The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-11
THE ENCHANTED HOUSE,
A German Story.
From the Argus.

From the Argus.
In the old Dutch city of Erfurth there
once stood white house having stone
area, a high flight of steps, and black
paueled front door which enclosed the
gloomy, deserted entry. Some of the
townspeople declared that the house was
inhabited by student from the univer
sity, and others that it was occupied by q
professor or a magician, which, IN those
parts, was taken as very much the same
thing. Indeed, the old house and its oc-
cupsnt were enveloped in mystery and
for years no clue was obtained by which
this mystery could be solved. Yet it was
beyond dispute that the house was lnhab
tied, for every evening, as the work-bells
finished ringing, the figure of man
muhied in q students black cloak and
hat, passed down the main street and dis
appeared on the high road. 1t was OBJ
served by the school children that he in
varibly LETT the front door unattached and
swinging behind him. 1t WAS further
more believed, and by some of the grown
people, that he returned at precisely the
same hour in the morning. Others con-
siderCd the nightly absence of the "black
professor" rs he was called, mere con-
lecture. Albeit one bold youth, Fred
erich Freo.ick by name, determined to
decide the mooted question and to graft
fy his curiosity by visit of inspection
! to the enchanted house." And as his
father had lain some months in the grave
and his mother had him in poor subjec-
ton, the project was not impossible.
This daring urchin, wondering that
none of his companions wished to investi-
gate the ground, even proposed as much
| TO some OF the older lads; bat rs none
dared venture, he resolved TO set forth I'M
aided Anxious to surprise every one by
the novelty of his discoveries, he absented
! himself one afternoon from the school
room for this purpose, Ali how YEARLY
the hours passed on that drowzy summer
afternoon! Why, even the locusts' buz
! zing was a refreshment and relief! At
last the sunset bells sounded, calling the
sun-tired laborers from their work. AS
| the last bell rang, black figure ghded
from the house and disappeared on the
high road. Freollck could forbear no
longer; he crept softly up the steps and
passed through the unbolted door into
the entry. The latter G.osing instantly
behind him, he passed OH through n un
| Der of small waiting rooms into vast
parlor, furnished in style which, though
handsome, must have been old, Freolick
thought, very old in the time OF his
grandmother.
Indeed, the furniture was like that
which we see painted upon old china tea
cups. And there was another PECULIAR
ty. The cushions of the chairs and sofas
were unlike those on his mothers chair,
smooth and full and unyieldihg, but they
| sank down as though In respect when
! Freolick seated himself, and then sprang
up again to their former roundness. The
| flower. stands and tables, too, could be
propelled about the room, simply by his
placing one hand upon them. For these
pecullarities, Freolick could not account;
but when we reflect that the articles
were of undoubted Chinese manufacture,
and that the Chinese whether justly or
uniustlv, credit themselves with a knOwl-
edge OF all our modern springs and in
yentions in unheard-o ages, the difficulty
vanishes. And, indeed, patient, philosO-
phical reflection like the above Is the only
method by which the mysteries envelop-
ing different parts of this narrative can
be removed.
Passing through this drawing-room OF
days past and gone, he came upon two
empty, closeiy-shuttered chambers. In
the fret, a hole had been bored in the
shutters and through this he could sec,
inverted, all that was transpiring in the
street.-the children playing ard men
walking with their shadowy feet upon
the ceiling. The secyrd room was crowd
ed with people in antique armor and cur
ious costumes, like the figures one sees
from a camera all standing as motion
less as statues. Yet at the opposite end
of the room there was nothing but a cur
ious rude box, and before it figured
piece of red glass, which turned every
thing red, as though the flame which the
box covered burned fairy light. FREQ
lick passed out cautiously into room
built on the street and standing apart
from the adjoining walls like the truncat-
ed tower OF a castle This he knew to be
the professors own, from an occasional
movement of the blinds, which were the
onlv signs of animation which had been
observed about the premises. Human
! skeletons were ranged about the wall,
ard "A live owl, that bird OF all wisdom,
perched upon the black ebony cabinet
which filled the chimney corner. Moldy
| books and manuscripts were scattered
over the floor, and many strange cheml-
cal preparations in curious shaped walls
filled the shelves of this laboratory. But
having no higher interest in the investi-
CATION than the qualification of an Idle
curiosity, Freolick's thoughts soon re-
verified to the friends from whom he had
been separated. But how to regain his
! liberty became the great question. de
| found upon reaching the front door that
| il resisted his sturdiest efforts; for no one
but the black professor, or these per-
mitted BY him. could repsss this entrance
He therefore returned TO the laboratory
and listening YEARLY to the Waterman
calling the hours, at daybreak fell into
deep sleep. -,
Upon awaking, the professor stood be-
J side him. Freolck noticed that ms com,
! ple1ion was dark and his face old and
shriveled. but that his eyes were blscR
and penetrating and possessed the force
of compelling obedience. With these
eyes he was looking down into Froelick
face; he said:
1T was your pleasure to come here ar
unbidden guest; it is my pleasure thai
YOU remain. Your service will mostly
consist IN remaining alone while l am alb
sent from the heuse, and in implicit ODE
dience to my direction. You have heard
my title, suppose"
II have heard you called eonjuror, ma