The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-04-18
LANCASTER, OHIO, THURSDAY, APRIL 1S, 1861.


conversation soon became animated and
sparkling, while Ralph watched Hermlnie
and now and then whispered to himself,
"She is charming! Blessings on my uncle
for finding me wife at once 80 pretty and
so rich" ..... ....-.
When supper was announced he offer
ed his hand to the young girl, who &C.
cepted it with blush, while the Baron
led the way to the dining room. 1t was
lofty apartment, furnished in the mas
sive style OF Louis XIV, and upon the
walls were suspended ancient family por-
traits. AS Ralph's eye glanced over these
it was attracted by one whose freshness
formed striking contrast to the smoky
canvasses desoed 10 the defunct BarOns
of Roche Noire. 1t represented a young
girl Of dazzling, hut foreign beauty such
as is only found under southern skies. A
more brilliant daughter Of Spain never
danced the Jolero in the perfumed gar
dens Of the Alhambra. The eyes of Ralp
were fixed immovably upon the canvass;
the first glance had told him that it was
his long-lost unknown of the fancy ball.
"Come, my dear Earl, said the Baron,
''let us be seated"
Ralph started and obsyed, then turned
his eyes from the portrait 10 Hermiuie.-
In contrast with that glowing beauty she
appeared 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 pale,
and sat silent with downcast eyes. A
chill seemed 10 be thrown over these three
persons, just now talklng 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 apartment they
passed again through the dning-hall.
"Whose portrait is this?" he asked
pointing to the picture Of the lady.
The servant hesitatsd.
"Speak" said the Earl, imperiously.
{ alt is t! e portrait Of Madamoiselle Full
men," said the old man, trembling.
"Who is she?"
"The elder sister of Mademoiselle Her
mine"
But she is dressed is Spanish costume
eyes her mother was Spanish lady
"Aud Fulmen," where is she now?"
"She is dead" said the old man, sol
EMMY. "She lies at the left Of the alte
, in the chapel of the castle
X 4 K
Fatigue had no power that night I,
bring sleep to Ralph's oytlids. 1t was il
vain that he extinguished the candles, ant
i buried his head under the blankets; tn
d image of Fulmcn still pursued him. Nov
r it was Fulmen, radiant with beauty, a
3 she was represented in the picture, an
a as ne had seen her at the fancy'bal
again, it was Fulmen. pale and cold, ex
o tended in her coffin, under tho paveme
: of the chapel. Then he remembered hi
oath, to love her as we'll dead as living
- and cold sweat bathed his brow. A
that moment light at the opposite ez
Is tremity Of the apartment attracted his al
lenton; a door whose existence he ha
m not suspected. turned noiseessly on II
,e hinges, the candles relighted themselvt
spontaneously, and figure, draped in
h winding sheet, entered the room and az
r. preached his bed. II advanced slow
;c the most a,ute ear could have detected /
Ie sound offootsteps. Brave as he was IL
" Earl trembled at the apparilion. Wtt
re- the figure was within few feet Of Il
fe bed the winding sheet was thrown bac
n and revealed a young girl dressed
q, Spanish costume.
"Fulmenl' he murmured; "the pictu
)" has decendtd flom its frame!'
he 1t was indeed Fulmen, just as she W
en- painted, save that the lips were pale, t
,r. eyes mournful, the whole expression u
nj speakably sad.
las "FumeD' repeated the Earl, with
le, tone Of terror, in which was mingled
ian sort of feverish Joy.
led ut is l." size said. "Do you rene
TO Der your oath? They have told you Il
for am dead"
The teeth Of Ralph chattered; but
do voice was so pure, so melodious. that
me aided him % shake off the tOrpor VIII
was creeping over him.
mo you are not dead,' he exclaim
and with an effort.
and II have been dead a year," repl
ry, Fulmpn, sadly. "They buried me in
ave chapel. You can read my epltaph on
uu' marble slab the third from the high
'un- ter" ..
enc Ralph could not detach his eyes +
WY this singular creature, whose marvel
J., beauty counteracted, in some degree,
uu ~ terror which the apparitiOn would oil
,;ro @ wise have caused.
nr,y % "Alas!" resumed the spectre draw
Va the shloud about her form with all
tbs coquetry with which living belle m
VAN, wrap an opera cloakarouhd her, 81
ctod dead, and seventeen--whcn life was
v Of Of light, and perfume, and music "
T. tears, even were so sweet that they
a. 10 sembled smiles; when the present wa
I his happy that the future was quiet forge
,,ne. and then loved you. I trusted in
nted oath, but you did not care for me,
!, LAT. have come here TO marry my sister"
low. aFulmen!' murmured Ralph. who
hern pang Of remorse at his heart 81
and loved you: love you still,'
" She shook her head.
her "The dead are never loved" she
spar sadly.
saw Ralph trembled, He felt his b
nd in curdle in his veins. He remembere'