Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-21

your lips"
We all looked at each other, but my
young neighbor, still in the same mock
ing manner, replied; ''You will do that,
will you 2"
eyes" said the other, ''I will stake
these fifty guineas, on condition that you
will pay similar sum if you lose"
After short silence the young man
said, gaily: Fifty guineas, my worthy
sorcerer, are more than a poor college
sizar ever possessed but here are five,
which, if you are satisfied, shall be most
willing to wager
The other took up his purse, saying,
in contemptuous tone: s'Young gentle
man. you wish to draw back 2"
81 draw back" exclaimed the student,
"Well, if had the fifty guineas, you
should see whether wish to draw back"
Here" said 1, "are four guineas,
which will stake on your wager"
! No sooner had | made this proposition
than the rest Of the company, attracted
by the singularity of the affair, came for
ward to lay down their money; and in a
minrte or two and fifty guineas were
subscribed. The merchant appeared so
sure Of winning, that he placed all the
stakes in the students hand and prepared
for his experiment. We selected for the
purpose small summer house in the gar
den, perfectly isolated, and having no
means Of exit but window and door,
which we CAREFUL Y fastened, after placing
| the young man within.
We put writing materials in a small
table in the summer-house, and took
away the candles. We remained out
side, with the pedlar amongst US. In
low, solemn voice, he began to chant the
following lines:
''What riseth slow from the ocean caves
And the stormy surf?
The phantom pale sets his blackened foot
On the fresh green turf
Then raising his voice, solemnly, be
said
"You asked to see your friend, Francis
Villiers, who was drowned, three years
ago, off the coast of South America-wha
do you see 90
"See," replied the student, ga white
light arising near the window, but it has
no form: it is like an uncertain cloud"
We-the spectator remained pro
foundly silent.
"Are you afraid 2" asked the merchant
in loud voice.
Il am not, replied the student firmly.
After moments silence, the pedlar
stamped three times on the ground, and
sang
And the phantom white, whose clay-cold face
Was once 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
mysteries of the tomb-what do you see
now z"
The student answered in calm voice, |
but like that of man describing things
as they pass before him
4 see the cloud taking the form of
phantom its head is covered with a long
veil-it stands still"
care you afraid 2"
Il am not"
We looked at each other in a horror
stricken silence, while the merchant rails.
ing his arm above his head, chanted, in a
peculiar voice
And the phantom 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: he lifts
his veil-"Tis Francis Nilliers he ap-
proaches the table-he writes-'tis his
signature -
''Are you afraid ?''
A fearful moment of silence ensued:
then the student replied, but in an altered
voice.
q am not"
With strange and frantic gestures, the
merchant then sung:
" And the phantom said to the mocking sneer.
| come from the South
Put thy hand on my hand-thy heart on my
heart,
Thy mouth on my mouth! ~
"What do you see ?''
He comes-he approaches-he pur-
sues me-he is stretching out his arms
he will have me! Help! help. Save
me ~
"Are you afraid, now? O. asked the
merchant in mocking voice.
A piercing cry, and then stifled groan,
were the only answer to the terrible
question.