Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-05-09
Misftllunruus.
-
No Living Voice


How d. you seonuu, FIR it:'
Il don't account fpr il all don't
pretend To understand
You think. tAtn. it Ha~ really super.
natural:
I'VE know so ii.tlc what Nature
comprehcnls-wha, ar,it~ power, and
limits-tliat We can scarcely speak If
an>tMng that happen, as beyond il or
above it,
And YOU are certain that this did
happen:
Quite certain; of that have no
doubt whatever
These sentences passed between two
gentlemen in the drawing-room Of a
country house, where a small family
party was assembled after dinner and
in consequence of luIi in conyer>a-
ton occurring at the moment they
were distinctly heard by nearly every
body present. Curiosity was excited.
and inquiries were eagerly pressed as
to the nature or supcrnaturc Of the
event under discussion. a ghost
story " cried one: : oh delightful We
must and will hear it, Oh, please.
no said another: | should not sleep
all highland yet | am dying with
curiosity
Others seemed inclined to treat the
question rather from rational or
psychological point of view, and would
have started discussion upon ghosts
in general, each giving his own ex-
perience hut these were brought back
by the voice of the hostess CRYING.
Question. question :" and the first
speakers were warmly urged TO explain
what particular event had formed the
subject of their conversation.
1t was you, Mr.. Browne. who said
YOU could not account for it and you
are such a very matter-of fact person
that we fee. doubly anxious to hear
what wonderful occurrence conld have
made you look so grave and earnest ;
Thank von.' said Mr.. Browne. Il am
matter of fact person. | confess: and
l was speaking of the fact; though |
must beg to be excused saving any
more about it. Ii is an Old story but
| never even think OF it without a feel
ing of distress: and | should not like
to stir up such keen and haunting
memories merely for the sake OF graft
fving curiosity. | WAS relating to Mr..
Smith. in few words, an adventure
which befell me in Italy many wears
ago, giving him the naked facts of the
| case. in retutatioE OF theory which
he had been propounding.'
Now. we don't want theories. and
we won't have naked facts they are
hardly proper any time, and at this
| period of the year, with snow upon the
ground. they would be most unreas m
able ; but we must have that story fully
and feelingly related TO us. and we
promise 10 give it a respectful hearing
implicit belief. and unbounded sympa-
thy. So draw around the fire. all OF
you. and let Mr.. Browne begin
Poor Mr.. Browne turned pale and
red. his lips quivered, his entreate-
to be excused became quite paintive
but his good nature and perhaps, also
his consciousness that he could reall,
interest his hearers, led him to over
come his reluctance and after exact
ing a solemn promise that there should
be no jesting or levity in regard II
what he had to tell, he cleared hi.
throat twice or thrice, and in a hesita
ting, nervous tone, began as follows
1T was in the Spring of lS-. hac
been at Rome during the Holy Week
and had taken place in the diligenc,
for Naples. There were two routes
one by the wav of Terracina and tn
other by the Via Latina, more inland
The diligence, which made the journe,
only twice a week, followed thes
routes alternately, SO that each roa'
was tzavsrssd only oncsin seven days