Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-03
Gales aud Sketthes.
THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.
Continued from Yesterday


the tone in which it was uttered that made
the Baron's heart misgive him; but he
rallied his forces, and repeated his hOsplt-
able entreaties. 8 The stranger shook his
head silently but positively at every offer !;
and waving his farewell to the company.
stalked slowly out of the hall. The maiden
aunts were absolutely petrified-the bride
hung her head, and a tear stole IN her
eye.
great court of the castle, where the black
charger stood paving the earth, and
snoring with Impotence. When they
had reached the portal, whose deep arch
way was dimlv lighted by cresset, the
stranger paused, and addressed the Baron
in a hollow tone of voice which the vault
ed roof rendered still more sepulchral
"Now that we are Alone" said he, 81 will
impart to you the reason of my going.
have solemn and indispensable engage
mept-"
"Why," said the Baron, "cannot you
send some one in your place ?"
at admits of no substitute must away
to Wurtzburg cathedral"
cav" said the Baron, plucking up
spirit, "but not until to-morrow-to-mor-
row you shall take your bride there
"No! not" replied the stranger, with
tenfold solemnity my engagement is
with no bride--the worms the worms !!
expect me am dead mani have been
slain by robbers-my body lies at Wurtz-
burg-at midnight | am to be buried
the grave is waiting for mel must keep
my appointment ~
He sprang on his black charger, dashed
over the drawbridge, and the gathering of
his horses boots was lost in the whistling
OF the night blast.
The Baron returned to the hall in the
utmost CONSERVATION, and related what
had passed. Two ladies tainted outright !;
others sickened at the idea of having ban
quoted with spectre. It was the opinion
OF some that this might be the wild hunts
man famous in German legend. Some
talked of mountain sprites. of wood de "a.
mons, and of other supernatural beings.
with which the good people of Germany
have been so grievously harrassed since
time immemorial. One of the poor rela
tives ventured to suggest that it might be
some sportive evasion of the Young cava-
lier, and that the very gloominess OF the
caprice seemed to accord with so melan-
choly parsonage. This, however, drew
on him the indignation of the whole COM
pany, and especially of the Baron, who
looked upon him as little better than an
infidel; SO that he was fain to ALLURE his
heresy as speedily as possible and come
into the faith of the true believers.
But whatever may have been the doubts
entertained. they completely put to an
end by the arrival. next day. of regular
missives, confirming the intelligence of
the young Counts murder and his inter-
ment at Wurtzburg cathedral.
The dismay at the castle may we'll 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 distress. They wan
dered 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 long
or at table, and ate and drank more stout
ly than ever, by way of keeping up theri
spirits. But the situation of the widowed
bride was the most pitiable. To have lost
husband before she had even embraced
him-aud such a husband! if the very
spectre could be SO gracious and noble,
what must haye been the living man? She
filed the house with lamentations.
On the night of the second day of her
widowhood, she had retired to her cham
Der. accompanied 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 the longest, and
had fallen asleep in the very midst of it,.
The chamber was remote, and overlooked
small garden. the neice lay pensively
gazing at the beams of the rising moon.
as they trembled on the leaves of an as
pen tree before the lattice. The castle
clock had just tolled midnight, when a
soft train of music stole up from the
garden. She rose hastily from her bed,
and stepped lightly to the window A
tall figure stood among the shadows of
the trees. As it raised its head, beam
of moonlight fell upon the countsnance.
Heaven and earth! she beheld the Spectre
Bridegroom! A loud shrek at that mo-
ment burst upon her ear. and her aunt,
who had followed her silently to the Win
dow, fell into her arms. When she looked
Of the two females. the aunt now re-
quired the most soothing. for she was per-
fectly beside herself with terror. As to
the young lady, there was something,
even in the spectre of her lover, that
seemed endearing. There was still the
semblance of manly beauty; and though
the shadow of man is but little calculat-
ed to satisfy the affections Of love sick
girl, yet, where the substance is not to be
had, even that is consoling. The aunt de-
clared she would never sleep in that
chamber again; the neice, for once, was
refractory, and declared so strongly that
she would sleep in no other in the castle.
The consequence was that she had to
sleep in it alone; but she drew promise
from her amt not to relate the story of
the spectre, lest she should be denied the
only melancholy pleasure lett her on
earth-that of inhabiting the chamber
over which the guardian shade of her low
er kept its nightly vigils.
How long the good old lady would
have observed this promise is uncertain,
for she dearly loved to talk OF the marvel
lous, and there is a triumph iu being the
first to tell frightful story: it is, howev.
er, still quoted in the neighborhood as a
memorable instance of female secrecy.
that she kept it to herself for whole
week, when she was suddenly absolved
from all further restraint by intelligence
brought to the breakfast table one morn
ing that the young lady was not to be
found. Her room was empfy-the he'd