Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-11-27

WAS the last OF ner race, ana not many
wears after her death the castle, unin-
habited and deserted, fell into ruins.
Its new owners had, indeed, made many
attempts to inhabit it. but had been ab-
solutely driven out of The place by the
unesrthly sounds which disturbed the
stiffness of night, and which scarcely
allowed living soul in the building SO
much as to close an eye from midnight
to cock.crow. Doors would open and
shut mysteriously, footsteps resound
through the silent corridors, lights,
illumined by no visible hand, suddenly
burn in the windows, while over every
mirror in the house the shadOwy form
of woman, clothed in white, with long
black hair hanging below her shoulders,
would be seen-would pass-disappear-
ing in one place only to appear the next
moment in another.
1t happened, however, that one day
young hunter of noble family, stranger
guest in one of the neighboring castles,
| was led, in the excitement of the chase,
| up to the very gate of the deserted man
sion. The deer which he was pursuing
rushed by him into the very ruins, as
though it were taking sanctuary. The
young man, by name Kurt Won Stein,
had heard some curious legends as con-
! nected with ruined castle on the height,
and possibly, half from curiosity and
half because he was hot and tired with
a day of specially poor sport, he dis
mounted and led his horse, tired like
himself, through the brambles and
bushes that had overgrown the ruined
gateway, into the grass.grown court
yard.
"a curious place, to be sure" said
the young man, seating himself for q
moments rest on fallen mass of brick
work overlaid with soft moss, and letting
his horse meantime Craze at his will
from the rank growth of the court yard.
GA very curious place. Looks as if no
one had been here for hundred years
| wonder VIII ether this can be the haunt
ed castle my uncle was speaking about
only the other night? Ii So" he added,
/ 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 as he
took off his hunting cap to air his heated
brow, his thoughts reverted lovingly to
certain glass tankard in his uncle's
house, which, when filled with yellow
Strasbourg beer, WAS about as pleasant
sight to Kurt Won Stein as the world
could offer.
After while the idea occurred to the
young man that rs chance had brought
him to the castle, he might as well pay
his respects 70 the owner of it, whether
she were phantom or not.
A turret stair, broken and worn, was
close at hand to the spot which he had
chosen for resting place. Twilight was
beginning to fall as he rachel the castle
how, suddenly, darkness seemed to have
come, and as he mounted the winding |
turret stair she noticed that lights were
already showing through many of the
windows of what appeared TO be 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, tor L scarcely |
know how l shall find my way back to
my uncle's house tonight. But at any
rate shall get some directions, and per
hsps, if the people are not overhospita-
bic, guide home"
So saying, he made his way up the
staircase, and knocked at a door which
was At the top of it. The door opened |
noiselessiy, as though by an unseen hand,
and admitted him into long corridor,
lighted and adorned with white marble |
statres. From this he passed into a
suite of rooms hung with tapestry, and
strewn with freshly laid rushes, with a
few carved settees and chests of furni- |
ture, Still he met no one.
Next he came into great hall, on the
walls OF which hung number of antique
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 to2 However, one comfort is,
they've got something to eat. | think
I'll wait here and give them a 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 a lady, young and beautiful, out
with q somewhat sad and pale face, en-
tered.
Kurt rose, and at once began to make
apologies for his unwsrrantable intru
sion. The lady waved white hand
toward him, and bad him be seated.