Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-03

effect. II there was anything marvellous,
his auditors were lost IN astonishment
and if anything fscetious, they were sure
to laugh exactly in the right place. The
Baron, it is true, like most great men, was
too dignihed to utter any joke but dull
one; it was always enforced, however, by a
bumper of excellent Hochheimer aud
even dull joke, at ones own table, served
up with Jolly old wine, is irresistible
Many good things were said by poorer and
keener wits, that would not bear repeating,
except on similar occasions; many sly
speeches whispered in ladies ears, that al
most convulsed them with suppressed
laughter; and song or two roared out by
poor but merry and broad-faced cousin OF
the Baron, that absolutely made the maiden
aunts hold up their fans.
Amidst all this revelry, the stranger
guest maintained most singular and un-
seasonable gravity. His cOuntenance as
sumed deeper cast of detection as the
evening advanced and, strange as it may
appear, even the Baron's jokes seemed only
to render him the more melancholy. At
times he was lost in thought, and at times
there was perturbed and restless wander
ing OF the eye that bespoke mind but i'll
at ease. His conversation with the bride
became more and more earnest and mys-
ferrous. Lowering clouds began to steal
over the fair serenity Of her brow, and
tremors to run through her tender frame.
All this could not escape the
notice OF the company. Their gaiety
was chilled by the unaccountable
gloom OF the bridegroom; their spirits
were infected whispers and glances were
interchanged, accompanied by shrugs and
dubious shakes of the head. The song and
the laugh grew less and less frequent !;
there were dreary pausss in the converse
ton, which were at length succeeded by
wild tales and supernatural legends. One
dismal story produced another still more
dismal, and the Baron nearly frightened
some of the ladies into Mysteries with the
history of the goblin horseman that carried
away the fair Leonora a dreadful, but
true story, which has since been put into
excellent erse, and is read and believed by
all the world.
The bridegroom listened to this tale with
profound attention. He kept his eyes
steadily fixed on the Baron, and, as the
story drew to close, began gradually to
rise from his seat, growing taller and taller,
until, in the Barons entranced eye, he
seemed almost to tower into giant. The
moment the tale was finished, he heaved a
deep sigh, and took a solemn farewell of
the company They were all amazement.
The baron was perfectly thunderstruck.
"What going to leave the castle at
midnight? why, everything was prepared
for his reception a chamber was ready for
him if he wished to retire"
The stranger shook his head mournfully
and mysteriously; g must lay my head
in a different chamber tonight"
There was something in this reply, and
the tone in which it was uttered, that
made the Biron's heart misgive him but
he rallied his forces and repeated his hos
pitable entreaties. The stranger shook his
head silently, but positively, at every offer !;
and, waving his farewell tie the company,
stalked slowly out of the hall. The maiden
aunts were absolutely petrifed-the bride
hung her head, and tear stole to her eye.
The Baron followed the stranger to the
great court of the castle, where the black
charger stood paving the earth and snort
ing with impotence. When they had
reached the portal, whose deep archway
was dimly lighted by cresset, the stranger
paused and addressed the Baron in hollow
tone OF voice, which the vaulted roof rem
dered still more sepulchrai. Now that
we are alone, said he, 81 will impart to
you the reason OF my going. l have SOL
emn, an indispensable engagement"
"Why," said the Baron, " cannot you
send some one in your place."
80 Il admits OF no substitute must at
tend it in person. must away to Wurtz-
burg Cathedral"
"Ay," said the Baron, plucking up spirit,
" but not until to- morrow-to-morrow you
shall take your bride there.
"No no ~ replied the stranger, with
tenfold solemnity, "my engagement is
with no bride-the worms the worms ex-
pect me | am dead mani have been
slain by robbers-my body lies at Wurtz-
burg-at midnight | am to be buried-the
grave is aiting for mel must keep my
appointment p
over the draw bridge, and the gathering of
his horses hoofs were lost in the whistling
of the night blast.
The Baron returned to the hall in the ut
most CONSERVATION, and related what had
passed. Two ladies tainted outright, others
sickened at the idea of having banqueted
with specter. 1t was the opinion of some
that this might be the wild huntsman
famous in German legend. Some talked of
mountain sprites, of wooddemens, and of
other supernatural beings, with which the
good people of Germany have been so
grievously harassed since time immemorial.
One OF the poor relations ventured to sug-
gest that it might be some sportive evasion
OF the young cavalier, and that the very
gloominess Of the caprice seemed to accord
with so melancholy parsonage. This,
however, drew on him the indignation of
the whole company, and especially of the
Baron, who looked upon him as little bet
ter than an infidel SO that he was fain to
abjure his heresy as speedily as possible,
and come into the faith OF the true believ-
ers.
But, whatever may have been the doubts
entertained, they were put completely to
an end by the arrival, next day, of regular
missives confirming the intelligence of the
young Counts murder, and his interment in
Wurtzburg Cathedral.
The dismay at the castle may well be
imagined. the Baron shut himself up in
his chamber. The guests, who had come
to rejoice with him, could not think of
abandoning him in his distress. They
wandered about the courts, or collected in
groups in the hall, shaking their heads and
Struggling their shoulders at the troubles of
so good man and sat longer than ever
at table, and ate and drank more stoutly
than ever, by way of keeping up their spir-
its, But the situation of the widowed
bride was the most pitiable. To have lost
a husband before she had even embraced
him-and such husband If the very
spectre could be 80 gracious and noble,
what must have been the living man She
filed the house with lamentations.
On the night of the second day of her
widowhood she retired to her chamber, &C.
companied by one OF her aunts, who insisted
on sleeping with her. The aunt, who was
one of the best tellers of ghost stories in all
Germany, had just been recounting one of
her longest, and had fallen asleep in the
very midst of it. The chamber was remote,
and overlooked small garden. The niece
lay pensively gazing at the beams of the
rising moon, as they trembled on the leaves
of an aspen-tree before the lattice. The
castle clock had Just tolled midnight, when