Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-07-17

4
Il am dead,' repeated Fulmen, in a
tone of authority which admitted of no
question: dead-and yet l suffer"
"You suffer- The Viacount exclaimed.
Eyes, Because l died with a guilty
/ thought in my heart. | remember the
ball where l met you. 1t was earthly
love, not penitence that engrossed my
last hours. Yet if you are alive and love
me s::!! God will perhaps pardon me
and | shall suffer no longer"
- do love you So" cried Ralph, gaz-
ing at the young girl so beautiful in her
sadness. YET a secret voice said within
him, "Ah, if she were only aliver'
/ A pale smile passed over the face Of
the phantom. l. arose and advanced to-
ward him. Ralpl Immediately shrank
back at its approach.
You see,' said she, mournfuhv, cit
is always so. The living fear the dead. >
"No, nor' said he, eagerly, ashamed
of MS momeniary terror; mo, FuImen,
my beloved, come"
She extended her hand and took that
of the young raan. Ralph uttered CRY.
His hand was pressed by the cold, clam
my fingers of a corpse. She let his hand
fall. No" she repeated, in a half suf-
focated voice, 'you see it cannot be; |
shall suffer always"
And she fled, while Ralph was so
overwhelmed that he had no power to
speak or move The candles went out
suddenly; silence reigned again in The
chamber; the phantom had vanished.
The next day dawned bright and beau
tiful. The Baron de Roche More; who
did not appear 10 notice the pailor and
abstraction of his guest, proposed a hunt
! The day was spent IN open air, and if,
amid the excitement Of the chase, the
! Viscount thought of the occurrences of
! the last night, they seemed 10 him only
as a bewiIdering dream. But with the
return Of darkness, and especially at the
sight of the picture, the appariton again
seemed TO him a reality, and he deter
mined to ascertain the truth. Pleading
a headache, he retired TO his room, and
extinguishing the candle, he called, soft
y:
"Fulmen. Fulme!" There was no
answer. Again he called.
"Fulmen! love you, though dead
Immediately the candles were lighted,
and Fulmen again appeared. She threw
of her winding sheet and seated herself
/ in q chair By his side. Her face had the
cadaverous paleness of the tomb, her
! eye was sad, her step slow and painful;
| yet her exquisite beauty exerted the same
1 fascination over Ralph as when spark
/ ling with life and viyacity.
'Fulmen, | love you," he repeated,
gazing at her with admiration.
"Yet if my hand should touch yours,
she replied, with a sad smile, ''you would
utter a cry as you did last night; the dead
are always cold"
Give me your hand and you will see, >
/ said Ralph, extending resolutely his own.
| She took II, and again there came over
! him the same terrible sensation as be-
/ fore; but he had self-control enough TO
conquer 1t, and again to repeat:
Il love your
/ A bright smile illuminated the fea-
lures of FuImen.
MY poor friend" she said, Il would
| gladly believe you; but if your love
would end my sulIerings it must be so
even the desire TO live. A tomb with me
must have attraction fer you. And you
are but twenty-five, Ralph. At your age
! life IS sweet.
! The Eiscount shook his head.
ITO live without you is death, to be
united to you, even IN the tomb, would
be life
Take care, my friend"
"Of what, dear Fuimen?" exclaimed
/ Ralph, over whom the smile of the young
girl seemed 10 exercise al overpowering
fascination.
do you know she said, 'that if you
utter such wish, God may hear your
prayerl"
'.Ah! if He would, an eternity byyour
side would be Infinite happiness"
,"Ralph, my FRIEND Interrupted Full
man, while a smile OF celestial JOY shone
IN her face, '.tal>e care; you viii die if
you love mer'
Il wish to die,"
But you are betrothed to my sister. y"
An exclamation of anger escaped him.
Il hate her. he said, vehemeally,
WHY
Because she is alive, while you are
dead. What has she done that she
should ENJOY the light of the sun, the
perfume of flowers. The melody of birdsz
Was she any younger, or more beauti-
ful?"
Ralph, you are unjust. Ny sister had
no control over her own destiny, or over
mine
You are right, perhaps; but 1 swear
to you that viii never marry Hermine.
l wish to be yours ana only yours, for
ever"
you are mad, my young friend; l
cannot accept happiness al such sacra-
fee
She rose slowly.
"Adieu, Ralph" she said. MARRY
Hermine, and pray for me-"
.sFuImen! FuImen,' exclaimed Ralph,
falling on his knees at her feet do
not abandon me-I love YOU"
But your love IS death
II Is happiness. Il IS life"
HIS tone was 50 earnest, 50 touching,
that the young Cirl hesiIa,ed.
LET me live eternaiiy with you," he
persisted.
Listen, my FRIEND she said at length,
as if she could no longer resist his en-
treaties, ''in this casket," pointing to a
richly carved box which stood up a the
table, ''there Is a phial containing dark
liquid"
- 4 nd his liou;d2"