The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-09-26

lose thirty uuadruplcs if | do not do IL, on |
condition that you will lose an equal amount |
# keep my promise and you acknowledge |
t."
The young man was silent a moment, then |
he said gaily: |
"Thirty quadruples My worthy sorcercr,
That IL more than student of Toulouse |
ever possessed; but IL you will keep your
word for the five quadruples which are here,
am your man."
The Spaniard silently took his purse again
and said scornfully:
"All, you back out, my little gentleman ?"
al back outr' cried tho young man.
" All If had tho thirty quadruples you
would see if backed out"
"IIere are four" cried I, (Which add to
your stake"
had no sooner made tho proposition than
five or six persons, attracted like myself by
the singularity of this challenge, offered to
take part in it, and in less than no time the
Spaniard's amount was covered. This man
seemed 10 sure of his work that he conadcd
the stake to the young student, and we got
ready for tho demonstration.
To that end we selected small pavilion
perfectly isolated in the garden, so that there
could be no deception. We searched II mi
nutely, we assured ourselves there were no
other openings than window securely fas
tened and u door which was closed In the
same manner, and at which we all stood
after we had left the young man alone in the
pavilion. We had placed writing materials
on the table and took away all tho lights.
We were eagerly Interested in the issue OF
this scene, and were all keeping profound
silence, when the Spaniard, who had re-
NAMED among us, commenced to sing In a
sweet and sad voice a song which may be
rendered as follows:
Z" Noiselessly cracking the colin has broken In the
half opened tomb,
And the white phantom's black foot Is resting the
grass, cold anu grecn "
After this first verse he raised his voice
solemnly and said:
"You have asked to see your friend Fran
co.'s Violet, who was drowned three years ago
i'll crossing the Pcnsagnoles ferry. What do
you see 7"
al see,' replied the young man, ga pale
light which has risen near the window, hut
il has no form and is only an indstinct
| mist"
We all stood stupciied.
caro- you afraid 20 said the Spaniard in a
| strong voice.
I" am not afraid, replied the student in a
| voice no less confident.
We scarcely breathed. The Spaniard was
silent for II moment, and then he stamped on
tho ground with his foot three different times
and began all at once to sing again, but in q
| higher and more sOmbre voice:
And tho white phantom, whose face has
been withercd by the surgcs of the waves
wipes with his shroud the water from his
garments and hair.''
The song finished, tho Spaniard turns
again toward the door, and, giving to hit
voice an accent more and more solemn, he
cries:
| "You, who wished to pry into the mys
teries of the tomb, what do you sec2'
We listened with anxiety. The student
| replied in Il calm voice, but like a man who
is describing thing as it happens:
I" | see this vapor which grows larger, and
takes the form of n phantom this phantom
has tho head covered with a long veil. II
remains in the same place where IL arose. 4"
care you afraid p asked the Span ard
in an insulting voice.
The proud and brave voice of the young
man replied, 81 am not afraid !"
| We dared not look at each other, SO great
was our surprise, 30 occupied were We in fol
| lowing tho singular movements of the Span
lard, who began to raise his arms above his
head, while invoking three times name
horrible to pronounce, after which he chanted
| the third verse of his Internal song, but In 0
voice singularly triumphant.
"And tho phantom said in leaving The
| oinp, III oT"er Ihat no may TecoshHe ms
will 60 toward my friend, proud, smiling
and beautiful as in my youth"
"The Spaniard finished his verse, and re
pcated his terrible question:
What 40 you see
| sec, repiled inc student, the phaii
tom advance--it raises its veil-it is Fran
co.'s Violet-he approaches the table--h
writes-he mas written; IL Is ms signature J.
ARC you AFRAID r. cried inc Spaniar'
iurlously'
There was moment OF inexprcssibl
silence, ana the student replied WIN NOR
strength than assurance, mo, am ITO
AFRAID =,
Immediately, as II seized with III OF mad
} ness, the Spahlaid commenced 10 sing with
} strange howi TINS last terrible verse:
, land the phantom said to the mockin
man, come, then, that may touch You, pll
, your hand in my hand, press your heart
my heart, your mouth to my mouth
> what do you see r. cried the Spaniard
in voice OF thunder.
at coines--it approaches-it pursue
melt extends Its arins-it VIII seize m'
7 Help helpl"
Are you afraid - cried the Spaniar'
with fcrocious JOY.
. "a piercing cry, then smothered groa
was the only answer to tins terrible que
4 ton.
0 Help that imprudent young man r. sal
1 the Spaniard to us IN a cruel voice. " hav
think, won the wager, but II IL enough II
1 me to have given him lesson. Let him kee
!, the money, and he more prudent i'll Il
. future.
I lie went away rapidly after these word
4 We were utterly dumbfounded. We open'
Z, the door and found the student in horrib
II commissions. The paper. signed with I'll
o name of Francois Violet, was on the tabl
h Scarcely had the student recovered when