American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-27

and tired with Il day of specially poor
sport, he disnounted and led his horse,
tired like himself, through the brambles
and bushes that had overgrown the ruin
ell gateway, into the grass-grown court
yard.
| "A curious place, to be sure" said
the young man, seating himself for 4
moments rest on a fallen mass of brick
work overlaid with soft moss, and let
ting his horse meantime Craze nj his will
from the rank growth of the courtyard.
"A very curious place. Looks as if no
one had been here for a hundred years.
l wonder if this can be the haunted cas-
tie my uncle was speaking about only
the other night? If so,' he added, az
wish to goodness the spirit-lady would
have the hospitality to welcome me to
her domains, and offer me drink of
something this hot day" And rs he
took off his hunting cap to air his heat
ed brow, his thoughts reverted lovingly
to certain glass tankard in his uncle's
house, which, when filed with yellow
Strasburg beer, was about as pleasant II
sight to Kurt Won Stein as the world
could well offer.
After while the idea occurred to the
young man that as chance had brought
| him to the castle, he might as well pay
his respects to the owner of it, whether
she were phantom or not.
A turret stair, broken and worn, was
close ut hand to the spot which he had
chosen for Il rcsting-place. Twilight
| was beginning to fall as he reached the
castle; now, suddenly, darkness seemed
| to have come, and as he mounted the
winding turret stairs he noticed that
lights were already showing through
many of the windows of what appeared
to be Il less ruinous part of the building
than that by which he had entered.
''That is all right" said Kurt to him.
self. 81 was wise to try my fortune
here. A supper, or even bed, would
not come amiss to me, for L scarcely
know how 1 shall find my way back to
my uncle's house tonight. But at any
rate l shall get some directions, and per-
haps, if the people are not overhospita-
BILE, a guide home.''
So saying, he made his way up the
staircase, and knocked at door which
was at the top of it. The door opened
noiselessly, as though by an unseen
hand, and admitted him into a long cor
ridor, lighted, and adorned with white
marble statues. From this he passed
into a suite of rooms hung with tapestry,
and strewn with freshly laid rushes, with
a few carved settles and chests for fur
niture. Still he met no one.
Next he came into great hall, on the
portraits, while in the center of the
apartment was table spread as if for
supper.
''This is very curious" said Kurt to
himself. "Where can the family be
gone to? However, one comfort is,
they've got something to eat. think
I'll wait here and give them the chance
of inviting me-
So saying, he sat quietly down at one
end of the table, which was laid for two
persons. Scarcely had he done so when
the door of the room opened noiselessly,
and lady, young and beautiful, but
with a somewhat sad and pale face, en-
tered the room.
Kurt rose, and at once began to make
apologies for his understandable intru-
sion. The lady waved white hand to-
ward him, and babe him be seated.
&C Say no MORE" she said, in a sweet
sad voice. 81 expected YOU
There was evidently some mistake
here, thought Kurt, but as the mistake
seemed to mean good supper, he was
not unwilling to fall into it. He at once
took seat the table, and the lady took
hers opposite him.
She was certainly very beautiful, he
thought, as he looked again at her over
the trimming wine-cup. The wine too,
was excellent; SO was the whole repast
at which the lady waited upon him
with her own fair hands only pc
culiarity about it being that neither
bread nor salt was to be found on the
table, but Kurt Won Stein was too much
of a gentleman to notice the omission,
though he certainly enjoyed his supper
the less by reason of their absence
At length the young man ventured to
ask one or two questions of his kindly
hostess. "May / inquire he said,
are you, fair lady, the daughter of this
house?"
+" Yes" was the answer given, as it
seemed, sadly and low.
"And your parents?
"They are there" said the lady,
pointing to the pictures on the walls.
"Do you mean to say that you live in
this house alone?'' asked Won Stein.
"Alone," returned the lady 81 am
the last of my race
Who shall say how it came about?
The lady was beautiful, the man was
young. In such cases love is sometimes |
found to be plant that does not take
long in the growing. Moreover, Won
Stein, though noble, was poor, and the
lady the last of her race, the heir of an
ancient lineage. Possibly the notion of
the inheritance. the lonely girl might
bring with her had some part in the |
sudden passion which filed the young
mans heart Who can tell?
It-was not long before he found HIM
self kneeling at her feet and offering the
beautiful maiden all that he had to offer
his devotion and his life.
The lady listened silently and with |