Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-12-04

IUI tbC u
The place chosen was a small, isolated pa
vlion in the garden, built in such a manner
as not to admit of jugglery. We inspect it,
assured ourselves that there was no egress
save through a tightly-closed window and
tight]y-closed door, at which last we all re-
NAMED after we had left the young man in
the pavilion. Mean time we had placed up
on the table all necessary writing materials,
and carried away all the lights. We were
intensely interested in the whole affair, and
maintained profound silence; while the
Spaniard, who remained in our midst, sung
or rather ehanted, in sweet and sad voice,
the following words:
''The sepulchre opens wide,
The coffin lid tails away
Behold by the black graves side
The phantom, grim and grayv'
After this first couplet, he lifted his voice
solemnly and said,
you have asked to see your friend Fran
co.'s Vialat, who was drowned three years
ago! what do you see p
Il see answered the young student from
within the pavilion. ''a pale white light that
rises inside the window, but it has no form,
and is nothing but vague cloud
We remained in state of stupefaction.
Are you afraid ?" cried the powerful
voice of the Spaniard.
II am not afraid % answered the student
in voice not less assured.
We scarcely breathed. The Spaniard was
silent for moment then he struck the ground
with his foot three times and sang again,
but this time with deep, commanding tone
PHANTOM gray in the wide sea drowned
Wan of cheek and hollow of eye.
Wrap thyself in thy shroud around,
And hither come at thy masters cry"
The song ended, the Spaniard turned ocen
more to the door of the pavilion, and, with
a voice still more solemn than before, cried.
"You have desired to sound the deep mys-
teries of the tomb, what do sou see %
We listened with GREATNESS anxiety The
student replied in the calm voice of a man
who watches with curiosity the details of
some physical phenomenon,
Il see the vapor elongate itself and take
the shape of phantom. This phantom has
its head covered with long veil 1t remains
in the place in which first saw it."
"Are you afraid ?" said the Spaniard, in
sultingly
Proudly and bravely the young man an
swered,
II am not afraid p
We scarce dared look at each other SO
great was or establishment and so much
we're we occupied with the wild motions Of
the Spaniard, who tossed his arms over his
head, and invoked three times d name sinful
to utter, after which he sang the third verse
of his demoiiac song, i'll shrill reverherant
voice:
stThe phantom is come; the ghost is here,
He says II hear my friend call,
He loves too well to feel fear
When lift my veil and cast my pail"
The Spauiard, as soon as be had finished,
repeated his diaholical question,
"What do you see?"
II see answered the student" the spectre
advancing. He lifts his veit--it is Fran.
co.'s Vialat---he approaches the table-he
writes-it is his signature"
s'Are you afraid" cried the spaniard
with sort Of boarse fury.
There was moment Of awful silence 80
Then the young men replied in calm and
equable tone,
'No am not afraid
Then the Spaniard, as if attacked with an
epileptic fit, leaped and shivered in sort Of
frensy, and sang in hoarse, cultural voice,
the last Internal stanza:
''The phantom says to the braggart boy,
l come to thee from the graveyard cold;
clasp thy neck with a shuddering joy
My lips to thine forever I'll hold"
sWhat do you see ~ cried the spaniard in
voice Of thunder"
''He -nearer-nearer J. he pur-
sues me- He opens his arms--he embraces
me- -help!--. help Oh! help say"
care you afraid? p cried the Spaniard
with sort of ferocious jey,'
A piercing cry, then stiaed groan, were
the only replies to this terrible question.
assist this young braggart," said the
Hpaliard to Us, in a bitter voice. Il have
won the bet, but it is enough to have given
him lesson. Let him keep the money, and
be wiser in future.
| Having said this he walked rapidly away.
We were stupefed We opened the door
and found the student in horrible convVl=
sions. A paper signed with the name Of
Francois Vialat lay on the table The mo-
ment the young man recovered his senses,
he demanded where was the magician who
had been the cause of such horrible profana=
ton. He wished to kill him. He ran to
the tavern to seek him-he rushed like a
mailman out into the night to discover him,
and we saw him no more. That is my sto-
ry.
/ In the dead silence that prevailed-se
much were we impressed with the story
was the only one who had the courage te
say.
''And after all that, how is it that yoe
don't believe in ghosts 2"
Because" answered my uncle ''neithe7
the young man nor the magician ever came
back, nor with them the fve-thousand francs
that myself and my ow-travelers had con
tributed toward the bet. Those two rascal
had robbed us, after having played unde
our noses a comedy the price Of which
shall not consider too dear if it CONVINCE
you that it is only fools who believe il
!. Ghosts