New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-11-20
A Pre1ic tion Verified.

'iiSHIj db 1Ne DiiE iu%t VI ny Spi-
one was telling the story Of young Venetian, Count
Elorestan G..
Elegant, witty and brave, the Count had proved
his courage On various occasions: but the coolness
and strength of mind that he exhibited ever
point vanished, entirely at the sight of railroad
station j steam locomotive was to him, the cause
Of an unconquerable terror.
IN vain did his intimate and confidential friends
endeavor to overcome this weakness. The gravcss
the most mercilesg qJzzngs, were alike
wasted upon him Perchance the young Count had
had bad dream or he was the victim Of some SIMS
ter prediction. 4 deep impression overmastered his
will. Ee was convinced that dreadful fate awaited
him if ever he were so imprudent as to trust himself
on railroad. For him it would be hurrying to
certain catastrophe, an inevitable DEATH
One circumstance making this tmidity still more
annoying, was, that the Count, dreadfully afraid
Of the modern mode Of rapid locomoton, was great
lover of travelling an nquisitve tourest desrous Of
visiting all countries. In each of his excursions he
found himself stopped by the change which was
5uperceding posthorses, and he anxonsIy oresaw the
moment near at hand when the whole world, having
become enclosed in network of iron rails tourist
would have choice between car and hack
In the meantime the Count gave as much work as
he could to the last surviving postboys He traversed
Europe. during the summer months, and spent every
winter in some city which he examined at his leisure,
and OF which he studied the manners and customs
while frequenting the best society.
During winter that he was thus spending at Ber
lin the yonng Venetian fell violently in love with
charming lady. who, in addition to the most seductive
attractions, possessed the advantage of being an ex-
ceent match. Then the traveller who had already
seen many lands thought that the best thing he could
do would be to unharness his post horses and settle
down in r1atrmony.
= He paid his. court, and was. faxorabIE Eeceged;
without however, being allowed to reckon upon as
sured success. Thus passed the winter, and the
lover began to despair when one day the young lady
at last made up her mind to the long-hoped for
avowal. =
After few significant words which filled his heart
with soft emotion, she said to Kim .. have pro-
missed to spend next month in Belgium, where part
of my family resides shall start tomorrow it de
pends upon yourself aloae whether you will accom-
pany me-
What" exclaimed the young man, radiant, "a
Journey together!1
'Certainy'' returned the lady with an encouraging
smile, and a look which made her meaning clear,
=" can prevent you from going at the same time
myself, or from getting in the same car on the rail-
road 2;
At the words car and railroad, the Count grew
pale intense emotion was depicted on his couTlte-
nance. The lady mi=took the cause of the palenes5
and the emotion: she attributed both to the effect Of
sudden and nnhoped for happiness, and she added
with most bewitching grace, " it is agreed, then. to-
morrow, at twelve, at the station. IS,
Tie Count, hating between love and fear, passed
terrible night. However, after q long and painful.
struggle. love conquered, and in the morning he
rcsolute to run the risk of the terrible road.
He made his preparations with teverish resignation
and at the last moment went to the station At the
sight Of the engine which had just heen hcled to til.
train, he felt his resolution give way-fear was again
his ladylove, who there in all her beauty
to him and said, quick get your ticket have
marked your place next to mine in this carriage, where
we shall be alone
Encouraged by these fattering words, love resaneI
the mastery, and the Count procured his ticket
Do come =" cried the lady, calling her travelling
companion through the window OF the carriage, in
which she had placed herself
The Count, sitting thought, aprang forward: but
suddenly formidable whistle escaped from the ecl-
gne, and he stopped, frozen with terror:
The wrctched man remained motioness for an in
slant. casting his bewdered gaze now upon the smil
. ing lady who calling to him. now upon the smoh-
ing and sh,ieking loconotiye-then, with gesture
of despair he buried his face in his hands to hide his
shame and grief, and rushed out Of sight.
Cursng the timidity which had cost him his hap
pness, and which he could not conquer, he went. the
next winter to seek forgetGalness in Paris: While
there he received letter from uncle living al
This uncle was very old, and dangerously i'll. He
wished, before he died, to see his nephew whom he
, had not seen for fifteen years.
y Make haste" he wrote, " have but few days
to live but you may yet be here in time to recevt
my last farewell by taking the railroad without any
delay. II you leave, as beg you to do as soon a!
you receive my letter. you will arrive here next Sat
t irlay. l do not doubt your eagerness, and shal
:, expect you On that day
5 The Count was willing enough to respond to hi
appeal Interest and affection both urged him to d.
50. He was not wealthy, and expected large por
ton of his relations rich Inheritance. He knew hin
to be very touchy, and quite capable Of leaving in hi
will an evidence Of his anger, if his nephew did no
arrive on the appointed day.
But. in order to arrive on that day he must tait
the railroad. Interest was not likely to triumph
O in conflict wherein love had failed After T.ig
struggle with his weakness, the Count set OFT to trave
:. by post. -....
4 lie found some Of the posthouses ill-attended
others where there were no horses he was ten day
a going distance that ne could have accomplished il
is sixty hours by the railroad.
q When he arrived at Warsaw he found that his uncl
had died the day BEFORE after bitterly upbradng hir
for his absence An alteration in the will had dsil
herited the tardy nephew.
Thus his dread OF railroads, after depriVing him
h a wife who would have made him happy, had cos
him fortune that would have frightened his futur
i days.
IT, IT, Last year the Count returned to Veuice and h
= friends deploring than ever the weakness th0
g might be the of yet more disasters to him, r.
"a solved to cure him at any price.
~ They did not doubt that the Count, being extremel
superstitious yielded to the threats Of some fat;
prophecy. A somnanlbulst had told him that deaf
re would come upon him on railroad the tilst time
y. ventured upon Zealously desirous to cure hi
I'd of an unworthy pusillanimity and to show him no
he chimerical were his terrors, they hit upon pla
was invited to breakfast at villa near one OF the st
of tions Of the road between Venice and Milan. Ma
cs cotic was mixed with his wine =; and when the ira
OF passed by and he fast asleep his friends place
&c him in one of the cars.
The train was travelling with the rapitity of IigI
oy ming when the Count awoke. Where am 1?H
- asked with astonishment
lis 81 On the rairOad,' answered his laughing friend
* " and you see it does not kill YOU"
Id With dreadful scream. the Count rose as thouo
to spring from the car, and fell back senseess in d
arms of his friends. All the care bestowed upon hi
he was useless: before the train stopped ut the next st
NJ on. the Count dead. The fright had kled.h!
nd and the prediction was verified.
We Rossini has probably heard this story, of which
in. the details well authenticated, and which caus
mt a sensation in Italy.