The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-22

permit his mouth 10 attach MISS 10 yours:
The Spaniard had an air 30 terrible IN
saving these words that we AL started. MY
neigbbor alone preserved DIS iaugoihg'
mocking manner, aud repiieu
lyon will do this, you ="
Yes replied the Spaniard, lana ]
will lose thirty quadruples II l 10 NOT 10 u,
on condition That you VIII iose an equ"'
| amount IL I keep my promise anu you ac-
knowledge It," .
"Thiriy auadruples! My worthy sor-
cerer. thai l. more than student OF Tou-
Iouse eyer possessed; but II you vii! keep
YOUR word for the five quadrupes which
are here. am your man."
The Standard silently took bis purse
again and said scorniully' ,.
"Ab. YOU back out, my little gentle
MANI"
"Abi n I had the thirty quadruples you
would see II backed OUT
Here are four" cried |, which add to
your stake"
| than five or six persons, attracted like my
self by the singuIarity OF this challenge,
offered 10 take part in it, and In less than
no time the Spaniard's amount was covered.
This man seemed so sure OF his work that he
conided the stake to the young student,
and we got ready for the demonstration.
tn that end we selected small pavilion
perfectly isolated in the garden, so that
there could be no deception. we searched
il infinitely we assured ourselves there
were no other openings than "inno"
securely fastened and door when was
closed in the same manner, ana al WHICH
we all stood after we had lett the young
man alone in the pavilion. we bad piacea
writing materials on the table and took
away all the lights. We were eagerly ID
terested in the issue OF this scene, and were
all keeping a profound silence, when the
Spaniard. who had remained among us,
commenced to sing in sweet and sad voice
song which may be rendered as follows:
:. NoiseessIy cracking, the coffin has broken In the
| bzlEOpened tomb, .
And the white phsntom's black loot Is resting Oh
| the grass, cold and green"
After this first verse he raised bis voice
sOemnly and said:
lyon have asked TO see your friend,
Francois Violot, who was drowned three
wears ago in crossing the Pensagnoles ferry.
What do you seer"
81 see," replied the young man, pale
light which has risen near The window, but u
has no form and Is only an indistlnct MIST"
We all stood stupefed.
4" Arc YOU afraid?" said the Spaniard IN
q strong voice.
II am not afraid" replied the student
in voice no less confident.
We scarcely bTeathed. The SpaDiard was
silent for a moment, then he stamped on
the ground with his foot three different
times, and began all at once 10 sing again,
but in a higher and more sombre voice:
"And The white phantom, whose lace
has been withered by the surges OF the
waves, wiped with his shroud the wafer
| from bis garments and hair"
The song finished, the Spaniarc turns
again towards the door, and, giving TO his
voice an accent more and more solemn, he
cries:
"You, who wished to pry into the mys-
teries OF the tomb, what do you see?"
We listened with anxiety. The student
replied in calm voice, but like man who
is describing thing as II happens:
II see this vapOr which grows larger
and takes the form OF phantom this
phantom has the head covered with long
veil. Ii remains in the same place where
it arose."
care YOU afraidf" asked the Spaniard
in an insulting voice.
The proud and brave voice OF the young
man replied. al am not afraid !"
We dared not look at each other, so great
was our sunrise, so occupied were we in
following the singular movements OF the
Spaniard who began TO raise his arms about
his head, while invoking three times name
horrible TO pronounce, after which he
chanted the third verse OF his internal song,
but in a voice singularly triumphant.
"And the phantom said in leaving the
tomb, i'm order that he may recognize me
Will 20 toward my friend, proud, smiling
and beautiful as in my YOUTH"
The Spaniard finished his verse, and re-
peated his terrible question:
What do you see!"
IL see," replied the student, "the phan-
tom adyance-it raises its vail-it is Fran
co.'s Violot-he approaches the tabe-he
writes-he has written; ii is bis signature "
Are YOU afraid 7" cried the Spaniard
iurlously.
There was 4 moment OF ineXpressibie
silence, and the student replied with more
strength than assurance, "No, | am not
afraid !"
Immediately, as # seized with bit of
madness the Spaniard commenced to sing
with Il strange howl this last horrible
verse:
"And the phantom SAID to the hooking
man. come. then, that may touch you, put
your band in my hand, press your heart to
MY heart, your mouth 10 my mouth"
"Wbat do YOU see? 2" cried the Spanard
in voice OF thunder.
"It comes--it approaches-it pursues
met extends its arms-t will seize me.
Help! Help"
"Are YOU afraid?" cried the Spanard
with ferociOus JOY.
A piercing cry, then smothered groan
was the only answer to this terrible ques-
ton.
"Help that imprudent young man y
said the Spaniard to US in cruel voice.
81 have. think, won the wager, but 1t Is
enough for me to have given him 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 open
ed the door and found the student in hor-
ribIe commissions. The paper signed with
the name OF Francois Violot, was on the
table. Scarcely bad the student recovered
when he demanded to know where was the
infamous sorcerer who had subjected him
, To this horrible PROCLAMATION; be wished 10
, kill him. He searched for him all through
r the inn. and darted off like a mailman in
pursuit OF him. And that is the story, my
children.
r We were all trembling with fright, hud-
} ding closely about our uncle BayIe, not
daring to look around Us. Jeanette her,
self had forgotten her roast which had TAI
! | len into the fire and smelled very strongly
, as II burned. No one bad the courage "a
speak: then | gathered strength enough TO
, Asay To nv uucle, And how Is IL, after