Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-05-19


might wrap an opera cloak around her
-''I am dead, really dead, at seven
teen; when life was full of light, and
perfume, and music; when tears, even,
were SO sweet that they resembled
smiles; when the present was so hap
Ply that the future was quite forgotten.
And then I loved you. I trusted you
in your oath; and you did not care for
NE. You have come here to marry my
sister,"
"Fnlmen!'' murmured Ralph, who
felt q pang Of remorse in his heart Il
have loved you; I love you stil.''
She shook her head.
"The dead are never loved" she
said sadly.
Ralph trembled. He felt his blood
curdle in his veins. He remembered
his oath. Yet Fulmen did not COM
plain. She did not overwhelm him with
reproaches. She seemed resigned
He saw her lean her head upon her
hand; q tear shone in her eye, and a
Shiver passed through her frame.
II am cold," said she, and rising
from the chair in which she had seated
herself, she approached the fireplace,
and bent as if to warm herself by the
halfextinguished brands. FThe dead
are always cold,' she murmmed.
''Heayens," exclaimed Ralph, "you
are not dead; but, dead or living, you
are beautiful, more beautiful than any
living woman, and [ love you as on the
day I first saw you"
'Ihe dead are never loved" she re-
peated, mournfully.
'But you are not dead The limbs
Of the dead are rigid the flesh corrupt;
they cannot speak; you are not dead
it is impossible"
u am dead" repeated Fulmen in a
tone Of authority which admitted Of no
question; "dcad-and yet [ suffer-"
''Iou suffer-" the Viscount exclaim-
ed.
eyes. Because 7 die with a guilty
thought III my heart. I remember the
ball where I met you. It was earthly
love, not penitence that engrossed my
last hours. Yet if you live and love
me still, God will perhaps pardon me
and I shall suffer no longer.'
Il do love you so,'' cried Ralph, ga
zing at the Young girl SO beautiful in
her sadness. Yet secret voice said
within him, "Ah, if she were only
alive -
A pale smile passed over the face
Of the phantom. Itrose and advanced
toward him. Ralph Immediately
shrank back at It's reproach.
"You see," said she, mournfully, cit
is always SO. The living fear the
dead"
''No, no ~ said he eagerly, ashamed
Of his momentary terror; No, Fulmen,
my beloved, come"
She extended her hand and took that
Of the young man. Ralph uttered a
cry. His hand was pressed by the
cold clammy fingers Of corpse. She
let his hand fall.
"No," she repeated, in a half suffo-
Gated voice, F;you see it cannot be; I
shall suffer always"
And she fed, while Ralph was so
overwhelmed that he had not 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
: beautiful. The Baron de Roche Noire,
who did not appear to notice the pal
lor and abstraction of his guest, propos-
ed o hunt The day was spent in the
open air, and if, amid the excitement
of the chase, the Viscount thought OF
, the occurrences OF the past night, they
appeared to him only as q bewildering
dream. But with the return of dark
ness, and especially at the sight Of the
picture, the apparition again seemed tc
him q reality, and he determined to
ascertain the truth. Pleading head.
: ache, he retired to his room, and ex
tinguishing the candle, he called, soft
, ly:
: ''Fulmen! Fulmenr' There was nc
answer. Again he called:
<'Fnlmen! love you though dead
l Immediately the candles We're relight
ed, and Fnlmen again appeared. She
t threw off her winding sheet and seated
, herself by his side. Her face had The
: cadaverous appearance Of the tomb, he
eye was sad, her step SLOW and painful
: yet her exquisite beauty exerted the
same fascination over Ralph as whe1
i sparkling with life and vivacity.
4 ''Fulmen, [ love you," he repeated
/ gazing at her with admiration.
n Yet if my hand should touch yours,
she replied with sad smile, ''yor
n would utter & cry as you did last night
/ the dead are always cold.''
: "Giye me your hand, and you shall
n see," said Ralph, extending resolute
ly his own. She took it, and again
/ there came over him the same terribl,
e sensation as before; but he had self