The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-07-08

anu MS ueep, ioViHB eyes looking hx-
edly before him, as if he was then hold
ing communion with the invisible.
But said who can believe the nom
sense that is put forward in that paper
about the appearance of Gertrude?'
only account, then, for all that is re-
lated said my friend eagerly. Either
the facts have taken place, or the auth
or is guilty of falsehood; and i think
even you would be slow to acknowledge
that Gualfredo would state thing for
q fate, that had not occurred. Believe
me, you cannot know, and have not
the opportunity of knowing what we
medical men learn, coming in contact
as we do, with the caprices of nature.
What she can or cannot do, is not for
us to say
Il never met with any one,' said /,
who had himself seen spirit; and
though, as you say, 1 have every conf.
dence in Gualfredo, still he does not
say that Gertrude ever appeared to
him. 1t seems from the whole tenor of
the story, to have been related to him;
neither does he pledge himself for its
veracity, except in the negative way of
repeating the story. Now, be honest
l continued, have you ever spoken face
to face, with any one who saw spirit?'
He remained silent for q time; o nd
at last, having taken a turn up and
down the room and drawn Whit from
his pipe, and a sip from his glass, he
turned full upon me, and said, Il hare
seen spirit. Mind, don't pass for
Geisterscher; but have indeed seen
spirit once-a time never to be forgot
ten, for it made change in me that l
have never recovered. And, strange
enough, the room with which it was
connected was called the BLACK cham
ber.'
Much as l had vaunted my disbelief
of ghost stories, / must confess that as
we were then sitting in the dim twi-
light ir that still summer evening, with
the shadows lengthening through the
deep recesses of the window, my COM
panion's enthusiastic nature quite car
ried me with him; and with rapt atten.
tion, and an underlined feeling of pleas
ure mingled with fear, prepared to
hear the horrors of the black chamber,
which now relate in his own words.
l had concluded my university edu-
cation, and to finish my studies in med
icine, became, for some years, the in
door pupil of the famous DIR. W,
who at that time was in Blenheim. My
progress in my profession was 80 great,
that in few years my old master made
over number of his remote country
patiepts to my care; his advanced age
rendered it impossible for him to take
long journeys. One evening / was has
tily summoned to the country residence
of the Count Albrecht Won silberstein,
who had lately returned from Italy,
with his second wife, beautiful young
heiress whom he had just married; his
first, it was said, had died in Milan, on
ly a few months before the second mar
riage. 1t was, however, to attend the
Counts sister that | was summoned;
she was dying of nervous fever. could
render but little assistance, as / saw
she was beyond earthly help. But l
ordered some sedatives and left written
directions, to be followed till my return
next day. l was preparing to take
leave, when the Count rushed in, and
begged of me, as / valued his friend.
ship, not to leave the house that night.
He was devotedly attached to his sister
and, as / had no particular engagement
/ consented to remain. The Lady Won
Silberstein gave orders to have room
prepared for me, and begged me to take
rest while my patient slept. as she
knew the Count would require my at
tendance the moment the Lady Theresa
awoke. Saying this, she wished me
good night and left the room.
When left alone, could not help re-
flecting on the aspect of that gloomy
castle, with its dark, heavy towers,
frowning, as if in anger with its in
mates. 1t had not even cheerful pros
pect, situated as it was, in barren fat
country, more like the stronghold of a
pectto see as the dwelling ofa nobleman.
The interior was not one whit more in
viting or cheerful. The room was in
was fearfully sombre; it was long mar
row chamber, only half lighted by the
small loop-hole windows; the furniture
and drapery old and faded.
What could have induced the Count
ess to marry that man, thought I-she
so young and lovely, he so dark and
gloomy. also noticed, during the short
time l saw them together, II shadow
pass over her whenever her husband
addressed her, Indicative of more fear
or dislike than love. In the midst of
my reflections l was interrupted by the
servant, announcing that my apartment
was ready. Conducted to it, l found it
even more dismal than that which l
had just left. 1t was spacious; the old
fashioned heavy doors were of massive
oak; the tables were covered with dark
cloth; the hangings and curtains were
black as ebony, as was also all the
woodwork in the room. l lighted two
pairs Of candles to chase the gloom; but
it was like the mere illumination of a
vault, the narrow circles of radiance
only making the darkness more visible.
sat down at small table near the
fire, and placed my candles upon it, to
impart some air of comfort to my black
palace-but even that failed. had de-
termined at once to write down the
particulars of the case / was attending
and get to bed. / must mention that one
particular of DR.. W-'s was, that
each of his pupils should give him in
writing, II most circumstantial account
OF every case they attended; to accom-
plish this now, and resign myself TO
sleep, was all my desire.
had Just finished my medical tech.