Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-10
.No mo-, SAID he. eagerly, ashamed of the

No no. said he, eagerly, ashamed of the
momentary terror; mo, 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 clammy fin
gers of corpse She let his hand fall.
No, she repeated in half fsuffocated voice,
you see it cannot be | suffer always
And then she fled; while Ralph was so
overwhelmed that he had no power to speak
or move. The candles went out suddenly;
silence reigned againin the chamber-the
phantom had vanished.
The next day dawned bright and beau
tiful The Bargn de Roche Noire, who did
not appear to notice the pallor and abstrac-
ton of his guest, proposed hunt. The
day was spent in the open air and if, amid
the excitement of the chase, the Earl thought
of the occurrences U1tEesTst night, they
seemed to him only as Bewildering dream.
But with the return of darkness, and espe-
cialy at the sight of the picture, the appa-
rition again seemed to him reality and he
determined to ascertain the truth. Pleading
headache, he retired to his room, and ex-
| tinguishing the candles, he called softly,
'Fulmen, Fulmen There was no answer
Again he called, 'Fulmen, love you, tho
dead
Immediately the candles were relighted,
and Fulmen again appeared She threw off
her wnding-sheet and seated herself in
chair by his side. Her face had the cadaver-
Gus paleness of the tomb her eye was sad
her step was slow and painful; yet her ex-
quisite beauty exerted the same fascination
over Ralph as when sparkling with life and
vivacity
'Fulmen, | love you,' he repeated, gazing
at her with admiration.
Yet if my hand should touch yours she
replied, with smile, you would utter cry,
as you did last night; the dead are always
cold
Give me your hand, and you will see,'
said Ralph extending Lasolutely his own.
She took it, and again there came over him
the same terrible sensation as before; but
he had self-control enough to conquer it. and
again to repeat, I love you ?
A bright smile ilumined the features of
Fulmen.
My poor friend, she said, 4 would gladly
believe you; but if your love would end my
sufferings, it must be so profound, so ar
! dent, that it can conquer even the desire to
live A tomb with me must have attrac-
tions for you. And you are but twenty five,
s Ralph. At your age life is sweet
! The Earl shook his head.
/ 1O i've NitlOub YOU Is UGdJu--lO DC uHl-
= ted to you, even in the tomb, would be life. ;
!. Take care, my friend
). of what, dear Fumen ? exclaimed Ralph,
+ over whom the smile of the young girl seem
. ed to exercise an overpowering fascination.
DO you know she said, that if you ut
/ ter such wish, God may hear your pray
: er 2
q sAh, if he would - I'm eternity by your
4 side would be infinite happiness
i. Ralph, my friend interrupted Fulmen,
4 while smile of celestial joy shone in her
e face, take care-you will die if you love
: me-
I wish to die' 3
IS But you are betrothed to my sister,
:. An exclamation of anger escaped him.
I hate her. he said vehemently.
IS Why?
Because she is alive, while you are dead
IS What has she done that she should enjoy
e the light of the sun, the perfume of flowers
" the melody of bird? ? Was she any youn
: ger or more beautiful ?
,e Ralph, you are unjust My sister had
no control over ner destiny or mine
ar you are right perhaps; but swear tc
m you that will never marry Hermine, wish
to be yours, and only yours, forever
e You are mad, my friend; | cannot accept
IT happiness at such sacrifice
as She rose slowly. ~
sAdieu, Ralph she SAID. Marry Her
In minie and pray for me-
Fulmen, Fulmen I exclaimed Ralph, fall
4. ing on his knees at her feet. DO not aban-
j, don me-I love youp
le But your love is DEATH
st is happiness 1t is lfer
;s His tone was so earnest, SO touching, tina
ty the young girl hssitated.
cb Let me live eternally with you,' he per
,s sisted
Listen, my friend she said at length, as
he she could no longer resist his entreaties. 1
~ this cssket pointing to richly--carved DO
an which stood upon the table, there is phi;
lv containing dark liquid
nd And this liquid ?
be 1t is happiness 7 exclaimed Ralph, sci
AS ing the casket.
Fulmen stopped him by gesture.
ire Not yet she said; by and by-at mi
nv night-but first reflect !!
= Immediately the candles were extinguis
a ed and he found higssf in, complete darl
ed ness.
soon as Fulmen disappearea, he would hay
a opened the window and letthe cool night a
- plav upon his brow Then, the fever fit b
do ing over, he would have said to himself, j
Yet this>is folly, am twenty-five years old, &
not officer in the kings service and am about
I'M. marry young girl, blondea Madonna, fl
on as lily, who will bring me an income Of
4 . thousand .liyres. Ihave only to be quiz
and let things take their course.
the After which he would have slept quietl
an and dreamed no more of Fulmen. B
tn Ralph was Scotchman, With an imaginatit
f1c l.
IDS | as suscepuDle OF exaltatioil a. n'os. oi
rod countrymen of the land Of mountain ar
not mist. AS soon as the phantom vanished,
full re-lighted the candle by the aid of a half e
YOU tinguished frebrand, and, opening the ca
ket, he took out the phiaL
,ted Fulmen Fulmen wait for me / a
coming' he murmured, and swallowed t
the contents at a draught.
are For a moment he experienced strange al
mot inexphcable sensation; coldness in t
= chest, heat in the head i then his eyes
e of came heavy his limbs uembled; an e
m treme languor crept over him, and he sa
upon the floor, still murnsurng family, Fl
men wait for me-I icSs 5oE
,oht When Ralph swallowed the contents of t
here phial he expected to awake in the otf
an;- world He was mistaken; the phial cC
at ;f tanned only narcotic; and he was We
will much astonished on opening his eyes to fi
noj himself in bed, and to see the sun shini
S through the curtained windows. lady
+ba by the bedside. 1t was Fulmeni but
Yet longer Lhe paie, sau uinien, with ilVio
Che and form enveloped in a winding sheet: /
Fulmen, fresh, radiant, joyous, i'm the sa
{ tho costume which she wore at the fancy ball
, 80 Tho ,oador will rudars.. :, Il tl,r, :.