The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-07-12
LA DAME BLANCHE,
[ From "Ueber Land and Meer," by Z.
VocanO

| From ''Ueber Land and Meer," by Z
Vocano
The ducal residence of GerolsteIen !,
situated in the bottom of a charming
valley; it is neither big nor noisy, AND
all its streets converge to the ducal castle,
the most beautiful building of the resi-.
dence-stately and grand-built in the
most ceremonious rocco style la Yer
| saIlles. Pleasant walks lead from the
castle to the parks outside Of the city.
Close to the castle stands the also mag
nIticent but more modern palace of the
Countess Sauran, who has been by NOR
ganatic marriage the wife of the late
Duke Ernest and borne to him two sons,
| who were brought up as Counts Sauran,
and appointed to high offices at Court.
They had no claim to the succession,
since from the first right-handed mar
rlage of the late Duke, with a Princess
| of Memlingen issued the Crown Prince
Franciscus, now reigning as Duke Fran
discus XIV. 1t is true he was sickly, in
consequence of the fatigue caused by his
studious sojourns in Paris and Italy :;
but the succession was provided for,
since a week ago his wife, the handsome
Duchess Helena, nee Princess Lauingen
Hallerstein, had borne him a Prince,
named Erne, after his grandfather. The
little baby, the future Duke of Gerol-
stein, was thriving exceedingly well.
He was as healthy as a goldfish in the
pond, and as fresh as a rosebud in sum.
mer. His illustrious mother was radi-
ant with happiness, and, although still a
little weak, she would not let the child
from her arms all day long, and gave it
thousand sweet names. Only nights
the little Duke slept in his own room
under the charge and care of his bonnie,
the Princess Larghetto, and Of his nurse,
fresh looking peasant from the Black
Forest.
1t was sultry, vaporous midsummer
night. The whole little residence of
Gerolsten slept the sleep of the righteous.
The sentinel IN front of the castle was
slumbering standing, both arms resting
on his gun. The hunting dogs lay
coled up like ropes in their kennel, and
were now and then barking low in their
sleep. The weathercock on the battle
ment of the castle likewise slept soundly
and motionless, not the least breeze
stirring the atmosphere. The flowers in
the park, with closed cups, bent their
drowsy heads to the earth, and the white
statues between the dark green shrubs
appeared even more motionless than in
the daytime. Even the paving-stones
steps to echo back in the lifeless streets.
In their high tester bed the Duke and
the Duchess slept the feverish sleep of
sickly persons, and in his princely room
slept the little Prince in his cradle trim
med with blue silk and gold tassels-the
Baroness Larghetto on her couch, ard
the nurse in her wide comfortable easy
chair. The night lamp seemed to open
an eye only occasionally and shut it
again Immediately. Even the fountain
in the market place gurgled sleepily away
into the moonlit summer night.
All at once the officiating chamber
lain, who was in waiting in the long
corridor Of the castle, and dreamed in a
bay window Of duel, uttered piercing
cry and rose staggering.
At this cry, a groom, with cOnvulsively
opened eyes, moved out of his room, ana
saw the white trail of female figure
disappearing at the end of the corridor.
The chamberlain, nervous and trem-
bling all over, caught hold of the groom,
who was about turning round to retire
safely to his room
'fFor Gods sake, Jasmin, stay with
me. Did you also see ?"
"Whom ?"
"Well, she, the Dame Blanche
''The Dame Blanche If | saw her
Let me O., Aerr Baron :"
Il to let you go! Not for the world
You must take me with you to your room.
Have you got bell there We must
sound the alarm,
''Sound the alarm! :" Jasmin said,
moaning and gnashing his teeth. 80,
Herr Baron, what good will that do
against Dame Blanche You know
we'll enough that the White Lady only
appears when to the most high house "a
a-case of death is impending. God
have mercy on u.s."
"Ameni" trembled the pale Cham
berlain. "You are right, Jasmin, we
must make no noise about it, lest our
most high sovereigns should suspect what
is to befall them. This cursed stopper
of a smelling bottle! You try, Jasmin,
perhaps you can open it.
81? | don't know how, Herr Baron,
my hand is so shaky. o, my GodI
upon whom will it fall They say that
often also they that see the ghost are to
die !"
Indeed! Heaven be merciful unto
US"
& saw only the trail"
fBut saw quite near and distinctly.
1 was slumbering Suddenly l heard
something rustic; awoke, and saw the
White Lady floating past me. She was
terribly tall, and dressed just the same
as on her picture in the Knights Hall
yonder-the white silk dress, the chain,
the frill, the gloves in her hand, the
padded sleeves and the barret with feath
ers-God be with usl who is it to be ?
Not our most gracious master, | hope.
Hank isn't there something stirring
in the corridor yonder There"
Jasmin pulled the chamberlain into
his room and slammed the door. He
felt that the chamberlain, in a swoon,
vas sliding from his arms to the floor,
and, having a true servants constitution,
he did likewise.
A bout the Same time the room of the