Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-05-03

happy that the future was quite forgot.
ten and then | loved you. 1 trusted in
your oath, but you did not care for me
You have comes here to marry my sis.
ter"
''Fulmen!" murmured Ralph, who felt
a pang Of remorse at his heart. Il have
loved you; | love you still"
She shook her head
The dead are never loved" she said
sadly
Ralph tremblcd. He felt his blood
curdle in his veins. He remem bered
his oath. Yet Fulmen did not complain
She did not oycrwhelm him with re.
proaches. She seemed resigned. He
saw her lean her head upon her hand. Il
tear shone in her eyes, and a shiver
passed through her frame
fs. 81 am cold, she said, and rising from
the chair IN which she had seated her.
self She approached the fireplace, and
bent as if to warm herself by the half
extinguished brands. The dead arc
always cold, she murmured.
"Ileavens!' exclaimed Ralph, "You
arc not dead but dead or living, you are
| beautiful more beautiful than any liv-
ing woman-and | love you as ON the
/ day [ first saw you
The dead are never loved" she re
! peatcd mournluly.
But you are not dead. The limbs oi
the dead are rigid; the flesh corrupt, they
are insensible; they cannot walk; they
cannot speak: you are not dead--it is
impossible
Il am dead, repeated Fulmen, in a
tone of authority which admitted OF
question: dead, and yet | suffer"
You sutfer!' the Earl exclaimed.
Yes, because 1 died with a guilty
thought III my heart | remembered
the bail where l met you. 1t was
earthly love, not penitence thatengrossed
my last hours. Yet if you who are alive
can love me still, God will perhaps pardon
me, and | shall suffer no ionger.'
Il do love you, cried Ralph. gazing
at the young girl SO beaatitul in her sad
ness. Yet. Il secret voice said within
him. "Ah! if she were only alive!"
y pale smile passed over the face of
the phantom. 1t rose and advanced to
ward him. Ralph involuntarily shrunk
back at its approach.
You see, she said, mournfully, "it
is always so. The living fear the dead y
No no?' said he, eagerly, ashamed
of the mcmentary terror. "Fulmen, my
beloved, comet
She-ex tended her hand and took that
Of the young man. Ralph uttered u cry
His hand was pressed by the cold, clammy v
fingers ola corpse. She let his hand
fall.
"No," she repeated in half suffoca-
ted voice, you sec it cannot he, shall
suffer always!'
Aud she fed, while Ralph was so
lnxerpnwered that he had ne power to
speak or move. The candles went out
suddenly; silence reigned again in the
chamber the phantom had vanished.
The next d,y dawned bright and beau
tiful The Baron de Roche Noire who
did not appear to notice the pallor and
abstraction Of the guest, proposed a
hunt The day was spent in the open
air, and if, anil tie excitement Of the
chase, the Earl thought Of the occur
rences of the last night, they seemed to
him only as Il bcwildering dream. But
with the re;uln Of darkness and espe-
cialIy at the sight of the picture, the APP
partition again seemed to him reality,
and he determined to ascertain the truth.
Pleading headache he retired to his
room and, cxtinguishing the candles, he
called softly '.Fulmcn!" There was
no answer.
Again he called "Fulmen! 1 love
you, though dead
Immediately the candles were relt
and FuImcn again appeared. She threw
off her winding sheet, and seated herself
in Il chair by his side. Her face had
The cadarerous pa!eness Of the tomb;
eyes were sad: her steps slow and pain
t Iu!; yet her exquisite beauty exerted the
same fascination over him as when
sparkling with life and vivacity.
"Fulmen, | love youn' he repeated,
gazing at her with admiration.
Yes, if my hand should touch yours, y
she replied with sad smile, "you would
uttCl d II do yOu ulu i"SU SA1j t4S
dead aIe always cold
Give nc your hand, and you will
see, said Ralph, extending resoutely his
own. She took it, and again there come
over him the same terrible sensation as
before; but he had self enough
to conquer it, and again to repeat, il
love you?''
| A bri 2ht smile illumined the features
Of Fulmen?''
My poor friend, she said, II would
gladly believe you; but if your love
would end my sutfcrings, it must be SO
profound SO ardent that it can conquer
even desire to live. A omb with NE
must have attraction for you, and you
are but twenty-five, Ralph. At your
age life is sweet.
The Earl shook his head
! TO live without you is death; to be
united to you, even in the tomb, would
bc lille"
Take care, my friend
''Of what, dear Fulmen, exclaimed
Ralph, over whom the smile of the
young girl seemed to exercise an over
/ powerinS fascination.
dc you know she said, ''that il
you utter such wish, God may heai
your prayer?'
"Ah, if he would! An eternity by
your side would be infinite happiness.
"Ralph, my friend, interrupted Full,
men, while a smile Of celestial JOY shone
in her face, take care; you will die il
you love me-
Il wish to die
"But you are betrothed to my sister. .
An exclamation Of anger escaped him
II hate hcr!!' he said vehemently.
"Why?"
Because she is alive, while you are
dead. What has she done that she