The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-09
THE GOBLIN TOWER.

soldier.
CASTOR bowed and a flush of pleasure
passed across his brow. 81
The robbers above here are very
bold, Just now. They attacked you, I
believe"
Three of the villains ventured TO do
so, but sent them away with more than
they expected"
"a steel ransom. Ha Hap
" 1t Is very strange that you are not
able to discover their retreat"
"Nery-very strange. Ny men have
sought iu every direction"
''Ihe country is favorable to secresv. !,
said CASTOR, looking round.
1t spread far away around the castle.
From the height upon which Boltono
stood, the wide plain and the surround
ing hills could be distinguished for q
great distance. Hills and crags were
near the castle, gullies and paths formed
by torrents lay among them. A river
howed through the plain, turbulent and
noisy"
g Yes, it is a good place for them. :"
SAID the marquis, in reply to Gastons
exclamation.
But yet I wonder at their hardi-
hood" 0>-
They rob almost every friend who
comes to visit me, unless send nv
soldiers to guard them, said BoItono.
bitterly.
This should be stopped. Iwonder
that they do not show themselves some
where" a .
Il have done all that man can do
Let us forsake this subject for the pres
ent. See yOu yon tower"
Yes. 1t is older than the rest of
your castle, is it not I have been
much interested in it."
1T Is very old and is of Roman con-
structiOn. We never use it."
Never Why not?"
lis haunted"
Haunted ?" CASTOR was surprised
at the seriousness of the marouis- and
ont of respect to him he suppressed n
rising smile of contempt.
Yes. It has for many wears gona
by the name of the Goblin Tower"
"Wby so ?"
Because there are sights to be seen
there, and sounds to be heard. which
are not of this world. Shrieks are
heard at the dead of night, and lights
gleam from the turrets. All the peas
antry tremble, and the hearts of all
within the castle quake with fear"
But have you never entered to see
the cause of these things ?"
God forbid that ] sbou1d seek TO
know aTght Of the doings of the pow
ers OF darkness!
They may be done by hands of
man, noble marquis"
impossible Who would dars ?"
No great obstacle could prevent
them II no one ever ventured there "
" Men have gone there and never re.
turned. In the life of my grandfather
there was legend about it, and saw
ing than whenever the castle was freed
from the goblin within, there would be
no more robbers without. "
What have the robbers always
been here?"
IAN the time that the tower was
haunted"
daston, was silent, and mused for
time.
81 will tell the story" SAID the mar
quIs, sit is not long. This tower was
Duilt, as have said, by the ancient |
Romans, and has been in the possess
sion ot many baron. Once, about |
Two hundred years ago, our family |
lived IN Florence. and baron who was |
related to Us resided here. He vas a |
strange man, of dark thoughts and
gloomy aspect. That tower he made |
his residence. At night lights cleaned
from 1t, and strange sounds were heard
there, Ike no sounds in the world. Bv
day vast clouds of smoke poured from
IL, often conceahng the tower from
view. NO one knew what he did. No
one could imagine what were his occcu-
patlons But he became very rich all
of sudden, and built this adjoining
castle. The neighbors all believed
that by the assistance of the evil one
he had found ont the phiIosopber's
stone. the PEOPLE suffered very much
from him, and robbery was carried on
TO an alarming extent in the neighbor |
hood. Once they ventured to attack |
th castle itself
AT last there came a fearful time. |
The night was perfectly dark. Sudden
~, some who were looking toward the |
tower saw flame and sparks issue from
the windows of the upper rooms which /
he occupied. Shrieks resounded from |
IT. The people burst into his room
t.e haron was not to be seen. A bundle
ot burnt flesh and clothes lay on the
ments all around.
My grandfather had a beautiful
daughter, whom he promised to the
man who would venture TO search ont
the cause of those fearful sounds and
appearances, which ever since the bar.
on's time have been witnessed there.
Several undertook it, but no one has /
seen them since"
Gsston was not so much awed by the |
legend as the MARQUIS.
They did well-these suitors-and |
1 would do the same for similar
prize"
What! wonld you venture there 2"
Noble sir, you have promised to
m e me eyOur son-in- law" said CASTOR.
with his ingenious countenance covered
by flush of pleasure and confusion.
but have done nothing to win the
lovely AIvlra. Suffer me to win her in
this way"
What cried the MARQUIS.
g am willing to enter that tower"
No, no; you are rash. This is not
bravery, it is rashuess. You have done
enough. my dear CASTOR, to win a dozen
But let me also do this. Noble |
marquis, cannot must not be refused. |
Why need 1 fear? Are not friends all |
around me ?''
Your friends cannot preserve you
from the demons"
" Demons I fear them not. With |
my trust in God and the holy saints,
how can the evil one injure me 2"
" implOre you not to think of this"
"No, no, permit me. Do not tell /
Alvira. Promise ME not to tell her. I |
will free your house of demons and rob-
bers or die"
The marquis gave a reluctant con-
sent.
1t was mid day, and CASTOR walked
outside fbe castle. There was q deep
gorge IN the hills behind, aud the Ro-
man tower rose above this, while the |
her parts of the extensive castle lay
further from it. CASTOR walkod to the /
verge and looked down. The porter
had told him 10. toventure there-that
the people in the castle were afraid of
the COLLINS who dwell there. But Gas