Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-07-20
The young man was silent a mo
ment. then he said. gailY:

cerer, that Is more than q student OF
Toulouse ever possessed but if you will
keep your word for the five 'quadruplcs
which are here, am your man."
The Spaniard took his purse again,
and said, scornfully:
"Ah, you back out, my little gentle
man ?"
81 back outp cried the young man.
"Ah, if had the thirty quadruples you
would see if backed out"
Here are four" cried 1, (which add
to your stake"
1 had no sooner made this proposition
than five or six persons, attracted by
the singularity of this challenge, offered
to take part in it, and in less than no
time the Spaniard's amount was cover
ed. This man was 80 sure Of his work
that he confined the stake to the young
student, and We got ready for the DEM
enstration. '' ~
To that end we selected 8 small payil-
lion, perfectly isolated, in the garden, so
that there could be no deception. We
searched it minutely; we assured our
selves that there were no other openings
than window, securely fastened, and q
door, which was closed -inzthe same
manner, and at which we all stood after
we had left the young man alone in the
pavilion. We had placed writing ma
terlals on the table and took away all
the light. We were eagerly interested
| in the issue of the scene, and were all
keeping profound silence, when the
| Spaniard, who had remained among as,
commenced to sing in sweet and sad
voice song, which may be rendered as
| follows: "a
'sNoiselessly cracking, the coffin has broken
in the half-opened tomb,
And the white phantom's black foot is resting
on grass, cold and green"
At the first verse he raised his voice
solemnly and said:
| you have asked to see your friend,
Francis Violet, who was drowned three
years ago in crossing the PensagnOles
ferry. What do you see ?" .-.
81 see," replied the young man, "a pale
| light which has risen in the window,
but it has no form, and is only an indis-
tinct mist"
"Are you afraid2" said the Spaniard.
in a strong voice.
81 am not afraid" replied the student,
in a voice no less confident.
We scarcely breathed. The Spaniard
was silent for moment; then he stamp
ed on the ground with his foot three
| times, and began at once to sing again,
but in higher and more somber voice:
''And the white phantom whose face has been
withered by the surge of the waves,
Wipes with bis shroud the water from his
garments and hair"
The song finished, the Spaniard turn
ed again toward the door, and, in an ac-
cent more and more solemn, he said:
"You who wished to pry into the mys-
teries of the tomb-what do you see?"
We listened with anxiety. The stu
dent replied. in calm voice, but like
man who Is describing thing as 1t hap
pens: III
81 see the vapor, which grows larger
and larger, and takes the form Of
phantom; this phantom has the head
covered with veil. 1t remains in the
same place where it arose."
"Are you afraid ?" asked the Spaniard,
in an insulting voice.
The proud and brave voice of the
young man replied:
81 am not afraid"
We dared not leok at each other, 80
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 times name horrible to pro-
nounce; after which he chanted the
third verse of the Internal song singu-
larly triumphant
Sand the phantom said, in leaving the tomb,
In order that he may recognize me,
will yO hafOro INV friend v1prt,d or1ilinr on6
Beautiful as in my youth.
The Spaniard finished his verse and
repeated the question:
"What do yeu see?"
81 see," replied the student, the phan-
tom advance-it raises its veil-it is
Francis Violet-he approaches the Ia
ble-he writes-he has written; it is his
signaturep 'ar s'@
"Are you afraid" cried the spaniard,
furiously.
There was moment of inexpressible
silence, und the student replied, with
more strength than assurance, Il am
notp' 'at 10
Immediately, as If seized with fit of
madness, the Spaniard sung, with q
strange howl, this last horrible verse;:
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 ou.ses ?" cried the Spaniard |
in a voice of thunder.
at comes 1T approaches-it pursues |
me-extends its arms-it will seize me. |
Help! belpp
"Are you afraid ?" cried the Spaniard, |
with feroeious joy. aI /
A piercing cry, then smOthered |
groan, was the only answer to the terri |
BILE question.
"Help that impudent young mani said |
the Spaniard to as, in cruel voice. al
have, think, won this wager; but it is /
enough for me to have given him a les
son. Let him keep the money and be
more prudent in the future"
He went away rapidly after these
words. We opened the door, and found
the student in horrible commissions. The
paper, signed with the name of Francis
Violet, was on the table. Scarcely had
the student recovered when he demand
ed to know who was the infamous sor-
ceror who had subjected him to this
horrible proclamation he wished to kill
him. He seached for him all through
the place and darted off like a madman
in pursuit Of him. And that is the story
my children.
We were all trembling with fright,
huddling close about our Uncle Bayle
not daring to look around Us. Jennette
herself had forgotten her roast, which
had fallen into the fire, and smelled very
strongly as 1t burned. No one had the
courage to speak; then gathered
strength enough to say to my uncle:
"And how is it, after this, you do not
believe in ghosts?"
Because" said my uncle, neither the
young man nor the sOreeror were ever
seen afterward, nor the beautiful quad
ruples which the other travellers and my
self had furnished to cover the wager |