The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-06-17
"You will do that, will you2"

theso hfty gulncas, on the condition tina
you will pay similar sum, if you lose.'
| After short silence, the young maj
said, gaiy:
"Filty guineas. my worthy sorcerer, arr
moro than poor college szer ever pos
sessed; but here are five, which, if you ars
satisfied, shall be most willing TO wager
The other took up bis purse, saying in a
contemptuous tone:
"Young gentleman, you wish TO draw
back!,
81 draw back !" exclaimed the student
"WeII if had the fifty guneas, you should
see whether wish to draw back!'
"IIere," said ], care four guineas, which
will take on your wager"
No sooner had | made this proposition
than the rest Of the company, attracted by
the singularity Of the affair, came forward
TO lay down the money; aud in minute or
two the fifty guineas were subscribed. The
merchant appeared so sure Of winning that
he placed all the stakes in the hands Of the
young student, and prepared for his cxper-
iment. We selected for the purpose a
small summer house in the garden, perfect
ly isolated, and having no measss Of exit
but window and door, which wo careful
y fastened, after placing the young man
within. We put writing materials on q
small table in the summer house, and took
away the ca ndIes. We remained outside.
with the pedar amongst US. In slow sol.
emn voice he began TO chant the following
lines:
"What rise,h slow, from the ocean caves
And the stormy surf?
The phantom pale sets his blackened foot
On the fresh green turf.n
Then, raising his voice soIemnly he said
"You asked to see your friend, Francis
Villiers, who was drowned three years ago
off the coast Of South Amcrica-what dc
you see?"
81 see," replied the student, "a white
| light arising near the window; but il has nc
form. 1t is like nn uncertain cloud"
We-the spectators--remained perfect
ly silent.
"Are YOU afraid?'' asked the merchant
in loud voice.
81 am not" replied the student, firmly
After a moments silence, the pedlar
stamped three times on the ground, ant
sang:
"And the phantom white whose clay cold fac,
| Was one so fair,
| Dries with his shroud his clinging vest
And his sea tossed hair"
Once more the solemn question:
'You, who would see revealed the mys
teries oftbe tomb-what DO you see now?'
The student answered in calm voice
but like that of a man describing things a
they pass before him.
81 see the cloud taking the form Of
phantom; its head is covered with Ion,
veil-it stands still"
"Are you afraid?"
81 am not!'
We looked at each other in horror-strick
en- silence, while the merchant, raising hi
arms above his head, chanted in a sepul
chral voice:
Sand the phantem said, as he rose from the wave
| He shall know me in sooth!
will 60 TO my friend. gay, smiling and fond,
AS in our first youth.'
"What do you see?" said he.
81 see the phantom advance; bo lifts hi
yoice-'lis Francis VilIers! He approach
es the tabIe--he writes!--'tis his sigma
turem
"Are you afraid?"
A fearful moment of sies ensued; ther
the studen, replied, but in un altered voice
al am not"
With strange and frantic gestures, th'
merchant then sang:
"And the phantom said to the mocking seer,
/ come from the south;
Put thy hand on my hand--thy heart on my hear
Thy mouth on my mouth"
What do you see?"
'IIe comes--he approaches he pursue'
me-he is stretching out his arms--ho will
have me! Help! help! Save me!'
"Are you afraid noc?" asked the mer
lchant, in a mocking voice.
A piercing cry, and then stifled groan
was the only replyto this terrible question
"Help that rash youth!!' said the mer
chant, bitterly. 81 have, think, won the
wager; but it is sufficient for me to have
given him a lesson. Let him keep hi:
money, and be wiser for the future"
He walked rapidly away. We opened
the door of the summer-house, and tounc
the student in commissions. A paper, sign
ed with the name "Francis villiers," wa
on the table. As soon as the STUDENT
senses were restored, he asked vehement
ly where was the vile sorcerer who hat
subjected him to such horrible ordeal-h
would kill him. He sought him through
out the inn in vain; then, with the speed o
madman, he dashed off across the fields il
pursuit of him--and we never saw eithe
Of them again. That, children is my Ghos
Story!
Sand how is it, uncle, that after that
you don't believe in ghosts?" said |, th'
first time heard it.
i "Because, my boy," replied my uncle
"ne.hor the student or the merchant eve
returned; and the forty five guineas, be
longing to me and the other travellers, con
tnuod equally invisible. Those two swnd
lcrs carried them off, after having acted ,
farce, which we, like nnnies, believed Il
be real Household Words.
TnE LOVE OF MoNEy We are told o
| Nj. Os,orwald, wealthy banker Of Paris
who died in 1890, in want, yet leaving a!