The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-04
d written for the Cincinnati Enquirer
THE GHOST UPON THE TURRET.
BY E.. d.

The provincial town Of D stood
upon the side of one of series of undua-
ting hills, stretching far to the west in
verdant loviness, until their verdure faded
into the purple mistiness of the distant
mountains which bounded the horizon.-
Eastward from the town few miles lay
the ocean, on which, of a clear day, could
be seen the sails of various barks, us
they glided along towards their destiny
Ever and anon as the wind blew landward,
could be heard the muttering of the sea,
lashiDg the shore with pitiless force; and at
night when every other sound was hushcd
the effect was solemn and prophetic. As
u the low murmurs reachedr1he ear, now
lulled into mere audbilty again swelling
into full though tremulous volume of
sound, they seemed like the waiings of
thousands of lost spirits coming, from
the cayerns of vague distance and lmmen-
sity.
Upon the apex of the hill on which the
town was situated stood the moulderng
rains Of an old castle, gray and grim as a
superanuated giant with shaggy locks; and
as the clinging ivy depended in clusters from
its turrets, the simle is not inapt. The
grounds surrounding bespoke the taste of IL
mind well versed in art. Here and there,
amid the finely grouped trees; were pedestals
upon which had stood statues long since
carried away, or lying half-bured in the
neglected soil; o'ergrown with weeds, frag-
ments or fountains, whose sparkling waters
had leaped gaiy ia the sunshine, lay broken
and scattered around the paths through
which the lovely forms of the past had
wandered, listening to the song Of the
nightingale, or the honeyed words of loves
young vows.
But now, over all brooded desolation and
decay; the shrek of the owl disturbed the
stiffness of the night, and clamor of crows
and DAVIS echoed through the trees and tur-
rcts by day.
Many strange rumors were whispered by
the gossips of the town relative to sights
and sounds in and around the old castle,
and even those not over credulous shook
| their heads when the stories were mentioned.
and declared that there was something in
these mysterious tales.
Adjoining the grounds lay the dcmcsno of
the Earl of t., in the highest state of
culture, surrounding a modernly built and
magnificent mansion. The structure was of
the Corlnthian order, with its many columns,
and bespoke at once the wealth and exquis-
ite taste of its owner. The guest marbles
of Italy composed its staircascs and cornices,
and Florcntino mosalcs formed its floors.
| Groups of statuary from the studios of the
most celebrated masters Of Europe claimed
the admiration Of the visitor as he wandered
| through the galleries, and paintings of rare
worth hung from the frescoed walls.
| The Earl, to the world, seemed proud,
old man, but beneath this exterior were
many noble and excellent qualities and high
traits of character. His life had been
mostly spent in travel, from which he de-
rived much permanent good. His library
abounded with the rarest volumes collected
| from every source, and articles of virtue
lay upon its shelves.
! Not unmixcd with romance was the earlier
portion Of his life, as one instance may seem
to show.
/ During his minority the young nobieman,
while making an Alpine tour, was overtaken
/ by one of those terrible storms which seem
as if they would desolate nature and rend
her into the atoms Of primeval chaos.
or an ardent temperament, nothing pre-
vented him from executing his will. and.
Notwithstanding the advice of more expert
enced travellers and the urgent solicitations
of his followers, his ordship b"strode his
mule one threatening evening and, with Il
few hasty thanks for their good wishes,
pressed forward toward dangerous noun
tain pass, which he hoped to make ere dam
ger came. The clouds hung black and
solemn over the fading outlines Of the noun
taIns, and the distant mutterings of thunder
heralded the approach of the dreadful storm.
Nearer and nearer it came, till every sur
rounding object was shut out from sight as
with pail save when the fiery tongue of
the lightning shot from the face of the SKY
and revealed for space the hidcous gorge,
cleft by the Almighty when he first formed
those snow capped mountains. The pass
was very narrow land wound around an angle
of rock which jettcd from the mountain,
and formed the only passage. Bencath
thundcred tbs mouCtlIn-torrents. swelled
by recent rains, and the voice of their wall
ing ascendcd with dread import far above,
even to the overhanging rock upon which
the traveller now stood with dawnng sense
of fear.
To return was out Of the question, almost
as much danger attending retrogIadation as
Advancement.
Once he thought that high above the roar
of the elements he heard the shrek of
human voice, but he disrcgardcd the i'm
preston, and addressed himself with re-
/ newed energy to the task Of making the
pass.
At this moment prolonged flash of light
ming revealed an open carriage, containing
woman lying apparently unconscious,
plunging down the pass.
Not II second was to be lost, and rninnr
his mule close to the side Of the narrow way.
he dsmounted and awaited the coming ca
tastrophe.
The vehicle swept along, half hanging over
the edge of the abyss. and as it passed the
traveller, its fair occupant sprang from her
dangerous seat when with an address and
courage almost miraculous, he darted for
ward and snatched her falling form and
drew her in safety aside.
The carriage and horses at the same in
stant made the dreadful leap. and were
dashed in pieces upon the rock beneath.
Many hours elapsed ere the travellers
reached place of safety, and when they
did, mutual explanations were made.
The fair one was an Italian, possessing
great beauty, with all the sunniness Of ma
ture and warmth of heart characteristic Of
her country.
Her LIQUID eyes soon melted their way into
the young nobleman's heart, and ere they
had known each other month, they were
wed.
If there be any truth in the saying, that
"violent beginnings have violent endings,"
the brief life they passed together is II case
in point.
After year of uninterrupted bliss such
rs mortals rarely taste on earth, the lovely
Marina gave birth to daughter, the image
of herself, and died.
The almost heart broken husband imme-
diatey returned home shut himself up in his
mansion where he guarded with Jealous care
the first pledge of Marina's love, then
beauteous, exotic bud, but at the time of
our story, grown to lovely flower.
Inherting her mothers name and beauty,
Marina looked but a youthful counterfeit of
her parents, and this in great way served
to dissipate the sorrow of her father.
When Marina reached her sixteenth year,
the Earl made her his companion upon one
of his Continental tours, and this gave her
such unqualified delight that twas repeated
annually.
Tho Earl ros not q littIe vain of tho hon-