Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-10-24

one accord, declared that they would
not marry, unless their bridegrooms'
swords were dyed in the hereto usur-
per's blood. The bridegrooms went
to earn the price. At dawn twelve
men role away from the inn: the thir-
teenth lay murdered with three wounds.
The landlord declared that his Dead
Guest was not Frederick, but a. q pre.
sumed hereto the body Was bu.,ed i'm
lay stall. The bridegrooms had no,
been seen since the murder, and the
Pining brides regretted their sanguina.
ry mandate. On the third evening
OF their accountable absence, a stran-
ger visited Jacobea, with whom the
idea Of killing Frederick had origina.
ted. The stranger was q very tall,
thin, pale man, dressed in black and
covered with jewels. He announced
himself ~ the Count Of Graves, and
brought letter from her truant bride
groom, stating that having murdered
the young man, he considered his bride
as lost, and would never return. ia.
cobea wept bitterly, and, ut FIRST would
not be comforted. But in a few days
the honied words Of the Count, ttand his
offer Of his hand and title, SO thorough
ly consoled her, that an evening was
liked, Tor the betrothing, after which
ceremonial the new bridegroom was 10
be allowed the unusual Indulgence Of
an hours nocturnal visit to his brides
chamber. The Count had played the
same game with the other forsaken
brides, each keeping her approaching
exaltation secret. Different hours Of
the same evening were fixed for the
several betrothments and subsequent
fefe fetes, and the next morning the
three girls were found with their necks
twisted; the Count. his equipage, and
his presents had vanished. The VIC
Tins we're buried at the same time.
and during the funeral q tall figure &c.
parated himselffrom the train ofmourn.
ers, walked towards the lay stall and
vanished on the spot where the Dead
Guest was buried.
An hundred years afterwards, in
1870, = Count Aftenkreux, similar in
appearance, allowing for change Of
fashions, to the Count of Graves. had
visited Herbeshiem, and similarly Sc.
duced the affections Of the three ali 4.
anced brides, and obtained secret ad !.
mittance to their several chambers on
one and the same night. The next
morning each maiden was found with
her neck twisted. and the disappear.
ance Of the Count and presents, and
the sceaes at the funeral we're renew.
ed.
The narrator Of this tale, at which
every body processes to laugh, is soon
afterwards called away upon regimen.
tai business. In. his absence, Mrs.
Bantes obtains from Frederick q con-
iessIen OF her love and engagement,
which she Immediately reports to her
husband lets him ster IN out his passion.
and then persuades him not 10 take the
Preeipitate step, aud wait to see If the
rich banker may not perhaps suppian,
the poor officer.
This 10 scarcely arranged ere the
hrst Sunday in Advent dawps, and is
ushered in with such stormy weather
as makes every one think Of the Dead
Guest. Immediately after morning
service, report spreads through the
town that the Dead Guost 10 az the inn
OF the Black Cross. Terrified work.
man and servants bring the news TO
Bantes, who ridicules the idea, until
his sober minded, intelligent book
keeper assures him that a very tall,
thin stranger, in deep black, with abun.
dance Of gold chains and sparkling
rings, certainly did arrive in a splendid
ePuIpage at the Black Cross during the
worst Ol the storm. Then the sound
common sense Of the practical man is
so far staggered, that he allows il to be
a strange, an incODeeiVAble eoinei-
dence.
In the evening the ladies 70 to a par.
~, whittier Bantes is TO follow them
as soon as he has settled some accounts
which he keeps, IL would seem, for
Sunday afternoons. At dusk, Is he
has finished his bUsiness.he is ALARMED
by a shIiek from his maid servant;
his counting house door opens, and in
walks sn exSet personiiication Of the
Dead Guest. Bantes is startled at
the sight, and when the stranger an
nOontss himself az young Hahn, cone
TO marry Frederics, his agitation De
comes excessive. Seeing. We all know
- believing and the old manufactur.
80 can no longer doubt the tale. So
perstiiious terror now wholly possess.
% bic imagination, he already sees
his ehild's beautiful face twisted 10 the
back ofhcr white-neek. aud thinks on
ly OF getting civilly rid Of the treaeh
erous phantom. For this purpose. be
irayibg no suspicion Of bis visiter's
identity, be reveals he ds0ghteF's
newly discovered love Tor. and secret
engagement with, Waldneh, as insuF
moontabIs obstacles to the projected
marriage. The stranger receives the
information with . smile, clearly indi.
eating that the bride 81 smother 10 the
- Il - .aeff