Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-04-18
NUMBER Is.


aud as l gained the moss-cevered steps
that led up to the great front door, the
wind shrieked mournfully behind me,
! and, overcome with excitement, l fell
tninting on the stones. was soon arous-
ed by the door opening, and footman in
resplcndent livery stepped out and assist
ed me to rise. | entered the hall, and
to my astonishment it was brilliantly
lighted up, and servants were in attend
once and heard my name called out
with my full title, which, indeed, l had
hardly, If ever, heard before, and, in q
dream of amazoment, | was ushered into
the grand reception-room. A brilliant
assemblogo was gathered there. Ihardly
know how to describe it to you, for was
perfectly dazcd. All remember is that
| was salutcd with tho greatest Difference
and courtesy, and many persons spoke to
me, but, as you may have experienced
in dream, | heard nothing but n con-
fused murmur of voices, and did not seem
able to catch the words that were said.-
Two things impressed themselves vividly
upon mo. Ono was that all the guests
assembled were dressed in the fashion of
Mt least century ago. The other was
that wherever my eyes turned they light
cd upon the face of beautiful young girl,
who seemed to gaze with an expression
ofintcrest and sympathy. In the midst
of all this brilliant scone sense of ex-
trome drowsiness came over me, oxpor-
fenced an Irresistible desire to go to sleep.
| passed through tho crowded saloons
till | came to u small boudor which was
empty, and l threw myself upon sofa.
The last thing that | remember was tho
face Of the girl that | have described,
looking down upon mo with sweet
smile, as | closed my eyes and yielded to
tho overpowcring influence of sleep.
When ] awoka it was morning, and by
my side tho wife of the old gayde de cAds-
see was seated. When my senses we're
sufficiently aroused she told me that her
husband, in making his usual round be-
fore retiring for the night, had found me
on the steps of tho great door. Ho had
brought mo in, and this antique ring
which you see upon my finger had told
them who | was, for the old woman rec
ognizod IL as having belonged to my
mother, whose waiting maid she had
been in years long past. You will say,
then, that the gay assemblage in which L
had mixed was nothing but the fevered
working Of an excited brain. Possibly
it was. But listen further. stayed at
the chateau for some days, and examined
it thoroughly. chiefly interested my
self in turning over old packets of papers.
One morning devoted myself to the
| portrait gallery. Hitherto the weather
had been dull and stormy, and the light
bad for seeing tho pictures. A strange
thrill ran through mo as my eyes fell on
ono portrait--that of young and boauti-
ful girl. ! could not mistake tho fea-
lures and the expression Of tho eyes. 1t
was the identical face had seen in that
strange vision on my first arrival. The
frame was sadly dishgured by dust and
damp, and the canvas had blotches Of
mold upon it. / determined that would
tako the picture down and have it thor
oughy clennsed. 1t was hung at some
considerable height, and | procured
ladder. | climbed up to it, but the wire
by which it was suspended was SO closely
wound round the nail in tho panneling
that | could not detach it. / pulled away
vigorously, and suddenly down came pic
turo, panel and all. To my astonishment
r secret recess was revealed, going deep
into the massive wall, and in it found
five strong casllets. j took them out and
after much difficulty, opened them one
by one. They were full Of gold coins
and most magnificent jewels and precious
stones. Obviously it was no use for me
to keep these ornaments idle. ! eventu-
ally disposed Of them all for the sum of
three hundred thousand francs, and as
the income from such sum Is very toll
cradle in Hungary, found myself lifted
from poverty to absolute Independence
On the surrounding facts | leave you to
make your own comment am perfect
~ satisfied with the result"