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

mered to himself, "She is charming !!
blessings on my uncle for finding me
Wlie at once so pretty and so rich.''
When supper was announced be Of
fered his hand to the young Girl, who
accepted it with a blush, while the Ba-
ron led the way to the dining room.-
1t was lofty apartment, furnished in
the massive style Of Louis XIV, and
upon It's walls were suspended ancient
family portraits. AS RAJ ph's eye glanc-
ed over these, his attentions were at
tracted by one whose freshness formed
striking contrast to the smoky can
vases Of the defunct Barons of Roche
Nolre. 1t represented young girl of
dazzling but foreign beauty, such as is
only found under Southern skies. A
more brilliant daughter Of Spain never
danced the. 6olero in the perfumed gar
dens Of the Alhambra. The ewes Of
Ralph were fixed immovably upon the
canvass; the first glance had told him
it was his long lost unknown Of the fan
cy ball.
"Come, my dear Viscount," said the
baron, 'Elet us lie seated"
Ralph started and obeyed, then turn
ed his eye from the portrait to Hermine.
In contrast to that glowing beauty she
appeared to him perfectly insipid. He
made some remark about the picture.
The Baron did not reply, but . cloud
passed over his face, and Hermine turn
ed pale, and sat with doWncast eyes.
a chill seemed to be thrown over these
three persons just now talking so Joy
ously. Brief remarks were made oc-
casionally, in a constrained tone, and
supper ended almost in silence. At it's
close the Fiscouut made the fatigue Of
his journey as an excuse for retiring
earl y. AS the servant was conducting
him to his apartment, they passed again
through the dining hall.
"Whose portrait is this % he asked,
pointiog to the picture of the lady.
The servant hesitated
"Speak!'' said the Viscount imperi-
ously.
"It is the portrait of Mile Fulmen,"
said the old man. trembling.
and who is she %
'The elder sister Of Mile Hermire."
''But she is dressed in Spanish cos
| tune"
! eyes, her mother was 3 Spanish Ia
ly."
And Fulmcn, where is she now ?''
'She Is dead" said the old man, sol
emnly. ''She lies at the left Of the al
tar in the chapel of the chatea H."
Fatigue had no power that night to
bring sleep to Ralph's eyelids. It was
in vain that he extinguished the can
dies, and buried his head under the
blankets; the image of Fulmen still
pursued him. Now, it was Fulmen "a
dient with beauty, as she WAS represen-
ted in the picture, and as he had seen
her at the fancy ball; again it was Ful
men, pure and cold, extended in her
coffin under the pavement Of the chap
Ell. Then he remembered his oath to
love her as we'll dead as living and q
cold sweat bathed his brow. At that
moment a light at the opposite extrem-
ity Of the apartment attracted his at
tention; door, whose existence he
had not suspected, turned noiselesAy
upon its hinges; the candles relighted
themselves spontaneously, and a figure,
draped in Winding-sheet, entered the
room and approached his bed. It ad-
yanced slowly; the most acute ear
could have detected no sound Of foot
steps. Brave as he was, the Viscount
trembled at the apparition. When the
, figure was within few feet of the bed
the wlnding-sheet was thrown back.
and revealed young girl in Spanish
costume.
, "Fulmen p he murmured; s'the pic
: ture has descended from its frame.''
It was indeed Fulmen, Just as she
: was painted, save that the lips were
: pale, the eye mournful, the whole ex.
preston unspeakably sad.
"Fulmen - repeated the Viscount
l with tone Of horror, in which was min
7 gled sort Of feverish JOY.
l cit is l." she said. 'sDo you re-
t member your oath! They have told
you that I am dead"
l The teeth Of Ralph chattered but
: the voice was so pure, SO melodious
5 that it aided him to shake off the tor
por that was creeping over him.
"No, YOU are not dead,' he exciaim
| ed, with an effort.
| Il have been dead year." replied
, Fulmen sadly. s'They buried me il
f the chapel. You can read my cpl
/, taph on the marble slab, the third from
t the high altar.
/ Ralph conld not detach his eyes from
: this singular creature, whose marvel
+ Gus beauty counteracted in some de
7 gree the terror which the apparitiol
: would otherwise have created.
: s'Alas - resumed the spectre-dra
l. ping the shroud about her with all tn