The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-02
An Italian Ghost Story.
One day an old priest, who held on

Strozzis of San Donate, that many wears
ago, IN making some internal alterations
which required an opening in very thick
wall, the workmen suddenly came upon
the skeleton of man in standing posi-
ton, built into the wall. He was dressed
III the costume Of about 182O-'4O, well
known from descriptions, and better from
the portraits by Van Dyck, Sustermans,
and other painters of the time, The dress
had partly mouldercd away. the skeleton
had become parched up mummy, and
only from the well preserved teeth and
light brown hair 1t could be conjectured
that he had died young. On the head was
broad brimmed telt hat, like that In the
well known pictures Of King Charles I. OF
England. One OF tho workmen took the
hat and wore II till it was out. There was
no judicial investigation. The old priest
said thele was tradition Of lover
urprsed by Jealous husband,
Strozzi, who had married a Genoese beauty
about 200 Yeas ago or more, and who sud
denly disappeared. and WAS never seen or
heard of aflerward. lie cautioned me not
to asl the Mai chcse about it. Us he disiKed
any mention of that part Of his family his
tory.
After some fine weather and pleasant ex-
culslons there Came day of continual heavy
rain, so not being able 10 get out OF doors
we went most Of us Oh tour through the
house. We found q number of old pictures
resting Oh the floor and turned to the wall,
mostly saints, landscapes and portraits OF
little merit and in bad condition. One of
them was. hcwcvcr, really good picture,
and though damaged and torn aud dark
with age and neglect, made u great mp: es-
sion Oh me. 1t was Il full-lcngth portrait
OF beautiful young woman in the pictnr-
esquo dress Of The seventeenth century, and
from what could be distinguished of tho
f1gure, the tine features. and tho slngularly
bright and expressive eyes, reminded me
instantly OF charming portrait by Van
DJ OK in Durazzo palace at Genoa. Round
the 1alr graceful neck was very thin silk
or plated hair chain, supporting very
small medallion of reddish color. The
name OF tho lady depicted, the date, aud
the hame OF the painter had been carefully
and thoroughly erased. When l called
the Nlarchesc's attention to il, he looked at
1t with an embarrassed air, rcmurklng that
it was probably fancy portrait of some
and Immediately turned it to the
wall. i'll Il moment after he opened a cup
boald lull OF books, and kindly told me
that, as Lad Il liking Tor old books. |
might examine the M and take those which
though worth taking.
he operation Of glancing at the title
pages selecting and carrying the books in
pockets from The lumber-room to nv bod
room occupied more than IN hour. | then
seated myself on the floor, with Il coupic of
candles ana my books, and proceeded with
my inspection. l was surprised by Il very
slight sound as Of ruslling silk, and look
ing up from my books, | distinctly saw a
female figure Ill white dress slowly gid
ing round the room, feeling the walls with
her hands, as if searching tor some partlcu-
lar spot. My first Impression was that it was
IL trick to try my ncrves, invented by some
one OF the guests. AS usual | had locked
the door. All this flashed through nv
mind In al instant. Then, confess it,
there came over nc that peculiar sensation
called creeping Of the flesh. fult my hair
standing on end, and my voice stuck in my
throat. tried to speak, and could not.
At last moved. At that moment the fig
llro TUNED toward me, aud | saw ut once
the image OF tho prolrait Ill tho old room;
the same white dress, the same lace, tho
medallion, the brown halr tho strange
bright eyos With fcvcrlsh and melancholy
expression. l started TO my feet, and in
30 doing overturned AUD cxtinguishcd the
candles. | had not closed the outer or inn, r
shuttersi there was no moon, but very
dim twilight, partly, l suppose from tho
stars. Unlucliily had no matches TO strike
light There was the figure which appear
ca TO move LII Il light OF lis own-a sort of
halo, as 1t seemed to me. Slowly Il LETT tho
wall anu disappeared in the bed-a great
carved walnut wood canopy ana red dam.
ask silk hangings, of the SIZE aud form of n
ped. have ono at tho villa OF Nlaionn.
except that mine is more modern, bcing Of
the last century and having the canopy T
carved wood gilt and the haneinps of Il,
urcd blue silk.
remained for time l know not how
long, standing bcwi dcred in tho middle of
.he room' straning my eyes toward the
psd. lhe SENT darkness and silence become
oppressive; felt stupctled-an irresistible
fascination fixed my thoughts. uudrcsscd
hurrlcdly and almost unconsciously climbed
into the bed. l must have fallen into n
trance or deep slcep--so deep that was
only wakcncd hy loud knocking at NV
door. jumped Out of bed 1t was late
SO latC that breakfast was ready so The
the Marchesc to sec if | was i'll or had rono
out. AS was dressing | saw something
ON the floor /; it WAS u little medallion. a
garnet Or very red amethyst, or curbun.
Gle, or ruby, caunot say positicly which
with an exquisite ancient Greek engruv-
ing OF Il sphinx. with n very thin gold set
ung and very small chain, either of silk
or plated hair, with a tiny gold clasp. /
send you an impression OF 1t. When ap-
pcarcd i'll the break fast. room every one
looked at me with Il pt culiar EXPRESSION
at least thought so-espccially the Mar
chesc, Who, however, asked very kindly as
to my health, observing that looked pale
and haggard. / thanked him, merely re-
marking that | had sal up too long over the
books, and had not been able to slctp lll
early in tho morning. put into his hand
the medallion, telling him where 1 found
it. Tic looked at II curlously and nervous.
ly, turning very pale. lie gave it back to
me, saying that IT had probably fallen out
of one OF the books that as he had given
me the books; he begged me to accept the
medallion also, and to keen II cArcfuly as