Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1867-11-07
,ur oath z They have told you that

voice was so pure, so melodious, that II
aided him to shake. off the sorpor that
was creeping over him.
No, you are not dead he exclaimed
with an effort, ba
i have been dead a year, replied Ful.
mens sadly. They buried me IN the
chapel. You canFead my epilaph on the
marble slab, the third from the high al
tar
Ralph could not detach his eyes from
this singular creature, whose marvellous
beauty counteracted in some degree the
terror which the apparition would other
wise have caused.
Alas = resumed the spectre, drawing
the shropd about her form with all the
coquelry with which living belle might
wrap an opera cloak around her, i am
dead, really dead at seVenleen-when
life was full of light, and perfume. and
music; when tears, even, were so sweet
that they resembled smiles; when The
present was so happy that the future was
quite forgotten; and then | loved you, l
trusted in your oath; but you did not
care for me. You have come here to
marry my sister.
'Fulmen" murmured Ralph, who felt
pang of remOrse al his heart, i have
loved you--love you still"
She shook her head.
The dead are never loved she said
sadly. .or..a c-z 1c
Ralph trembled. He felt his blood
curdle in his veins. Heremembered bis
oath. Yet Fulmen did not complain.
She did not overwhelm, him with re.
eproaches. She seemed resigned He
saw her lean her head on her hand. a
tear shone in her eye, and shiver pass
ed through her frame.
Il am cold she SAID, and. rising from
the chair in which she bad seated her
self, she approached The fireplace. and
bent as if to warm herself by the hal!
extinguished brands The dead are al
ways cold, she murmuIed. -~.
Heavens = exclaimed Rail- you are
not dead but, dead or living. you are
beautiful; moro beautiful than any living
woman and love as on the day first
saw YOU
The dead are never loved, she re-
Ipeaied, mournfully.
But you are not dead The limbs of
the dead are rigid the flesh corrupt
they cannot walk, they cannot speak !;
you are not dead-it is impossible.'
Il am dead repeated FuImen, in a
Itone of authority which admitted of no
question ); dead, and yet suffer-
You suffer 2 the Earl exclaimed.
Yes. Because | die with a guilty
thought in my heart. / remember the
ball where met you. 1t was earthly
love, not peDitence, that engrossed my
last hours Yet if you who are alive can
love me still, God will perhaps pardon
me, and | shall suffer no longer 'I.
4 do love you, cried Ralph, gazing at
the young girl so beautiful in her sad
ness. Ye. a secret voice said within :
FsAh if she were only alive.'
A pale smile passed over the phan-
tom. It rose and advanced toward him.
Ralph involuntarily shrunk back at its
approach
You see, she said mournfully, sit is
always so, the living fear The dead
No, no = said he eagerly. ashamed of
the momentary terror, mo. Fulmen, my
beloved, come.
She extended her hand and took that
of the young man. Ralph uttered cry.
His hand was pressed by the cold, clam
Emy fingers of a corpse. She let his
hand fall
No, she repeated, IN half.suffocated
voice, you see it cannot be; shall suf.
fer always
And She fed while Ralph was so
overpowered that be bad no power to
speak or move The candles went out
suddenly; silence reigned again in the
chamber, the phantom had vanished.
The next day dawned bright and beau
tiful. The Baron de Roche NoIre who
did net appear 10 notice the paIor and
abstraction of the guest, proposed hunt.
The day was spent in the open air, and
if the Earl thought of the occurrences of
the last night, they seemed 10 him only
as a bewildered dream. But with the
return of darkness, and especially at the
sight of the picture, the apparition again
seemed reality. and he. determined 10
ascertain the truth Pleading a head
ache, he rerired to his room, and extin.
gushing the candles, he called softly:
'Fulmen! Fulmeh p There was no an
swer
Again he called, 'Fulmen, love you,
though dead
Immediately the candles were relight.
ed, and Fulmrn again appeared. She
threw bfe her winding sheet, and seated
herself in a chair by his side. Her face
had the>cadaverous paleness OF the tomb;
her eyes were Sad; her steps slow and
painful; yet her exquisite beauty exert
! ed the same fascination over him as when
sparkling with life and vIvacily.
'Fulmen. love you " he repeated,
gazing al her with admiration.
Yet if my hand should touch yours.
she replied, with a sad smile, you would
iutter a cry as you did last night; the
dead are always cold
Give me your hand and you will see :
said Ralph. extending his own. She
took it, and again there came over him
the same terrible sensations as before.
but be had self f.conlrol enough TO con
qUer il, and again to repeat, i love yOu!'
A bright smile illuminated the, fea-
lures Of Fulmen.