The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-08-11
Vol. VI.

Oh HeT UdtuTe ludue HIS lnOCheIyi appear
painful, and, for her sake, he ceased to
Jest upon such themes as he had once
done. ,.,.-'e'.r ..,.,..... ...., ~
"Affer ALL" said Gertrude upon one oc-
casion, when the conversation CHANGED to
turn upon the subject, ''there are many
things constantly happening around us,
which are too well authenticated to be de-
MED, and too strange TO be explained. |
certainly do not believe in ghosts; but as
certainly believe that nothing is impossible
to God"
Lily, who had all young girls love
for the marvellous and romantic, asked
Paul if he had ever seen the spirit which
was said to haunt the little way-side chap
ell, of which mention has before been
made? s,e.t, .......
''No never; and have been there at all
hours. But what is it like, that | may know
it in case we should ever meetl"
".Like women, they say, dressed all in
white, with her hair floating on her shoul-
ders.''
"Who says SO, Lily" .r s..
"Nonsense! How provoking you are!-
But surely you know the legendw h.
"Not |, replied Paul, carelessly.
''She is said," continued Lily, without
needing his incredulous smile, "to have
been the daughter of proud and wealthy
baron, who wanted to force her into mar
riage with one whom she never could have
loved, even if she had not been, as she was,
secretly betrothod to young, brave knight
with no fortune but his sword. To avoid
this hateful marriage the lovers fled away
one moonlight night, but somehow the ba-
ron got to hear of it, and, btrning with
rage, set spurs to his horse, overlook them
just opposite the way-side chapel, in which
the lady sought refuge. She was kneeling
and praying before the altar; when her
father entered hastily, with his sword
drawn, and covered with blood; and she
knew by that,as well as by the expression of
his countenance, that all was over. For
moment the old baron was startled by a
wild and thrilling shrek, and he advanced,
after pause, and lifted her from the ground
where she had fallen-he found that she
was dead--her heart had broken. The
body of the young knight is said to have
been secretly Inferred, somewhere within
the precints of the chapel, while that ofhis
betrothed was conveyed, back to the splen-
did burial place of her ancestors; but ev-
cry night her spirit comes to weep over the
grave of her murdered lover"
"And did you ever really hear or see
anything!" asked the little Eric of Paul
Vanderpant, as his sister concluded her
narrative. ..
Eyes, remember now. One night |
was sitting alone in my little cottage, when
| distinctly heard three deep groans sue
ceeded by heavy fall without"
''And what did you do?" asked the boy,
creeping closer to him, and fixing his
large eyes eagerly upon his countenance.
81 got up directly, and opened the door;
there was nothing to be seen, although. to
be sure, the night was dark. | had, how
ever, hardly resumed my seat, than the
groaning were repeated in somewhat faint
er accents a
"How frightened you must have been,"
said Lilly.
81 was startled, | must confess; and this
time | took the lamp with me; but when |
opened the door, there came gust ofwind
and blew it out, so that | was no better off
than before. In stepping over the thresh-
hold | stumbled against something which
lay PROSTATE on the ground, and heavy
groan succeeded. 1t was poor wander
ing pedlar, who had lost his way, and was
half frozen to death by the cold, so that he
had not even sufficient strength left to de-
mand admittance at the door, to which the
burning light within had directed him.
"Then it was no ghost after ALL" ex-
claimed Eric, with disappointed air.
"We might have expected as much"
observed his sister Lily. uua
Gertrude put her hand into her lovers,
and smiled. "Did the poor man recover!"
she asked. oaalea .a
"Yes, and you will doubtless see him
some day, for he never passes this way
without calling"
"Suppose that you had sat still, and fear
ed to open the door," said Lily; 81 am
sure should" 10 lur
81 hope not" answered Paul; '.for then
the old man must have perished with the
cold; as Gertrude says, we should fear
nothing but God" M m 10 ts
Lily smiled, and remained silent, for
she well knew that whatever Gertrude said
or thought, or did, were sure to be right in
the sight of Paul, and the young girl won
dered if ever she had lover--a possibil-
ity she too often contemplated whether ii
would be the same--whether it would ever
be ''as Lily says" Time enough, sweet
Lilly Thou art little more than a child
as yet, although thou wouldstto thy pref
ty head, and curl thy small rosy lips, il
anybody should venture to tell thee So.
Assisted by her mother and sister, Ger
trude spun all her household linen, and ar
ranged her simple. wardrobe against the
now fast approaching period which had
been fixed upon for their wedding to take
place. II was 50 delightful to think that
she was not to be separated from her fam