New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-22
AN ITALIAN GHOST STORY.
From The AnenNMnl.

From The AhenGum.
One dav an old priest who held one Of the Mar
cheses benefces and often acted as chaplain at san
Donate aud who seemed to know everything abOut
every body told me- among other things relating To
the StrOzZis of san Donate, that many years ago,
In making some internal alterations which required
an opening In a very thick wall the Workmen sud
denly came upon the skeleton OF a man III standing
nositiOD buit into the wall. lie dressed IN the
costume of about 1620]40, well known from descup-
tons and better from the portraits by Van DLck.
Sustermans, ana other painters OF the tlnie ne
become parched-uD mummy, and only from the
weli-preserved teeth and light brown hair 1t
v vouno ON the head was broai-
brimmed felt hat like that in ithe well-known pic
lures Of King Charles |. of Eng land. One OF the
workmen took the hat and wore 1t TIL II was worn
ont There was no judicial Investigation. The old
priest said there tradition of lover surprised
hv a Jealous husband. a StrOzzi, who had married
CIenoese beauty about 200 years ago OF more, and
who su ldenly disappeared, and was never seen or
heard of afterward. lie cautioned me not TO ask
the Marchese about II, rs ne dlsIked any mention
of that part of his family history.
After some fine weather ana pleasant excursions
there came a day of continual heavy ran, 80 not
being able 10 90 out OF doors we went nOsi or u on
n tonr through the house. efound q number of old
pictures resting the floor and turaed 10 the wall,
mostly saints, landscapes ana portraits OF little
merit and in bad condition. One OF them was, how
ever, a really good picture, and though damaged
and torn and dark with a2e ana neglect, made a
great impression on ne. IL was fuIl-leHs POT
trait. of beautiful young woman IN the
picturesque dress of the seventeenth cen
turv and from what could be dis
fin91lished of the figure the me TEXTURES ana the
sincnlarly bright and expressive eyes, reminded me
instantly Of charming portrait by an Dycn III q
DnrazzO palace al Genoa. Round the fAI graceful
neck was very thin silk or plated haIr chain, sup
porting very small medallion OF reddish c0lof.
The name of the lady depicted, toe date, ana RE
name of the painter had ceen carefully ana thor-
ouuby erased. When called the Marc $ aIteh-
ton 10 IT, he looked at II with an emharTassed ar.
remarked that II was probably fancy portrait OF
some stranger, and immediately turned IL 10 the
l.. ,atFq Of arb he
Of hooks and kindly told me that, as had q lkns
tor old books might examine them, and take those
which thought worth taxing.
The operation of CHANGING at the ttle-pages, So
Letting and carrying rhe books nspackets from the
lumbeT-room TO my bedroom occupied more tban
an hour | then seated myself on toe H0or' Win II
ccuple of candles ana my books and proceeded
with 10y inspection. i was surprised Dy a very
slight sound as of rustling silk, and, LOCKING up
from nv books, distinctly saw female hgure IN
white dress slowly gliding round the room, ltcIihe
the wall with her hands, as If searching Tor some
particular spot. Ny first impression was tnat II
was trick 10 my nerves. invented Dy some one
of ne guests. AS usual Iad locked the door, Al
this flashed through my mind IN an instant Iheh /
confess there came over me that Pecua sensation
called creeping of the flesh" aTreet3que hOTrOre
coma Ell vox faucibus hasit." felt my mar stand
inQ on end, and my voice stuck IN my throat /
tried 10 speak and could not. AT las moved Az
tbat moment the figure turned toward me, ana
saw at once the image OF the portrait Ill Tie "id
ROOM the same white figured SILK Gress, the same
lace the medallion the brown hair, aud tDe strange
hr,ght ewes with feverlsh and melancholy eX-
rassion | started to my feet and III doing over
turned and extIngulshed me canuIes. nau nor
closed either the outer inner shutters there was
| no moon but a very dim twilight partly, suppose
from the stars. Unuckily | had no matches TO
strike light. There was the nguIe' wni S Hp-
oooral to move in "a light or It's Own--a sort Oh ndO,
~ II seemed TO me. Slowly 1t lett the wall ana az
anncared IN the beda great bed OF the seVenteentn
injury with carved walnut-wood canopy aud req
damask sIlk nan qings OF the size and form OF Ded
have at the villa of Majano. except thhu nllne y
| more modern being of the last century ana having
- cd WOO
/ figured blue SILK . -. i.,,,
| standing bewildered i1 the middle or the room
| straiuiug my eyes toward the bed. Inc seuii-O
ness aud the silence became Oppressive ieu So
nehed-an irresistible fascination nAed my thoug hts
| / addressed hUrriedly and almost uhconSciOusiy
| climbed into the bed must nave fallen into a
| trance or a deep seep--so deep t1ai Was OILY
| ,rStened by q loud knocking at my door. jumped
W, - Rad II was iate-sO late that breakfast wai
yeadv . 40 the servant told me- and be had been nj
Inv the Mafchese to ser u was III or had gone ou
| A. was dressing 1 saw something ON Tie moor Il
! us a little medallion, garnet or very req anne
thysf. or n carbnncle or ruby, cannot say posi-
| tiyeiv whlch--wlth an exquisite ancient 'Ieeh en-
| ,,ravino of q sphinx, with very tnln goIu setunl
"a 1.rv ANAL chain either OF slik or plated lIalr
| I'LL a inv gold clasp. send you an I'm
preston Of it. When appeared IN W.
| n necnliar expressiOn-at least thought 50
| NasneeiaIly the Marchese, VINO. however; aske'
very KINDLY as 10 my health ODserVlhs that looke'
pale and bagsard thanked MN. ere hods nn,
had moi been able sleep I'LL early 10 tpe
mt IN 10 his hand the medallion, telllng MIN wheI
had found it, He looked At II No. ap TO s
saving that II had probably faiieu on. u pn1 Va VI
hooks that as he had gwen ME the DOCKS, ne oeene
me to accept the medallion Also ana 70 Hp =, ar
fully as slight remembrance OF my v'si. 70 "a 20.
i1onato shortly after breakfast the party Droke w
as had been previously arranged. ana returned
Florence.