Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-10
When supper was announced he offere

XIV, and upon the walls were suspended an
cient family portraits. As Ralph's eye
glanced over these, it was attracted by one
whose freshness formed a striking contrast
to the smoky canvasses of the defunct Bar
ons of Roche Noire 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
boler0 in the perfumed gardens of the Al t
hambra. The eyes of Ralph were fixed inn
moVably upon the canvass the first glance |
had told him that it was his long-lost un-
known of the fancy ball.
Come, my dear Earl said the Baron,
let US be seated
Ralph started and obeyed, then turned
his eyes from the portrait to Herminie. In
contrast with that glowing beauty she ap-
peared to him utterly insipid. He made
some remark about the picture The Baron
did not reply, but cloud passed over his
face, and Herminie turned, d,pale and Sat silent
with downcast eyes chill seemed to be
thrown over these three persons, just now
talking SO joyously. Brief remarks were
made occasionally, in a constrained tone
and the supper ended almost in silence.
AT its close the Earl made the fatigue of
his journey an excuse for retiring early. As
the servant was conducting him to his
SPSti CihSAIi IiiCy pdSSCo lIlIOuSll tlC
dining hall.
Whose portrait is this? he asked, point
ing to the picture of the lady.
The servant hesitated.
Speak said the Earl imperiousy.
1t is the portrait of Mademoiselle Full
men, said the old man, trembling.
And who is she 2?
The elder sister of Mademoiselle Her.
mimic
But she is dressed in Spanish cos
tune
Yes, her mother was Spanish lady,
And Fulmen. where isshe now?
She is dead, said the old man, solemnly.
She lies at the left of the altar in the chapel
of the CASTLE
Fatigue had no power that night to bring
sleep to Ralph's eyelids 1t was in vain
that he extinguished the candles, and buried
his head under the blank cts /; the image
of Fulmen still pursued him. Now, it was
Fulmen radiant with beauty, as she was
represented in the picture, and as he had seer
her at the fancy ball again, it was Fulmer
pale and cold, extended in her coffin under
the pavement OF the chapel. Then he remem
bered his oath to love her as well dead as liv
ing, and cold sweat bathed his brow A
that moment light at the opposite extremi
ty of the apartment attracted his attention
door, whose existence he had not suspected
turued noiselessly on its hinges the cand LEI
relighted themselves spontaneously, and
figure, draped ina winding sheet, entered
the room and approached his bed. 1t ad
vanced slowly the most acute ear coult
bave detected no sound of footsteps Brav
as he was, this Earl trembled at the ap
partition. When the figure was within
few feet of the bed, the winding-sheet wa
thrown back, and revealed young girl dress
ed in Spanish costume.
Fulmen ! he murmured, the picture ha
descended from its frameY
1t was indeed Fulmen, Just as she wa
painted. save that the lips were pale, the ey
mournful, the whole expression unspeakabl
sad.
Fulmen? repeated the Earl, with ton
of feverish JOY.
1t is l. said she. DO you remembe
your oath They have told you that al
dead
The teeth of Ralph chartered but th
voice was so pure, so melodious, that
aided him to shake off the torpor which wa
! creeping over him..
No, you are not dead he exclaimed, wit
an effort
have been dead year. repeled Flu
men sadly. They buried me in the chape
: You can read my epitaph on the marb
slab, the third from the high altar
: Ralph could not detach his eyes from tn
singular creature, whose marvellous beaut
t conteracted in some degree the terror whie
e the appariIion would otherwise have eau
ed.
d Alas y resumed the spectre-draping Il
l shroud about her form with all the coquetl
G | l:y;p halIa oh
, opera cloak around her-I am dead, real
q dead, at seventeen life was full of light al
2, perfume and music; when tears, even, we
'i so sweet that they resembled smiles; when Il
) present was so happy that the future w
u quite forgotten. And then, loved you.
Ie trusted in your oath but you did not ca
for me- You have come here to marry
ot sister,
: 'Fulmenr murmured Ralph, who felt
pang of remorss at his heart; | have low
q you | love you STILL
I'd She shook her head
:, The dead are never loved; she saids a
" ly.
I'd Ralph trembled. He felt his blood cur,
is in his veins. He remembered his OATH ]
ne Fulmen did not complan.-She did L
overwhelm him with reproaches. She see
Il ed resigned. He saw her lean her head
" her hand tear shone in her eye, ant
eu shiver passed through her frame
IN / am cold, she said, and, rising from
"a. chair in which she had seated herselfshe
n, preached the fireplace, and bent as if
h warm herself by the half extinguished bran
at The dead are always cold,' she murmur
an Heavens exclaimed Ralph, 'you are
IL dead; but, dead or living, youare beauti
re, more than any living woman, and love
ne as on the day first saw you
m The dead are never loved she repea
II mour nfully.
er But YOU are not dead. The limbs of
= dead are rigid: the flesh corrupt; they
he insensible; they cannot walk they can
as speak YOU are not dead-it is impossible
ed 4 am dead repeated Fulmen, in a tom
he authority which admitted of nc questio
ed, dead, and yet suffer-
ne You suffer 7 the Earl exclaimed.
Yes. BecauseI died with guilty thou
Ia! in my heart. remembered the ball wi
ph met you. 1t was earthly love, not p,
'od tence, that engrossed my last hours. Ye
the you who are alive can love me still, God
not perhaps pardon me, and shall suffer
MI longer
the i do love you, cried Ralph, gazing at
girl young girl so beautiful in her sadness.
TIL secret voice said within him, sAh, if
be- were only aliyer a
ph A pale smile passed over the face O
ur- phantom. Ralph involuntarily shrunk
ess- at its approach. gss
At You see,' she said mournfully. st
ways so. The living fear the dead
4ak4 s#f + & s4