The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-11-28

tu midnight.
" But, Gertrude, what are you think
ing OFF What is your object p. e
"You are coward; you are trem
bling already. Perhaps it is caprice;
but | have my object and 1 wish to try
you If you do as wish, shall know
that can trust you, and provided you
re main there from nine o'clock until
midnight my heart is yours; if you re
fuse, shall marry some one else"
Struck by the decided tone of the
young girl, GILES dared not offer further
objection, hut he thought of the freezing
recitals to which he had listened--of ap
partitions from another world that were
seen gliding around the tomb, and of
witches who there held their noctdrual
meetings and made as a place of depos.
it for their argument and diaboIical com
lpoands In truth, fires had sometimes
ibeen seen burning near there through
the night, and surrounded by groups Of
sinister and grotesqne looking faces, but
they were undoubtedly gipsies, with
which Luxembourg and Eimbourg were
at that period infested But some per
sons professed to have seen supernatural
beings, and thousand wonderful sto
ries were related about them For a
year, however, nothing had been seen
there, and though GILES was more afraid
THAN he would have cared to acknowl.
ledge, lie was so deeply enamored of the
lyoung girl that he accepted the cendi.
! ton and promised to do what was re
lquired of him without divulging his in
.en'ion to any one. ha-.bcH =
Shortly afterward Wenceslas Slroo
bant came in his turn. Gertrude gave
him avery gracious reception; he was
handsome and rich; an fully conscious
Of these advantages lie felt conf lent Of
success in his suit. .' q
"Itis not your fortune that tempts
me-" said Gertrude to him, greatly fut.
'Itereie =
Wenceslas bowed as if he would say,
pr understand. l have other attrac.
tions.o 81 a"l- -7arI
Il feel deep interest in you," she
said, sand would willingly give YOU my
hand if you will render me service that
will prove your courage" .EftEht
You have but to command me-" said
the handsome young man II am entire
lly at your serviceo
4 "Well, then, you must know that one
of my relatives has been killed in duel
! He is in the woods, and we are making
everveffort 10 secure him an honorable
bu' & In the meantime the body is to
b. Iaeei in the r ,man tomb at nine
o'ctock this evening. As the tomb is
lneither covered nor enclosed, we greatly
fear it may be disturbed; therefore I beg
of you to go there at halt. past nine.'
"To the witches denP What an
idea I" e. F@
:, "Are you afraid already w. II on dieu,
how faint hearted the young men are"
81 am not afraid, but you are giving
me very queer commission"
! "Call it fancy If you will, but l can
1 only eonfide this to one who is very de-
voted, for it is absolutely necessary to
conceal this mystery from everybody
You must 60 there at exactly half.past
nine, and you must dress yourself to
personate an angel of light, and carry a
torch in your hand The fearful stories
OF which the tomb has been the subject
will be of service 10 you, and those who
may be scheming TO carry away or rob
ltheydesd will upon. seeing you sitting at
the foot of The tomb with Your torch in
your hand, be SO terrified that none will
dare to approach. AT midnight you can
return home VIII you do it?"
p snI will, ~ said w enceslas,' who feared
to displease her. slEA YJEsE1g
81 must be certain that you have per
formed this service; but remember, not
Ia word about tito any, one, apd at this
price my, hand is yours1 q
Winceslas regained- his usual compo
sure, smotheripg as best he could those
superstiiions. fears which sometimes as
sail the strongest: minds. He swore that
he would be both obedient and discreet,
and that at. half past nine precisely he
would be at his post, where he would
watch the dead so closely that rot even
a bat should approach. He soon took
his leave in order to make his prepara
ltions., -, -, -, - g 9i'' 3.
A, few, moments after ward Lambert
Won Mnll, the faithful, appeared to rem
der his homage to the young lady. He
was a. lawyer, aud everybody predicted
a brilliant future for him.
"If you really love me-" said the CO.
lquelte, 81 am going to prove it, Some
lof the neighbors whom you know, and
are our enemies, wish to iDjure us. For
this purpose they have. placed dead
lbody in the Roman tomb, which belongs
to our family, / wish you to make every
effort to carry off the corpse. F"
"I!" interrupted Lambert.
.sCertainly. 1 know that you are
f6rave" - sl sz9esGgts s't:f M
"That is true; but tthis is such ridic
4 ulons commission" M of eaGa
.sThe body will doubtless be guarded
by mere children, and in orderto dis
fpefse these you must blacken your face
tani make yourself as ugly as you are
handsome, in short, disguise yourself as
Ia demon. Call it ridiculous commits.
sion if you will; hut go to the Roman
ftomb at precisely ten; take up the body
i and bring here, and you will gain all
jmy gratitude" 80 aa.as i;i
H Lambert Won Moll reflected for mo
1ment, and deciding that it was not toe
too great price to pay for the heart O.
fGertrude, he, like the two others, prom
t liised punetuality and discretion, and &C
J Icordingly withdrew to make his prepa
I Irations f' ai gHfht.sa:
81 Sigsmond de vletter then came to pay
: his respects to Mr. and Mrs. Stock; h,
-1wished Gertrude good evening, and con
s versed a few moments with her, whil
7 taking turn in the garden. Having ia
r ken him aside,a Gertrude, who had he
r project, proposed he should in his turf
assume character in her comedy. Bu
] Sigismond, who perceived some mali
Z fcious intention in spite of her grav
tones, told her that for anything seriou
t or important she might command him
I lbut that such chiIdisllness was only
proper for children. The coquette no
l finding him very eomplaisant lett him.