like Henry Watson
said: 'Hope is but an anchor to the soul, but facts are stubborn things
and we must face them?'" For a moment, Robert felt that he had been
clinging to hope all these years and he was almost ready to bid hope
depart and leave him alone to facts, but even then he knew that if hope
should depart and not hold aloft a light of Marie's love, he at that
moment would follow the course of the lover of the spirit bride and go
overboard, to be swallowed up in the beautiful waters, to release his
spirit, that it might soar away to find Marie. The man who was rowing
the boat, noticed that Robert had fallen into a death-like silence. He
asked him if he was ready to return. Robert awakened as if by a shot
and said "Yes."