Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-04-11

I'D sooa he sum W1s msdo p. We
chose, fer The trial, asnall pavilion II the
garden, 70 entirely isolated that the locale
Il offered no chance for fraud. We made
ouEselves ,st,re that there were bat two
n,alets, viz: b window which was care-
fully closed, and door,. on the outsids OF
which we were stationed. Upon The tables
had been placed materials Fur writing. and
1.-THE lights had been carried away. The
young man was shut up alone IN the pa
wilton, the Spaniard remaining with US
outside the door.
A breaihless silence prevailed for mo-
ment, when the Spaniard began TO chant. In
| q soft, melancholy voice, stanza which
may be translated thus:
.And the conn is broken with crash;
And the grave is opening;
And the pale phantom's dark footis placed.
Upon the vcrdant MOSS
After this first stanza, the Spaniard
raised his voice and so!emnly said you have
asked to see your friend Francois Violat,
who was drowned in the sea three years
ago. What do you behold?'
"A whitish light arising near the win
dow replied the young student; but it Is
only shapeless, wavering mist
sAre you afraid?' asked the stern voice
Of the Spaniad.
And the young man answered, 4 am
not afraid. m rs 81
Wewere supplied, breathless with sus-
pense. The conjurer was silent for
moment. Then stamping thrice with his
foot upon the ground, he chanted in a
louder and more solemn voice than before:
<And the white phantom whose features pale
Have been discolored BY the waves,
Presses the water from his clothes and hair
With his winding Sheet
The chant ended. The Spaniard turn
ed again towards the door, and cried in the
same solemn tone:
you. who would seek TO dive into the
mysteries Of the grave--what do you see?'
we listened anxiously, while the stu
dent replied in calm voice, and like one
who describes an incident a. it is taking
place:
The mist spreads itself, and takes shape
like phantom. The head is covered
with long veil. 1t moves moi from the
spot on which it rosc.'
Are you afraid?' asked the Spaniard.
And the young man answered, i am
not afraid
Supplied, we kept our eyes fixed upon
the coniuror in silent awe, as he proceed-
ed to chant the third solemn stanza.
| sThen says the phantom, rising from the grave,
sThat he may recognize me,
Twill 20 toward my friend: smiling, erect and far,
| As in the days Of my youth" a3.t
The Spaniards finished. and asked i'm
mediately the same terrible question:
what do you sees'
.The figure advances, replied the stu
dent. 1T lifts its veil. 1t is Franchise
Vialat. He approaches the table. He i.
writing his signature r.
Are you airaid?'
sNo,' replied the young man, Y am not
afraid
Immedidiately the Spaniard commenced
singing, or rather bowling this last and
horrible stanza:
Ethan says the poantom to the jccting youth;
Come let me touch thee now;
Place thy hand on my hand, ihy heart agsinst my
| heart,
Thy lips upon mr. owr.''
what do you seef' cried the Spaniard,
in yoics Of thunder.
He con,es--he pursues niche stretches
out his arms-i.e will seize me. Oh,
help, heip!'
sAre you afraidp' cried the conjuror,
with savage joy.
A piercing cry and then stiaed oh, were
the only answeo to this terrible question.
i think l have won,' SAID the Spanard,
bitterly; but am satisfied with having
taught him lesson. Let him keep the
money, and be more wise in FUTURE
SO saying, he walked rapidly away
Fixed with horror, we re-opened the door,
and found the young student seized with
fearful commissions. The paper signed
by FRANCHISE Pialat was upon the table
Recovering, theyoung man demanded the
coniuror, and with an oath OF vengeance,
pushed from the room. We saw neither
him nor the Spaniard afterward.
My uncle finished. Trembling with