The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-08-12
aThc monks have buried. him like

"Thc monks have buried him Ike
a monk, and not like prince" ex-
claimed the captain, angrily. The
richest man of his day has been lain
in the ground like o bcggar."
@Yes-and this lying old rascal has
made game of us" cried several, turn
ing fierccly on the poor guardian.
Enraged at finding nothing, the band
vented their brutal rsgc on the weak
old man. Oaths and abuse were min.
gled with violent blows, and they f.
nally forced his head with such vi0-
lcncc against the tomb that he fell in
sensible to the ground. n
"Bury him with the bcggariy corpse
i'm thcrel" cried one, pointing to the
tomb. $50 much for joking with sol
dicrs."
The brutal proposal met with the
approval of several, though one or two
earnestly protested against It; and
The half lifcless old man was thrown
into the vault, the doors closed, and
with a yell of savage laughter the par
ty went their way.
The old man soon recovered. To
find himself buried alive, and in the
intensest agony he sat groaning and
awaiting his last hour. Shame and
anger increased the speed of the rob-
Der band. They fastened from the
empty church, swung themselves on
their horses, and rode whooping away.
Only one, their youthful leader, cx7
pcricnccd any qualms, and often re-
preached himself for not having as
ccrtained whether the old man was
really dead ere he was consigned to
the tomb. lie long reflected on the
possibility of freeing the captive, and
perplexed himself with a thousand
plans. Suddenly an accident came to
his aid, and suggested the means Of
relief. Far in the distance o moving
cloud of dust attracted their atten-
ton. 1t drew nearer, and he soon
distinguished in its midst division
of their own corps. In q few see
onds they were together.
"Whithcr?" and Whencc" and
allow goes it?" were the questions
and greetings exchanged, after the
short military salute.
ave have" said the captain, "just
been visiting the dead Wallenstein,
and were about to carry the treasury
that men talk so much about away
from the tomb. What need have the
dead for money? Well, just while
VIC were at the good work, some one
raised cry that the enemy were at
hand in greater force than we, 30 that
"runD was the work. But it's hard
to think of leaving it. We can't turn
back, for this is our second day out.
But 60 We and get it, and don't forget
our share therein. You'll easily find
ii-yon white church, i'm the middle Q
tomb, and stone over the treasure"
With these words he waved a part.
ing salute, and with q lightened heart
commanded his little party to march
onward. .1.
With staring eyes and opened mouth
the 90 riders" as such troops of ma
rauding soldiers were in those days
termed, listened TO his speech, and an
swcred by galloping onward like the
wind. A treasure was not to be found
every day i'm times like those, when,
as the provcrb said, the very dog was
not certain that he owned his tail.
They approached the cloister, and
carefully looked around for the enc
my. But nauglit could they behold,
save a few clouds in the far blue dis
tant, and tho distant dust-cloud which
covered their departing friends. They
were speedily in the abbey, and as
the thirst for gold is far keener than
that for wine, they lost no time, as
their predecessors had done, in use
lcssly searching the cellars. The
open church doors, with the iron bars
lying around, testified to the recent
presence of their friends. The spot
was soon found, willing hands laid to
work. In a few minutes the heavy
stone yielded to their efforts. But as
the stone was taken away, and the
doors of the tomb opened, an awful
sight appears! They behold an old
man, pale as death, and drabblcd with
blood, rise from the floor, and ap-
proach them with trembling steps.
alt is the ghost of Wallenstein "
cried one in terror, and the cry of
w lilcllSlcll SuVcI. was lopCotCu
by every voice. Struck with fear,
they rushed wildly forth, giving no
thought to closing door or gate, and
leaping to their steeds, drove OH like
the wind, never pausing until many a
long mile lay between them and the
grave.
This is the true history of oval
lenstein's Ghost" which, however,
has never appeared since that day, to
any one. In the Protestant camp the
story was soon told and solemnly be-
licved, for there was not warrior OF
the frightened party who did not, to
his dying day, swear in language OF
those times, "by stone and bone"
that he had gazed on the ghost of the
great Wallenstein. 81