The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-07-15

mind was liable to be infected with
strange delusions. In this way argued
to myself, knowing, ay feeling from
the bottom of my heart, bound body
and soul TO spirit. fastened to the
saloon-none of the family had made
their appearance. Again was alone;
the solitude | had lied from above, pur-
sued me here. ] examined the pictures
which L had seen many times before;
wondered who they represented; had
they secret to hide; were they pursued
by spectre, to whom they belonged,
without hope of release? Again, at
that terrible thought, / turned from
them, and rcckoncd the panes of glass
in each window. Did she, the Countess,
who left that fearful legacy, ever stand
here where | was standing? Perhaps
it was in this spot that thought first pre-
sented itself TO her mind.
looked at the breakfast table; it was
laid for four, the Count, his wife, and
myself. Who could the fourth be? The
Countess sister? All here was n
chance; l would marry her! / walked
to the mirrors; thought / was good
enough looking. / was in good prac-
tice, and very highly educated; many
girl would be only too glad to have me;
but l had not money enough. In the
midst of these reflections pretty young
woman with child passed the window
just opposite to me; they stopped, and
she gathered flowers and played with
the little boy; 1 watched her for some
time. Oh that 1 knew who she was
that l could get acquainted with her
She seemed an upper servant. What
matter; | would marry her; yes, she
would be my wife. 1 would love and
protect her; she was poor,I would make
her rich, would make her lady. She
would never refuse me; and once mar
ried should be safe, and could defy
the spirit. Without moments hesi-
tation hurried along the corridor, and
down the terrace; q turn in the path
suddenly. brought me before the girl; |
knelt at her feet, caught her dress, told
her adored her, would guard her as a
tender flower, if she would but unite
her fate to mine. The poor creature
thought | was mad; she screamed,
caught the child in her arms, and ran
into the castle. / saw what had done,
she would give the alarm, they would
consider me insane; I should be shun-
ned by every one, and left alone with
my dreadful secret. Fearful of meet
ing any one, left the terrace, and hur-
ried down the steps into the thicket. l
saw servants out looking for Inc and
the young woman 1 had been speaking
to, pointed out 10 them The direction |
must have taken. l lay hid under a
bush, not moving limb, lest they
should see me; and when they had re-
turned, left my retreat and ran, al
most flew home. Those l met on the
way looked at me with vague glance
that might have been sympathy. My
hrst thought was to Secrete the ring !;
this acco mplished,I | lay down and long
ed, oh how earnestly, for death From
that hour was ill three months of the
very same disease that Lady Theresa
had died of. When left my sick bed
| was another creature; | no longer
strove to shut out the hateful truth
fro m myself, but humbly submitted to
my fate.
Now, what do you say to this, for /
can testify on oath ell have statcd?'
Il cannot but allow it is strange said
l, 'and had you not assured me you
had examined every part of your room
so carefully, should have had some
doubts
As | stated replied Aucrbach, de
ce ption was impossible. | was as wide
awake as you are now. And, besides,
the fatal ring; what else could that
mean?' And he relapsod into Il state of
abstraction.
We'll, said |, more with the idea of
rousing him, than for any real obstacle
it presented to my mind, the ring is
the stunbling-block to me. If the APP
pearance was nota deception, it must
have been spirit but cannot under
stand a spirit having anything to do
with the fading things of this world.
1t leaves all that behind
He interrupted me:
You first deny the existence of spirits
then you must define the exact way
they ought to appear. Such inconsis-
tency But perhaps you will not he so
skeptical if l show you the ring. l
have not worn it since that fatal night,
now years gone by; but something urges
me to look at it tonight Who knows
but it may be warning that am soon
to join my spirit-bride p
Saying this, he took from his breast
a curious looking box, and handed it to
me to open.
| can hardly describe the sensation
| with which raised the lid, and took
out very old-fashioned ring, with
strange characters engraved on it; and,
true enough, the hcraldic bearings of
the Count Albrccht Won Silberstein's
family. | felt nervous, creeping SEN
sation; The perspiration hung in drops
on my forehead. AS to Auerbach, he
seemed ready to fall.
Jnst then L heafu a loOtstep; tremD-
ling, l let the ring fall ON the floor, and
ran to assist Auerbach, who had tainted
crying out:
Il come-l comen
Immediately heard voice eXclaim-
ing:
'Whero in the world arc you? What
is the matter?'
To my infinite relief l recognized
Ferdinand's voice, and calling him to
my aid, we got poor Auerbach to bed,
where, after administering some RENE,
dies, we succeeded in restoring con-
sciousncss.
When | related TO Ferdinand what