The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-05-31
ono LIVING VOICE.

You think, then, that it was really
supernatural"
I'VE 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 ii or
above it"
And YOU are certain that this did
happen ~
'Quite certain; of that l have no
doubt whatever
These sentences passed between two
gentlemen in the drawingroom of a
country house, where a small family
party was assembled after dinner; and
in consequence Of 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 !"
cried one " oh, delightful we must and
will hear it. "Oh please, no." said an.
other; A" should not sleep all night
and yet am dying with curiosity"
Others seemed inclined to treat the
question rather from a rational or psy-
Geological point of view, and would have
started discussion upon ghosts in gen
eral, each giving his own experience;
but these were brought back by the
voice of the hostess, crying, "Question,
question = and the first speakers were
warmly urged to explain what particu-
lar event had formed the subject of their
conversation.
at was you, Mr. Browne, who said
you could not account for it and you
are such matter-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-offact person, confess !;
and | was speaking of fact; though
must beg to be excused saying any more
about it. 1t is an old story; but | 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.
lty. was relating to Mr.. Smith, in a
few words, an adventure which befell me
IN Italy many years ago giving him the
naked TACT III the case, IN refutation of a
theory which he had been PROFOUND
ing"
Now, we don't want theories, and
we won't have naked facts but we must
have that story, fully and feelingly re.
lated to US and we promise to give it
respectful hearing, implicit belief, and
unbounded sympathy. So draw round
the lire, all OF you and let Mr.. Browne
begin"
Poor Mr.. Browne turned pale and red.
his lips quivered, his entreaties to be
bnp
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
testing or levity in regard to what he
had TO tell, he cleared his throat twice
or thrice, and in a hesitating, nervous
tone, began as follows:
. 1t was in the spring of Is. | had
been at Rome during the HOLY Week.
and had taken place in the diligence
for Naples. There were 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 week, followed these routes al.
ternately, so that each road was ira
yersed only once in seven days | chose
the inland route and, after long days
journey, arrived at Ceprano, where we
halted for the night. The next morn
ing we started again very early; and it
was scarcely yet daylight when we
reached the Neapolitan frontier, at
short distance from the town. There
our passports were examined and, to
my great dismay, / was informed that
,sD/e q
indeed, with stamps and signatures, not
one Of which had been procured with
out some cost and trouble; but one
viSa yet was wanting, and that the all.
important one, without which none
could enter the kingdom of Naples.
was obliged, therefore, to alight, and to
send my wretched passport back to
Rome, my wretched self being doomed
TO remain under police surveillance at
Ceprano, until the diligence should
bring it back TO me on that day week,
at soonest.
:" took up my abode at the hotel
where had passed the previous night,
and there | presently received a visit
nom the Capo eli Polizia, who told me
very civilly that ] must present myself,
every morning and evening at his
bureau; but that ! might have liberty to
circulate in the neighborhood during
the day. | grew so weary of this dull
place, that after / had explored the i'm.
mediate vicinity of the town, | began
to extend my walks to a greater dis
lance; and as ] always reported myself
to the police before night, met with no
objection on their part.
" One day, however, when l had been
as far as Alatri, and was returning on
foot, night overlook me. | had lost
my way, and could not tell how far
might be from my destination. | was
'ery tired, and had heavy knapsack
n my shoulders, packed with stones
nd relics from the ruins of the old
elasgic fortress, which | had been
ploring, besides a number of old coins,