The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-12-21


The scene aud the hour were congenial
to the mind of the lord Of the castle. He
was no longer the mild and indulgent
master. Ills only daughter had fled from
| the fortress with handsome youth, far
inferior =. Der in BIRTH, but sweeter sing
or and harp pisyer than my inhabitant OF
the wide highlands and soon after this
! flight, the lover was i.lnd dashed to pie
! ces in the bottom of rocky Wiley, into
which, IN the darkness of the night, he
had fallen. Thereupon, the daug:,.er, by
an unknown pilgrim, sent letter to her
father, saying, that night having robbed
her of her lover. her eyes were open TO
her fault; that she had retired to a con-
vent 10 do the most severe penanco and
that her ia ther would never sec her more.
From this event, the lord of the castle had
become almost as obdurate as the sur
rounding rocks, and as unfeeliug az the
stony pavement of his old fortress.
AS he now looked from the window, he
saw IN the castle yard lantern, moved
backwards and forwards, as if in the hand
OF come one, who, with tottering steps
stole across the area.
Angrily he called out, "Who goes
there Z" for his domestics had strict or
ders TO admit no one within the walls and,
since the flight Of the young lady, these
commands had become 80 much more rig
id that it seemed as if lifeess statues
alone dwelt within.
TO the lord of the castle there came
soft voice. "An old, old woman" il said,
"begs some food, noble knight" But the
humble demand was impeiuously refused.
I
pellations showercd upon the beggar and
because she did not imm ediately retire,
but reiterated her petition, with fervent,
though weak voice, the knight, in he
wildness of his wrath, called OF his
blood hounds to hunt the beggar- woman
away; wildly did the ierocious dogs rush
forth, but scarcely had they approached
the old woman, when she touched the
strongest d ficrccst with a slender wand
The domcstics who had came out. expect
cd that the raging dog would tear her in
pieces; but bowling, ho returned, and the
others laid themselves down whining be-
fore the bcggar. Again the lord Of the
castle urged them on; but they only howl
ed and moancd, and lay still. A strange
shuddering seized him, which redoubled
when the old woman raised her lantern on
high, and her long white hair appeared
waving IN the storm, while, an u sad and
threatening voice she exclaimed, Thou
IN ihe heavens who see'st and nearest"
Trembling the knight retired from the
window, and ordered his people To give
her what she demanded. The domestics,
frightened at the apparition, placed some
food without in basket, and then secured
"a al hn t,ht tI.
ere, until they heard the strange old wa
man carry away the food: and as she
stepped out of the castle gates, the hound
Doaned mysterlously after her.
From this tImc, regularly, every thiro
evening, the lantern was seen in the cas-
twnkling begin 10 be visible through the
darkness, and the light steps heard to tot
Of the castle fastened back from the win
dow; the domestics put out the basket Of
food, and the hounds mourned sorrowfully
till the apparitlon vanished.
One day--it was now the beginning of
winter, the knight followed the chase in
the widest part OF the mountains. Sud
denly his hounds darted up stscp height,
and expecting good capture, at the risk
of imminent danger, he forced his shud-
dering horse over the slippery stoney
a cavern in the middle Of
the ascent the hounds stood still but how
felt the knight. when the figure of wo-
man slept to the mouth of the abyss, and
with q stick drove back the dogs. From
the long silvery locks of the woman, as
well as from the restless and low moaning
of the hounds, and his own internal feel
ings, he soon perceived that in this drcsr
spot the lantern. bearer stood before him.
Half frantic he turned his horse's head,
buried his spurs in it's side, ard galloped
down the steep accompanied by the yell
ling hounds, towards the castle.
Soon after this strange occurrence, the
lantern WAS no longer seen In the court OF
the castle. They waited ono doy--scver-
al days--a whole week passed over but
the apparitlon was no longer seen. II its
first appearance had alarmed the lord Of
the castle and his domest,cs, its disappear
ance cecasioned them still more conster-
believed the former iDdi- !
Gated some dreadful event, which the lat. ,
ter betokcncd to be neaS. On the knight !
this anticipation bad most terrible effect
he became pale and hsggard, and bis I
assumed such disturbed ap- |
pcarance, that the inmates Of the castle
were of opinion that the apparjtion gave
warming of his death. II was not so.
One day, rs was bis custom, the knight
rode to the chase and in his present dis.
traction of mind, he approached, una
wares, that part OF the country where the
Did woman with the white hair had ap.
oeared to him, and which place he from
hat time had carefully avoided.