Uncertain Glory by Lea Wait

Looks like no change in the news from South Carolina.”
    â€œGood. Our front page says the fighting continues. I’ve been worried it would end and we’d have to print a special edition, or change the whole front page.”
    Charlie leaned to the right so he could see up Main Street. “I see Owen, over by the town pump. Your idea that he should sell copies in the street before the meeting was brilliant. Four or five people are in line to buy
Herald
s right now.”
    I clapped Charlie on the shoulder. “More money toward what I owe Mr. Shuttersworth! You were right about those interviews, askingpeople what they thought about the situation down south. People
do
like to see their names in the newspaper.”
    â€œGood thing we printed extra copies. It’s not every day we have a battle in Charleston
and
a spiritualist in town, that’s for sure.” Charlie looked around. “Father said we should put seventy chairs in here. I think we’re done.”
    â€œDid you look closely at the room before we started moving the chairs in? You know—to see if Nell or her uncle had changed it in any way?” Nell hadn’t acted as though she was a fraud when we’d talked, but there was no harm in investigating.
    â€œNothing’s suspicious. The drapes were drawn, and the oil lamps lit. The stove’s full of wood. This room is always set up this way for an evening gathering.”
    â€œWhat about Nell’s chair and table?”
    â€œThey’re the same ones used in the dining room.” Charlie looked around the room again. “I’ll tell Father we’ve finished so he can be sure everything is exactly the way Mr. Allen requested.”
    I’d only been on the second floor of the Mansion House a few times. The ballroom was directly across from the dining hall. To the left were doors leading to other, smaller rooms. I peeked into an empty sitting room elegantly wallpapered in bright red-and-blue stripes. Next to it was another parlor, this one painted in green with a pattern of leaves stenciled on the walls. A love seat and several chairs were arranged with two card tables, one of them set for a game of chess. At the very end of the hallway the door of a third room was partially closed. I was about to look in when I heard voices. I stopped, just in time.
    I could hear Nell’s voice clearly.
    â€œMy headache’s better, thank you, Uncle Horace. But I’m still lightheaded.”
    â€œHorace, you must keep this grand assembly of yours short tonight, or Nell will be worse tomorrow. I cannot believe you engaged private sessions for her on a Sunday. You know without rest her headaches will get worse again.”
    â€œMy dear, I’m only doing what’s necessary. We’re stuck in this dreary town until we have enough funds to take us to Nell’s engagement in New York City. That journey will not be inexpensive. Talk of war is filling coaches and inns.”
    I moved closer to the door so I wouldn’t miss a thing.
    â€œWhy can’t we remain here a while?” Nell was pleading. “I could do one session each day instead of four. That way I could rest as well as support us.”
    â€œWe can charge three times as much for your services in a city like New York. Not to mention that in a small town like this one, you’ll quickly run out of customers. Curiosity seekers will disappear. New clients are easier to find in a city.”
    I wanted to peek into the room, but was afraid I’d be seen.
    Her aunt spoke again. “Still, Horace, you must keep tonight’s session short. For the girl’s sake.”
    â€œHush, woman; it won’t be long. I’ll tell everyone the truth: Communicating with spirits is wearing for someone so weak and young. If she looks pale and confused, so much the better for the act. If we’re lucky, the people whose questions she doesn’t get to will pay more to come back next