The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-01-03

. and much dust She opened trunk;
- contained only clothes which we're crrm'
81 ling into duet Bat on one OF the tabl'
l. before the arm chair and near an antiqu
/. iron lamp With .bree burners . rsth'
u thick manuscript bound in black leaths
, and whose clasps we're ornamsnied vii
q cabalistic sisns attracted the attention {
!, Diane. II was open. ~ II the occupsr
/ OF this chamber had been suddenl
y obliged 10 suspend his lsbors aud, indeed
. the line unfinished, the psn on the groun
and the overturned ink bottle whic
!. had stained some pages Of The manuscript
: showed that the vigil Of the Astrologe
, had been violently interrupted
Diane. not caring 10 DO surprised, tool
away the manuscript. locked tho door sne
! carefully concealed the book and the ks,
} in the chamber. That evening when sh'
j was alone she began to read the manu-
script II was written in English and
was lsgibls. and At the midnight hour
WAS still busy in dsciphering the yellow
pages Of this treatise on ns.romancy.
Tho naxt day the courier brought som.
disturbing news. The campaign was pro.
loAged; Gen. Montscuculli harrasssd ths
troops 10 avoiding battle, and soon after
the death Of Tourinne discouraged the
whole army. Then the couriers came no
longer and the uneAsinsss Of the ladies be.
came 90 great that the Countess herself
regretted having left ST. Gsrmain, where
At least she would have had frequent news
from the seat OF war.
The Countess passed almost entire days
and nights in the chapel, and her little
ones alone could make her smile
One evening toward the end Of August
when the nights were growing long and
numberless stars traverssd the heavens,
Diane. weary Of looking at them, Quilted
the balcony, and. sitting down, opened at
random the book OF the Astrologer. The
page on which her eyes fell had always ap'
pesred incomprehensibls 10 her; but now
BY sudden intuition, she penetrated its
meaning.
III this book speaks truth, she cried,
"thsre is in this very room spirit which
understands me. Invisible guest OF the
chauteau Of my fathers thee, whose name
1 dare for the Hrst time to pronounce
Osonl II thou art there, strike three
blowsp'
She listened, and three dull thuds on
the panelling replied to her.
Diane was descendant Of the Crusaders
and was not easily frightened. Yet her
face grew pale, but she recovered herself
and said, with firm voice; "if thou csnst
give mo news OF my brother strike one
blow, il not, strike thres."
Three blows were struck.
"Thou art only foolish spirit, then. =
cried Diane, sngrily. "Must l evoke the
souls 10 Purgatory' II so, strike one
blow. .
Que blow responded.
WELL" she cried, "De it sol must
know my brothers fate; and had to call
up ali the world, would do so, by the
honor OF Boisbrianl.
She turned over tue leaves OF the book,
placed on the table an hour.glass between
three lighted tapers, q little before mid
night, commenced to read formula Of
evocation, in which she named all those Of
her deceased relatives whose names she
could rscollect.
Twelve o'clock changed forth from the
castle clock, and the moment the last
grains Of sand were falling and that the
last vibration Of the clock lest itself in
space, the violet tapestry at the end Of the
room was slowly lifted and procession Of
phantoms entered the room.
They grouped themselves silently
arouHd Diane and lifting their winding
sheets disclosed their pale faces.
Daughter Of the house Of Boisbrisnd.
said one Of them, why do you sommon
our suffering souls?"
Diane longed to question, but her voice
failed her. In horritied silence she gazed
on these unknown visitors.
Suddenly she uttered q crv Of anguish;
The noble face Of her brother. Of tho Count
Henri dc Boisbraud, met her gaze, aud
with Lis two hands lie pressed on his
breast bloody winding sheet.
"Henril" she crisi
"Prsy for me. Diane de Boisbrisnj,
'sid lie, my body rests in blood stained
,omb. aud my soul suffers frightful tor
nent."
She heard no more but fell as one
lead.
Nicols ran in. anl soon all the chatcsu
were on the scene. The next day and the
ollowing days the Countess watched be.
tide the bedside Of her young sister, who
was in raging fever. 10 every question
replied wildly: "Je SQUIRE. je mo
Isufsr am silent. Oh my sister
- ,ity d. rot question me.
'ough tho fer disappeared, bnt
It length 'Sssll into consumption.
young invall. no. nephe.' = over.
..m.a h.r vi.b care. ssd csressess.
% the Countess assured 49, ~
ID news OF Henri Nothin. sns
" Diane. They arc decei, - ~ b
said TO herself; II have seen l. " "
isedl" Ri
)ns day Diane had fsllsu asleep. an
rgusrits sal beside her. One OF her !,
ids came to tell her 10 . low voice:
Isdane, knight requests 70 see you; :,
sones from the army" 80,
rts Countess. trembling ran out Of the =,
- A gentleman avsitsl 10 the e