Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-11

!
oil the lights. We were eagerly inter
ested In the issue Of this scene, and were
all keeping profound silence, when the
Spaniar(, who had remained among US,
commenced to sing In q sweet and sad
voice song which may be wondered as
follows:
Noisclessly cracking, the coffin has broken in the
half0pened tomb,
And the white phantom's black foot IL resting on
tho grass, cold and green. b.
After this first verse he raised his
voice solemnly and said: I
You have asked to see your friend,
FRANCOIS violot, who was drowned
three years ago In crossing the pensag.
noles Ferry. What do you seef'
4 see,' replied the young man, a pale
light which has risen near the window,
but 1t has no form and Is only an indis-
tinct mist.
We all stood stupehed
'Are You afraid r said the spaniarl in
n strong voice. ai
i am not afraid replied the student
IN u voice no less confident.
We scarcely breathed. The spaniard
was silent for q moment, then he stamp
cd on the ground with his foot three
different times, and began oil ut once to
sing again, but in q higher and more
s0mbre voice:
And the white phantom, whose face
has been withered by the surge Of the
waves, wipes with his shroud the wa
ter from his garments and hair
The song finished, the Spaniard turns
again towards the door, and, giving to
his voice an accent more and more SOL
emn, he said:
"You, who wished to pry into the mys.
teries Of the tomb, what do you soc 7"
We listened with anxiety. The stu.
dent replied in o calm voice, but like o
man who is describing thing as it hap.
pens:
~ see this vapor which grows larger
and takes the form Of q phantom; this
phantom has the head covered with q
veil. 1t remains in the same place where
II arose."
care you afraid |" asked the Spaniarl
in an insulting voice.
Theproud and brave voice of the young
man replied, ~ am not afraid"
We dared not look at each other, so
great was our surprise, so occupied were
we in following the singular movements
of the spaniard, who began to raise his
arms above his head, while invoking
three tinles name horrible to pro-
nounce, after which he chanted the third
verse Of his internal song, but in voice
singularly triumphant:
"And the phantom said in leaving the
tomb, in order that be may recognize me
l will 60 towards my friend, proud,
smiling and beautiful as in my youth"
The spaniard finished, and repeat
oil his terrible question.
what do you see !"
~ sec." replied the student, "the
phantom advances--it raises its veil--it
is Francois Violot--he approaches the
table--he writes-he has written; it is
his signature "
"Are yon afraid" cried the Spanlard
furiously.
There was moment Of inexpressble
silence, and the student replied, with
more strength than assurance, "No, l am
not afraid ~
Immediately as if seized with q fit Of
madness, the Spaniard commenced to
sing with strange howl this last horri-
BILE verse
And the phantom said to the mock
ing man, come, then, that may touch
you, put your hand in my hand, press
your heart to my heart, your mouth to
my mouth" >
what do you see p cried the Spanard
in voice of thunder. !
TT comes-it approaches-it pnrsues
met extends its arms---it will seize
me. Help! Helpn
Are you afraid p cried the spanartl
with a ferocious joy.
A piercing cry, then smothered groan
was the only answer to this terrible
question.
Help that imprudent young mani
said the Spaniard to us in cruel voice.
q have, | think, won the wager, but it
is enough for me to have given him a
lesson. Let him keep the money and
be more prudent in the future
He went away rapidly after these
words. We were utterly dumbfounded.
We opened the door and found the stu
dent in horrible commissions. The paper,
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