Nebraska advertiser., 1864-03-17

foundation stones were immense, and the
whole massive structure caused US to
wonder al the labor and skill displayed
in bringing them up such anIawful hight
and forming them into an edifce destin-
ed to endure for centuries. There was
no moat around the walls, and no need
of any--for with its hugh gates, its port
culhs dropped, and its garrison on the
alert, ten thousand men could not have
taken it.
We passed through a aglOomy arch, a
small ante-room, and entered spacious
hall, where there was everything to re-
call The days of feudalIsm-fOr the cas-
tie, Notwithstanding the fearful name
which the superstitious peasantry bad
givenit, really belonged aliVing count,
who tOok pride in keeping it furnished
as in ancient times, and a pleasure inper.
milling strangers to.Yisii IT, No one had
lived init fOrla-q quarter pfla century.; but
persons were employed TO go through it
as often as once week, sweep AID dust
lit, and see that everything was kept in
order.
From the moment we entered 1t, till
we had spent hours in passing through
the different apartments, we were so
deeply interested in looking at the antique
furniture, the old.fashioned hangings,
and the ancient implements of war and
the chase-tLat we completely lost sight
of the terrors supposed 10 be connected
with the place.
a"Well, / fancy we have seen all there
is above ground worth looking at, and
now suppose we go below p'oI said to the
guide, as we at length returned from our
explorations tolthe great hall.
No. said the fellow, shaking has head
81 shall not go below !''1d sd
''Why not 2" ea 81
II don't want to tempt the devils p
'Oho so the devils are down there,
are they?"
''In the daytime"
''But where are they in the night ?''
"All over the castle"
did you ever see any?"
: 81 never spent the night here, and
wouldn't for all the gold you gentlemen
have got"
"Why, 1t seems you have become timid
all of sudden! When we asked for a
guide to conduct US to the Castle of
Ghouls you we're sent to Us; and when
we inquired if you had any fear of visit
ing the haunted place, you laughed in
derisiOn, and led US to believe you were
above the superstitions of your class y
aIf | hadn't, perhaps you wouldn't
have employed me-" said the fellow.
frankly.
''You deceived us, then 81
IL have fulfilled my agreement in
bringing you here and showing you over
the CASTLE"
"But not all over tive have not seen
the vaults and the dungeons.
"And if you take my advice you won't
ei,ner''
but suppose we decline your advice 90
Then you can go down, if you choose
---but don't p H 1
are you afraid of?" Z ban "a
."They say there are strange sightsand
sounds down there p Z,
'"Whp says?''
Everybody who knows" s.a I'd
"But why down there any more than
up here g. ai
Because the demons love the dark
It's the same up here in the night"
"And who ever, saw or heard any
thing unnatural!"
Hundreds of people have heard
strange noises here in the night, and
have seen the castle lit up, when nobody
was here, with different colored lights"
"0f course somebody must have been
here, or they could not have been here
to see themselves !" ~.
"They saw from distance they didn't
dare to. come here; they might have
been earned of, or torn TO pieces, or
made blind, Or" as a
Have you discovered the trick n'.I
chimed in my friend, with laugh
What say you, Bentley r. he continued
turning to me and speaking III English
.'shall we leave this fellow out and go
down by ourselves? /? am anxious to see
and hear some of these wonderful things.
though certainly expect to be disappoint-
ed"
We were standing in the great hall,
with The afternoon sun streaming in, in
golden lines, through the high, narrow
windows; but as he ceased speaking, and
before had time 10 reply, the room sud-
denly became as dark as twilight, there
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