The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-05-31
NO LIVING VOICE."

HOW 90 YOU 8CCOIut iVi ~
81 don't account for it at all. don't
pretend to understand it,"
"You think, then, that it was really
supernatural"
aWe know SO little what Nature com.
prehends-what are its powers and linn.
its-that we can scarcely speak OF any
thing that happens as beyond it or
above it."
And you are certain that this did
happen -
aQuite certain; of that have no
doubt whatever"
These sentences passed between two
gentlemen in the drawing-room OF q
country house, where q small family
party was assembled after dinner; and
in consequence Of a lull in the CONVEX
sation. 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 supernature of the event
under discussion. "A ghost story 7"
cried one; "oh, delightful! we must and
will hear it. "Oh please, no." said an.
other; Z" / should not sleep all night
and yet am dying with curiosity"
Others seemed inclined to treat the
question rather from q rational or psy-
Geological point Of view, and would have
started a discussion upon ghosts in gen.
eral, each giving his own experience /;
but these were brought back by the
voice of the hostess, crying, "Questlon,
question - and the first speakers were
warmly urged to explain what particu-
Lar event had formed the subject of their
conversation.
alt was you, Mr.. Browne, who said
you could not account for it Il; and you
are such a mattsr-of.fact person, that
we feel doubly anxious to hear what
wonderful occurrence could have made
you so grave and earnest"
"Thank you, said Mr.. Browne. 81
am matter-of-fact person, l confess /;
and was speaking of fact; though
must beg to be excused saying any more
about it. It is IN old story; but l never
even think of it without feeling Of dis.
tress, and should not like to stir up
such keen and haunting memories,
merely for the sake of gratifying curios.
ity. was relating to Mr.. Smith, in q
few words, an adventure which befell me
in Italy many years ago giving him the
naked fact in the case, in refutation of q
theory which he had been PROFOUND.
ing"
we won't have naked facts; but we must
have that story, fully and feslingly re.
lated to US; and we promise to give it .
respectful hearing, implicit belief, and
uneounded sympathy. So draw round
the FIRE, all of you, and let Mr.. Browne
begin"
Poor Mr.. Browne turned pale and red,
his lips quivered, his entreaties to be
excused became quite plaintive; but
his good nature, and perhaps, also, the
consciousness that he could really in.
terest his hearers, led him to overcome
his reluctance and, after exacting a
solemn promise that there should be no
jesting or levity in regard to what he
had to tell, he cleared his throat twice
or thrice, and in hesitating, nervous
tone, began az follows:
at was in the spring of 49,. had
been at Rome during the Holy Week
and had taken place in the diligence
for Naples. There we're two routes: one
by way of Terracina, and the other by
the Via Latina, more inland. The dill
gence, which made the journey only
twice a week, followed these routes al
ternately, so that each road was ira
versed only once in seven days. chose
the inland route and, after long day.
journey, arrived at Ceprano, where w
halted for the night. The next morn
ing we started again very early; and i
was scarcely yet daylight when w
reached the Neapolitan frontier, at ,
short distance from the town. Their,
our passports were examined and, Il
my great dismay, / was informed tina
mine was not en- regle. It was covered
indeed, with stamps and signatures, no
one Of. which had been procured with
out some cost and trouble; but or
visa yet was wanting, and that the al
important one, without which non
could enter the kingdom Of Naples.
was obliged, therefore, to alight, and I
send my wretched passport back I
Rome, my wretched self being doome
to remain under police surveillance {
Ceprano, until the diligence shout
bring it back TO me on that day weel
at soonest.
al took up my abode at the hot
where had passed the previous nigh
and there l presently received q Wis
from the Capo di Polizia, who told n
very civilly that must present inysel
every morning and evening at h
bureau; but that might have liberty
circulate in the neigbborhood durir
the day. grew 20 weary of this du
place, that after had explored the il