Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-06-01
From the n. Y. Centuryl
THE SPECTRAL DUEL.


the door, he saw standing in the moonlit road,
travelling carriage, its lamps brightly burning,
and the horses trembling aud painting with fa
tigue A tootmau demanded of him fresh horses.
Rubbing his eyes the landlord began some sleepy
excuse, when the carriage door opened suddenly,
pale aud handsome face looked out and stern
voice commanded him to furnish his best horses
without a moments delay. The bewildered inn
keeper obeyed the footman sprang up beside
the driver; the carriage whirled away into the
night
A few days afterwards the same carriage
crossed the Prussian frontier. The passport as
serted the name to be the Baron Karl Friedrich
Eugen. In twenty-four hours 1t crossed the
Rhine near Coblentz. Never stopping, this mys-
terious Baron galloped through Prussia, and In
almost Incredible shortness of tlme he had dlsap-
peared in the dominions of the Gar. One week
afterward the carriage with its axle broken, was
found in the outskirts of the wood, upon the
road to St Petersburg.
The accident may have influenced the intentions
of the traveller. For in June he sailed in little
vessel from Turkish port for Taranto; he had
left Limoges in April Sill travelling day and
night, now with one attendant, the Baron passed
through Spain In July. Thus without apparent
aim he had, in three months, traversed an i'm
mense circle, returning near the point from which
1t was evident he must have started.
What meant this unresting Journey Whether
motive of pursuit or flight urged the traveller
on who could tell? Now toward Portugal he
fled, and no sign of his journeys end appeared,
when suddenly power stronger than his VIII,
CRIED Haiti The Baron was carried into little
road side inn, delirious with brain fever.
The attendant of the Baron had no sooner seen
his master put safely into bed, than he locked
himself In the room, giving orders that no one
but the physician should be admitted. For these
orders he declared himself responsible to his
| master with whose wishes he said they agreed.
All offers of assistance. whether prompted by
Kindness or curiosity he declined himself would
he sole nurse. OF course the villagers made a
mystery of the event, aud various were their con
lectures.
The first day of the Darons fever, the physician
expressed unfavorable opinions of his recovery.
When questioned of his patient, the doctor, solemn
ly sirokng his beard, could only reply that he
was young man and u handsome one, appeared
to be in great agony, and talked necessarily in a
strange language. No more could the doctor
tell, but the innkceper's wife, who had kept her
eye at the crack of the door, Till almost blinded
by the draught, declared that when the sick man
had cried out three times, wilhelm Wilhelm !!
Wilheml" the servant had leaned his forehead
on the bed post aud wcpt The landlord imme-
diately running up to make further observations,
unluckily stumbled and knocked his head against
the door lie made a safe retreat, but when the
landlady stealthily applied her other eye to the
crack, she found it thoroughly stopped aud dark
ened
1t was noticed however, that when the meals
were carried to the room, the servant opening the
door, often betrayed on his pallid face the traces
of suffering and tears, and sometimes of alright.
Faint moans and broken cries were heard at
night. Day after day the doctor, coming from
! the room, shook his head, took snuff opened his
mouth as if to speak, sighed solemnly, shut IL,
and silently walked away. But one evening he
emerged with great dignity, condescended to say
! that all danger was over as the patient was
conscious. and had requested to be left alone
which of course no one would have said to the
doctor, unless he felt himself recovering. While
thus relating, the servant appeared, and whis-
pered him q few words In broken Spanish Let
him sleep Let him sleep!" sad the DOCTOR
in loud voice, " but do not forget the pillsl"
adding in low mysterious tone, Beware how
you egect the powder" The servant hastily re-
turned to the room, and the doctor lost In con
temptations of his own greatness frightened The
landlord by staring steadfastly in his face, still
solemnly repeating "beware how you forget
the powder"
To be told that the landlord had not abandon
ed his investigations will surprise no one. Quiet
ly he had been boring hole In the wall OF the
strangers room, but fearing the noise OF falling
plaster would attract attention, had not had
courage to finish it. II was greatly to his delight
that his mournful reflections on this subject were
Interrupted that night by the BarOn's servant,
who grufly informed him, that his master being
much better had sent him out on important
service, warning him against any disturbance OF
his privacy. BY many saints the innkeeper
swore no one should go near the room, aud
watching the servant out OF the house, ran up
stairs. again applied his auger and with fear
aud trembling pierced the WALL and saw faint
| light flash into dark closet where be lay con-
cealed. PeepiDg through he found to bis great
joy, that he could see two shadowy walls, the
ruddy fireplace, and the great deer's antlers
above 1t, hung with rusty swords cleaning 10
the freight He scarcely breathed when peer
ing around, he saw the Baron's arm hanging out
of bed, bright ring flashing on his thin white
hand
"Holy Mother I" said low voice behind him.
Pedro what is itF' Pedro starting up Ia
fear, as guilty peppers will, saw there his faith.
full spouse, with eyes aud mouth wide open.
Away woman--' he exclaimed, "St. Jago-
what a fright. What Is this honest Is this
honorable? Why would you pry into the secrets
OF our guest 7" "Ayel that | would. Do you
think to have the hole all to Yourself? Take
away your eye, and let me have peep"
" Hush I" impatiently said the landlord, Z" as
live, he has risen and dressed. Away woman,
| say-would ye see, make window for yourself.
But Holy Mother who-who is he looking at Ia
the corner?" Quickly as she could the landlady
followed his advice and knelt beside her husband
But certainly the twain did not expect aught SO
strange as the incident which really occurred.
The Baron had risen, dressed himself, ahd now
stood before the fire, The fever had perhaps
returned, for trembling and pale, he gazed stead
fast into the air, shading his eyes with his hand
What he saw to all other eyes Invisible he
seemed 10 hold wild conversation with some un-
welcome presence. Sometimes bis words we're
strange at other times he spoke in Spanish lan-
guage, and here and there the watchers could
catch bis meaning AS he heid up MS nahd ABOVE
his brow they marked the sparkling of the jewel
ed ring.
"Away % he said, " | have fed from you night
and day-heard you ever close behind me. Must
| meet you here? Who is it that digs up the
dead aud gives them again to life ? buried you
] ...ll ll.-...- a L. 1nAI