The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-03-17

another phantom, leaned upon the throne
He was clothed in the ceremonial mantle
which the ancient governors of Sweden
wore, before Wasa had made it a kingdom.
Opposite the throne. many personages of
grave and austeer mien, clothed in long
black robes, and who appeared to be jud-
ges, were seated before table upon which
lay several large folios and few pamphlets.
Between the throne and the benches of the
assembly. was block covered with black
Grape, and an axe lay near. No person in
this superhuman assembly appeared to per-
ceive the presence of Charles and his COM
panions. At their entrance they heard on
ly confused murmur, in the midst of
which the ear could not seize on any arti-
culate words; and the most aged of the
Judges in black robes. he who appeared 10
perform the functions of President, arose
and tapped three times with his hand on
folio open before him. Immediately there
was profound silence. Some young men
OF noble countenance, richly dressed, and
having their hands bound behind them, en-
tered the hall by door opposite that which
Charles NI, had just opened. Behind
them, robust man, wearing close Jacket
Of brown leather, held the cords which
bound their hands He who marched at
the head, and who seemed to be- the most
important OF the prisoners, stepped into the
midst of the hall, before the block, which he
regarded with proud disdain At the
same time the corpse appeared to tremble
with convulsive movement, and blood,
fresh and crimson, flowed from it's wound
The young man knelt down and extended
his head the axe cleaned in the air, and
descended with rushing noise A stream
Of blood flowed from the scaffold and min
gied with that OF the corpse and the head
bounding many times on the red pavement
rolled to the feet of Charles, which 1t dyed
with blood. HIS tongue was now loosenCd d :;
he stepped boldly to the platform, and adj
addressing the figure clothed in the garb of
administrator. he pronounced the well
known formula, of thou art of God,
speak; ifofthe Other, ,leave us in peace" The
phantom replied slowly, and with solemn
tone, "Charles Roi this blood shall not
flow under thy reign, there the voice be-
came less distinct but five reigns after.
Wo, wo, wo, to the blood of Wasa.
Then the numerous forms of this wonder
lul assembly began to grow less clear, and
seemed no.more than shades. Soon they
disappeared altogether; the fantastic fam
beaux were ex,nguished, and those of
Charles and his suite shone only on the
old tapestry, lightly shaken by the wind.
Yet they heard, for some moments, melo-
dious sound, which one of the witnesses
compared to the murmur Of the wind
among the leaves, and other, 10 the sound
which the chords of harp might render,
breaking at the moment in which the in
strument was tuned. All were agreed on
the duration Of the appari,ion,, which they
judged to have been about ten minutes.
The black draperies, the dccapltated head,
the waves of blood which stained the floor,
all had disappeared with the phantoms
only Charles slipper preserved red
stain which alone would have suficed to
recall the scenes of that night, if they had
not beon more deeply engraven on his me-
mory.
Returning into his cabinet, the king Or
dcred relation of what they had seen to be
written, caused his companions to sign it,
and signed it himself Notwithstanding the
precautions which they took to conceal the
contents of this paper from the public, it
was known even during the life of Charles
XII; it exists still, and even to this day, no
person has ventured to raise any doubts con-
cerning its authenticity. The end of it is
remarkable. "And if what have related,''
says the king, SIS not the exact truth, re-
nounce all hope of a better life, which may
perhaps have merited by some good actions,
and especially by my zeal in laboring for
the happiness Of my people, and in sustain
ing the interests of the religion Of my an.
ccstor's." :.
Now, if one recalls the death of Gusta.
vus III, and the condemnation of Ankarstro.
em, his assassin, they will find more than
one relation between this event and the cir
cumstances of this singular prophesy.,.
The young man decapitated in presence
of the States would be called Ankarstroem.
The crowned corpse would be Gustavus
III.
The child, his son and successor, Gusta.
vus Adolphus Nv. The old man, the Duke
of Sudermania, uncle of .Gustavus sIY,who
was regent Of the kingdom, afterwards king
on the abdication Of his nephew.
ga great deal Of injury is done to children
I~-xstk ~ rse -.