The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-04-15
THE MAGIOIAN's VISITOR.


day, and the shades of evening were be-
gin1ng to gather over the city of Flor
ence, when low, quick rap was heard
at the door of Cornelius Agrippa, and
shortly afterward a stranger was in
PRODUCED into the apartment in which
the philosopher was sitting at his
studies.
The stranger, although finely formed,
and of courteous demeanor, had GER
tain indefinable air of mystery about him,
which excl ted awe, if indeed, it had not
a repellant effect. His years it was diff
ficult to guess, for the marks of youth
and age were blended in his features in
q most extraordinary manner. There
was not a furrow on his cheek, nor a
wrinkle ON his brow, and his large black
eye beamed with all the brilliancy and
vivacity OF youth; but his stately figure
was bent, apparently beneath the weight
of years, his hair, although thick and
clustering, was gray; and though his
voice was feeble and tremulous, yet his
tones were of the most ravishing and
soul searching melody. His costume
was that of Florentine gentleman, but
he held staff Like that of palmer in
his hand, and slken sash inscribed
with oriental characters, was bound
around his waist. His face was deadly
pale, but every feature Of it was singular
ly beautiful and its expression was that
of profound wisdom. mingled with
poignant sorrow.
'sPardon me, learned sir" said he,
addressing the philosopher, shut your
fame has travelled into all lands, and has
reached all ears. and I could not leave
the fair city of Florence without seeking
an interview with one who Is its great
est boast and ornament.
''You are right welcome, sir, return
ed Agrippa; ''but [ fear that your
trouble and curiosity will be but i'll re-
paid. am simply one who, instead CT
devoting my days, as do the wise, to the
requirement of wealth and honor, have
passed long years in painful and unpro-
titable study, III endeavoring TO unravel
the secrets of nature, and initiating my
self IN the mysteries Of the occult
sciences ="
''Talkest thou of long years!" echoed
the stranger, and melancholy smile
played over his feature, ''Thou who hast
scarcely seen fourscore since thou leftest
thy c. ale, ard for whom the quiet grave
is now waiting eager to clasp thee in her
sheltering arms !. [ was among the
tombs day, the still and solemn tombs;
L saw them smiling in the last beams OF
the setting sun. When L was a boy, I
alsed to wish to be like that sum- his
career was SO long, 50 bright, SO gior1-
Gus But tonight [ thought it is bet
ter to slumAsG among those tombs than
to be like him. Tonight he sank be-
hind the hills, apparently to repse, but
tomorrow he must renew his course,
and run the same duh aud UNMARRIED, but
toiisome and dnGuet race. There IS 10
grave for MIN, and the morning dewS
are the tears ne sheds over his tyrannous
destiny"
Agrtppa was deep observer and ad-
mirer OF external nature, and of all her
phenomena, and had often gazed upon
she scene which the stranger described,
but the feelings and ideas which it
awakened In the mind of the latter were
SO different from any thing which he
had himself experienced, that lie could
not help, for Il season, gazing upon him
iii speechless wonder. Els guest, how
ever, speedily resumed the discourse.
''But trouble you, / trouble YOU;
then to my purpose in making this visit
/ have heard strange tales of a wonder
ful mirror, which your potent art has
enabled you TO construct, in which
whatsoever looks may see the distant or
the dead, on whom he is DESTROYS again
10 fix his gaze. My eyes see nothing in
this outward visible world which can be
pleasing to their sight; the grave has
closed over all [ loved; and Time has
carried down its stream everything that
once contributed to my enjoyment. The
world is vale of tears; but among all
the which water that sad valley, not one
Is shed for me; the fountain in my own
heart, too, Is dried up. would once
again look upon the face which loved.
L would see that eye more bright and
that step more stately than the am
telope's; that brow, the broad smooth
page on which God had inscribed his
fairest characters. would gaze on all
loved, and all I lost. Such a gaze
would be dearer to my heart than all
that the world has TO offer me, except the
grave except the grave -
The passionate pleading of the strang-
er had such an effect upon Agrippa,
who was not used to exhibit his miracle
of art to the eyes of all who desired to