The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-05-18
BEDFORD. PA, FRIDAY bRNING. MAY IS, 1850.

I a hgufe, dIaped lh WIhuihS Steel ehteleu ''e
room and approached bis bed. 1t advanced
slowly the most acute ear could have detected
no sound OF footsteps. Brave as he was, the
vlscount trembled at the aPPartion. Wien the
figure was within few feet of the bed, the
winding sheet was thrown back, and revealed
young girl dressed IN Spanish costume.
eFuImen - he murmured 'qhe picture has
descended from its frame !"
1t was indeed Fulmen, just as she was pant
ed, save that the lips were pale, the eye mourn
ful, the whole expression unsPeakably sad.
"Fumen" repeated the viscount, with tone
of terror, in which was mingled a sort of fever
rsh Joy.
at is l." she said, edo you remember
your oath They have told you that | am
dead"
The teeth OF Raj ph chartered but the voice
was SO pure, 50 melodous, that it aided him TO
shake off the torpor which was creeping over
| him.
eeNo you are not Dead" he excai med, with
an effort.
"I have been dead a year," replied Fulmen,
sadly. "They buried ne in the chapel. YOU
can read my eprtaph on the marble slab, The
th,fd from the high altar"
Balph could not detach his eyes from this sln-
gular creature, whose marvellous beauty coun-
teracted in some degree the terror which the
apparation would otherwise have caused. !
"Alas ~ resumed the spectre-draPing the.
shroud about her form with all the coquetry
with which living belle might wrap an opera
cloak around her-s'I am dead, really dead, at
seventeen when life was full of light, and per-
fume, and music when tears, 9even, were SO
sweet that they resembIed smiles when the
present was SO happy that the future was quite
forgotten. Aud then loved you. / trusted
in your oath but you did not care for me. You
have come here TO marry my sister"
"Fumen," murmured Ralph, who felt pang
Of remorse at his heart, 81 have loved lyou |
love you still"
She shook her head.
e'The dead ara nnrnr lov01 -z''s ''-'-' -''
il.
RaIp trembled. He felt h's blood curdle in
his veins. He remembered his OATH YetFuI-
men did not complain. She did not even over
whelm him with reproacheS. She seemed re-
signed He saw her lean her head upon her
hand a tear shone in her eye, and ShiEer
passed through her frame.
81 am cold," she said, and rising from the
chair in which she had seated herself, she
approached the Fireplace, and bent as if to.
warm herself by the hall extinguished brands.
.sThe dead are always cold, she slowly mur-
INJURED.
.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 first saw YOU
"The deadjare never loved" she repeated
mourntully.
oBut you are not dead. The limbs Of the
dead are rigid the flesh corrupt they are ig-|
sensible they cannot walk they Cannot speak;
you are not dead-it is impossible"
81 am dead, )" repeated Fulmen, IN a tone of
| authority which admitted no question "dsad--
aud yet I suffer"
ayou suffer ~ The viscount exclaimed.
ayes. Because died with guilty thought
IN my heart. remembered the ball where
met you. Il was earthly love, moi penitence,
that engrossed my last hours. Yet if you who
are alive can love ne still, God will perhaps
pardon me, and shall suffer no longer"
81 do love you" cried Ralph, gazing at the
young girl so beautiful in her sadness. Yet a
secret voice SAID within him, 'Ah !! if she were
only alive''
A pale smiIe..passed over theIface Of the'phan-
tom. 1t rose and advanced toward him
Ralph involuntariy shrunk back at its aP-
proach.
"You see,'' she said mourniully, ''it Is al
ways so. The living fear the dead"
ono, no !" said he, eagerly, ashamed of the
momentary terror "no, Fulmen, my beloved,
come -
She extended her hand, and took that Of the
young man. Ralph uttered cry. His hand
was pressed by the cold cammy fingers of a.
corpse. She let his hand fall.
"No," she repeated in a half sufocated
voice, ''you see it cannot be shall suffer al
ways"
And she fed, while Ralph was SO overwhel-
ed that be had not power to speak or move
The candles went out suddenly silence reigned
again in the chamber the phantom had vanish
ed.
The next day dawned bright and beautiful.
The Baron de Roche Noire, who did not appear