The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-09-01

@'Ai'AA"6' udlO SSg AIOodA-uCilS CttOUSH
goa do not profess to be sapsrahtious, yet
are you not fearful, as you pass the old
church tonight or your way home, Of see
ing your shade hovcrng aboutthe church,"
"Itis well that your way lies not thith-
er," said Rosambert, rather neulod; 'lor
with all your smiling, doubt whether you
dare trust yourself in its vicinity at the honr
of midnight. Indeed, will wager a dozen
of mine hosts choicest Burgundy that you
dare not"
"Done, Rosambert, done! Gentlemen,
said Herman, addressing his brother stu
dents, "hear you this wager. Ggad, wen
make night of it! Now Rosambert, |
will do more ON the faith of thy Burgundy
i will enter the old miser's vault, con-
cerning which there are SO many mysteri-
Gus tales, and should meet with a spirit
I"I'll speak to it, though it blast me-" The
tomb is in dilapidated state, and the en-
trance is easy. The wager shall be deci-
ded this very night"
Excellent excellent 70 exclaimed Ro-
sambert sand that we may know you have
been there take this poniard, and stick it
into cofin.'
Placing his dagger in his bosom, he
turned gaily to his friend, and said with a
smile, F" Now l am ready-bo sure you
have the Burgundy unccrked On my re-
turn" 10 r.
He left the inn, and as he wenled his
way through the village, now buried in re-
pose, the solemn silence which roigned a.
round dissipated his gaiety, and his thoughts
took amore serious turn. He felt as if he
had acted wrong in unseeming levity on SO
serious subject, and then the many terror-
inspiring tales respecting the old miser, to
whose tomb he was now journeying, came
rushing upon his mind-causing him all
most to repent his foolish hardihood; but to
return without attaining his object, would
occasion the ridicule of his friends, and he
dreaded being sligmallzcd as a vain boaster
and coward, He therefore pushed quick
Iy on, and in short time reached the old
church, which at the extremity of the vii
age. He clambered over the low paling
which surrounded the venerable building,
and stood in the ''back ground Of life," as
Richter denominates the graveyard. All
was silent, save the wind, which sloughed
mournlully through the linden trees, scatter
ing the scared leaves far and wide. The
night was dark, the sky oyerspread with
murky clouds, which sped rapidly along
like giant-spirits of the air, revealing here
and there twinkling star. A feeling Of awe
came over him as he stealthly gIidod along
the .omb-stones; and as he neared the mi
ser's burial place, the midnight tolled loud
ly from the turret clock, breaking through
the solemn silence like the knell of death.
lie started at the sound, and almost quaked
with fear. But as the last stroke died away,
he summoned his falering resolution, and
drawing forth the dagger rushed down the
steps Of the vault, and with convulsive
shudder, struck it into damp and mouldy
coffin, which returned a sound as if the
skeleton within il had fallen assuuder, and
the bones ratified against the coffin sides.
Terrified and agiated, Herman attempted to
rush from the vault, but he was held fast by
some invisible agency, and urering faint
cry, fell senseless to tie ground
-
"What can possibly detain Hermann"
said Rosambert to his fellow students. ut
is now an hour since he started, and he
should have returned ere this. hope no
evil has befalIen him."
Another hour elapsed--still he came not.
At last it was proposed that they should
seek him. A lantern was procured, and