The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-11-12
"That ;aunt should cost you dear, If 4
we're not such foolish one"

turoWinS On tne tuoie " heavY Ieathern
purse. There are fifty guineas. am
content to lose them il, before tho hour is
ended, do not succeed in showing YOU.
who are so obstinately prejudiced the form
OF any ono of your deceased friends and il,
after you have recognized him, you will al.
low him to kiss your lips"
. We all looked at each other, but inv
young neighbor, still in the same mockinc
manner, replied, " You will do that, will
youi"
"Yes," said the other, "I will stake these
fifty guineas, on condition tnat you will pay
a similar sum If you lose."
After short silence the young man said,
gayly, Fifty guineas, my worthy sorcerer,
are more than poor college student ever
possessed; but there are five which, if YOU
are satisfied, shall be most willing to wa
ger"
The other took up his purse, saying, in a
contemptuous tone, Young gentleman,
you wish to draw back N
{" / draw back !" exclaimed the student.
Well, if had fifty guineas, you should
see whether i wish to draw back ~
Here" said /, "are four guiucas 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 forward
10 lay down their money !; and, in minute
or two, the fifty guineas were subscribed.
The gentleman appeared SO sure of winning
that he placed all the money in the students
hands, and prepared for the experiment.
We selected for the purpose small summer
house ia the garden, perfectly isolated, and
l,.iE-e ,sf z. =
a door, which we carefully fastened after
placing the young man within. We now
put writing materials on small table, and
took away the candles. We remained out
side with the gentleman among us. In a
low solemn voice he begau 10 chant the fol-
lowing lines:
What riseth slow from the ocean caves and the
stormy surfi
The phantom pale sets his biackened foot on the
fresh green turf.
Then raising his voiee soIemn'y, he said.
You asked TO see your friend Francis Vii
iers, who was drowned three years ago off
the coas: of South America; what do you
see Z"
"I see," replied the student, "a white
light arising near the window; but it has
no form-it is like an uncertain cloud"
We-the spectators-remained profound.
ly silent.
Arc you afraid n asked the gentleman,
in a loud voice. :
al am not" replied the student, firmly.
Then, after moments silence, the gentle.
man stamped three times on the ground,
and sang:
=" And the phantom white. whose clay cold face
Dries with his shroud his clinsing vest and his
sea.tossed hair
Once more the solemn question, i" You,
who would see revealed the mysteries Of the
tomb-what do you see now 2"
The student answered in a calm voice,
but like that of a man describing things as
they passed before him, II see the cloud
take the form Of phantom its head is GOV.
cred with long veil-it stands still p
"Are you afraid Z"
Il am not ~ ....
We looked at each other in horror.strick.
en- silence, while the gentleman, raising his
arms above his head, clanted in sepul.
chral voice:
And the phantom said. as he arose from the
wave, he shall know me in sooth
! as In our first youth!"
| What do you see p said he.
sec The phantom advance" said the
student he lifts his yeil-'tis Francis Vii.
liers The approaches the table The writes
--'tis his signature!' ~
Are you afraid!" asked the other.
A fearful moment Of silence ensued then
the student replied, but in an altered voice,
! 7" / am not r.
With strange and frantic gestures, the
DINER thesa s=...s
And the phantom said 70 the moeking seer, I
| come from the South
Put thy hand on my hand--thy heart on my
heart--thy mouth on my mouth"
What do you see n he asked.
He comes--he approaches mc--he pur.
sues me--he is stretching out his arms--he
will have me- Help--helpl Save me p
sAre you afraid now ~ asked the other.
| in mocking voice. A piercing cry, and
then stiaed groan, were the only reply 10
this terrible question.
Help that rash youth !" said the gentle
man bitterly. {" i have, think, won the
wager; but 1t is sufficient for noe to have
given him q lesson. Let him keep his
money and be wiser for the future"
He walked rapidly away, We opened
the door of the summer house, and found
~ IL n - - -