The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-10-07

should come.
4 Signor Trsmontans explained to me that
it was very dangerous to sleep in The night
! air where the foliage and vegetation were
40 dense. He could not permit it, espec-
! ia Nv, to patron OF bis house.
"Bni," said he, rs he saw me looking
eager ly toward the convent, "if the siguor Is
not IN did, he might rest for the night in one
of the r>Ooms OF the convent"
| Icaugl't him eagerly by the hand, ard
| thanked n Inn from the bottom OF my heart.
i coul6 hsv.e kissed his feet or the ground
he stood upo1. "My dear Trsmontans, for
ings over sea ard land"
twas jmpatiesYt to be led at once through
the winding and secret ways that / was sure
| had been the entran &c 70 this n1onas'ic cas-
| tie. What q gloIions place for ghost see
ing. The place had bes'n used for convent
for over two hundred years. Surely there,
if anywhere, / c0uld mpet respectable
ghost. did not explain 10 my host the
cause OF my 6sgerness. soon we were
within the enclosure. He leo me through
the deserted halls where our foots cps echoed
dolefUl reverbera tons such as one hsars
walking up the ala e of an uulightei church
at night. Occasion ally door would slam
behind Us with peculiarly wicked
bang. and / air. ady began to apptrs,-
Inhabitants OF thc deserted castle were
already rejoicing ovlar some carnival they
were to engage in for the night. The room
he selected was one tina had been the apart
NETT of tho Mother Sup eriOr. The furniture
there had never been disturbed. The
cliniug chair was comic rtable enough for q
king; a window opened out toward The hay
and the balcony was at Il last so or go feet
above the level OF the sea Here my host
left me, and can not say bow eager | was
for him to get away. Pr omising to send
me cup OF coffee and biscuit at eight.
in the morning, he bid me goodnight.
1t was early to retire, bat laid the extra
candle near my couch with a lew matches,
! and prepared myself for what L confidently
believed 20 Oe q nigh. with "a ostS. L was
| careful to lock all the doors, and even to see
that the windows were secure, was not
unfamiliar with the devices CT Italian rob-
| bers TO secure entrance into strans er's apart
ments. L knew that this forethoug BIT against
| robbers would not hinder any re spectacle
ghost from entering, and did no care to
see any kind that could not come through
a door as well when shut as open.
| The moon was Just rising over the southern
slope of Vesuvius. and the fisher mans
song on the bay had ceased. The streets
soon bscame quiet, and the guests
at the hoIel had evidently retired. After
| some general inspection OF the room, /
| found myself reclining in the comfortable
chair of the mother superior. The breeze
| rom the sea a. that hour was invigOrating
1t would have been most glorious place
| for sleeping if / had not been looking for
toe visit of a ghost or two. AS IL was, /
] could not sleep. The sound of footsteps
| saluted nv cara in the hall Just as / was
comfortably adjusted. But IL was evidently
no ghost. A servant from the host came
with a pitcher OF water ard bottle OF
| LacDTyma Christi wine, with the cOmplI-
ments OF the ost. l knew the value of that
wine, and Of wine of auy sort, when it came
from hotel proprietor without being or
dered. II was not the cheat / well knew
palmed offOn travellers, by that name, but
something better than the old Falerian that
Horace drank thereabouts in the palmy days
Of the Romans. Ia case ghost should come,
thought IL shabby to have no entertain
ment ready. l YVES glad, therefore, to see the
generous gift of my host. concluded
10 try it, to DO sure that IT was genuine;
it was superb. After second glass was
iully prepared, / thought, for receiv-
ing q ghost in very dignlied and self
possessed manner. Silence was ones more re-
stored, and / waited as patiently and as full
If expectation as ever devotee waited at
the place Of trysting tor lever the mid
night hour drew on apaee. The rafting OF
the window panes began TO have very pc
culiar sound. / beard the splashiDg of an
oar, that seemed to be very near indeed.
| rose from my couch and moved over to-
ward the window and looked out upon the
! sea. l saw nothing, but heard the boat GID
ing through the water. Il became fainter
, aud fainter, and soon / heard IL no longer
There w&s dead silence for q while. The
stiffness was oppressive / concluded to re-
cline again. / would have been glad at that
, moment to hear any kind of sound. But
] the beating of my own heart Was all heard
for long while. Then 1 began to despair
/ of having any visitor, and seriously medi-
9 tsteu gOi0g to sleep in supreme disgust.
j But felt disposed to give any gGost that
D chose to come decent reception IL L shOnlG
be awake, and hoped II should 90 to sleep,
. that would have some aOrt of premOuitOry
: warning that / should not be taken by
Z surprise. 1t would have been matter OF
? sincere regret If ghost had eppesred ano
# surprised me into an uncOurteOus reception.
8 I never would have had the face 10 see a
D ghost again. But sleep gradually overcome
: me. ! had untrOubled rest for an honr or
: so, aud awoke with feeling of perfect COM
e | posture. L arose and took another glass OF
+ | wine, opsDed the window and walked out
: on the balcony. The saa was calm aud there
n WIS a lull in the breeze. A slight chilliness
q coming over me caused me to return to the
g room. I he moon was shining into the room
9 L walked slowly back to the couch, and saw
: reclining there the form of person with
C which was perfecly familiar-for it was the
: exact impersonation of myself! By his side
;, at respectful distance, stood the sanity
: looking form of lady, whom i recognized
g by the emblens of her authority as mother
o superior. l paused, of course, as 1 beheld
: these persons. They were evidently in con-
q versation, and yet | heard nothing. con.
It templated with pride the composure ana
r complaisance with which my other self re-
% csived the ghost. 1t was a real, genuine
IL manly reception. ! felt proud of myself
?. aud though just at that moment my curiosity
q was greatly excited, / concluded that il
: would be ill-manners to in errupt them.
?. envied my other self, but as 1 was doing SO
q wellit would be sheer iuteTneddling to az.
l. proach further or speak. l felt mysel
! trembling slightly, and lest my counter
e part should see my embarrassment turned
z of and went TO the sideboard TO take glass
II of wine.
" wondered then how long mad remained
W on the balcony, and if the ghost OF the
N Mother Superior had been thsre long
Is looked at The Ooor-the bolt was uuspruu z
: It was therefore genuine ghost. / WAITED
" patiently to zee the result, but confess TIA