Wichita eagle., 1889-10-16

'sDoctor, what could have caused this sud-
den illness! NY friend has had the most
perfect health all his life He once told me
| he had never been i'll What could have
caused this fever"
s.God alone can tell!" answered the physi
clan piously. 1.-The young baron was with
me the day previous to his illness, and bade
me gayly enough to dance at his wedding.
l never saw him looking better. He was on
horseback and rode swiftly out of st. Gilgen,
| refining up his steed for an instant to throw
money to an old gypsy, who stood, her hand
outstretched, by the road. Always kind"
added the good doctor, always noble!
have known him thus as boy and man" And
the usually cold man of science brushed his
hand across his eyes
took his other hand in my own and press
ed it warmly. Then / went to the chamber
below Old Klaus crept after me. he seemed
to cling to me for sympathy. l sat down by
the fire with heavy heart. l pondered on
the doctors words found myself wonder
ing why had put the question to him, and
then l recalled, word for word, his answer.
A sudden thought shot through my brain.
He had spoken Of an old gypsy who stood,
with outstretched hand, by the roadside.
Another scene rose before me-
A fair haired lad with his firm palm held
frankly out,-a withered, old face bent over
it; and l seemed to hear the quavering voice
muttering the prophecy: Young herr, take
heed to your wedding day! The way to Gods
altar lies through Gods acre!"
''Klaus!" l asked sharply, when was your
master to have been marriedF' for Friedrich
had mentioned no day in his letter-"We
Will talk over every thing when you come"
he wrote
Zach mein herr! But tomorrow"
seemed to turn cold all over. To think
of other things / questioned Klaus concern
ing the young Roeschen, whose cup of happi-
ness was so soon to be dashed from her lips.
| learned that she was lovely and anliable
and deeply enamored Of her handsome lover.
His illness had been kept from her as long as
possible, and though she knew her marriage
must be postponed-she dreamed, as yet, of
no change.
alas" said Klaus, should my lord not
recover fear it will go hard with the sweet
young lady, for she loves him more than life.
Who knows but there may be two burIals
rather than one bridal!"
''The way to Gods altar lies through Gods
acre!'
Would the words ever cease ringing in my
earsg shook myself impatiently. A coin
cidence-a sad coincidence-that was ALL
And my grief had surely unsettled my mind.
picked up a book from one Of the shelves
and tried to read. The words swan on the
page Not a sound was to be heard save the
ticking Of the great clock in the hall. laid
down the book and sighed. Just then the
clock tolled the midnight hour. The deep
bell struck twelve times loud and clear, and
mechanically counted every stroke.
Midnight! A sudden thought-the crisis!
Then my poor Friedrich might, even now,
be passing the portal Of eternityl
was about to speak to Klaus when dis
covered that he slept, exhausted, on the
hearth.
''God forbid" cried aloud, in my fear.
"Poor, faithful SOUL" thought l. REST
there while-you may awake to deepest
grief" For realized that he, like myself
like Roeschen-must lose, with Friedrich,
that which he best loved on earth.
So rose noiselessly and passed sadly and
alone into the great stone hall.
a breath of cold air swept my cheek tt
came from the end of the hall-down there,
toward the outer doors. Twas pierced through
and through with its chill touch. Certainly,
the outer doors must be open! Could Klaus,
in his anxiety, have forgotten to close them
after the doctors entrances peered through
the vista of din,ly lighted arches toward the
entrance and moved few steps in that direc-
ton As 1 did So / was sure heard mufiied
knocking at the portal. l listened intently
and after a moment the sound was repeated
and followed almost Immediately by the slip
ping of bolt Still saw no one, and con-
Guided the sounds must come from some other
part of the Schloss. was about to turn and
desist from investigation, when l again felt
that icy blast sweep my face and throat.
Thoroughly startled, l strained my eyes to see
more clearly before me; they became gradu-
ally accustomed to the semi-tlarkness, and l
perceived the massive doors swing inward on
their great iron hinges, to admit tall, dark
figure in hood and cloak.
"A priestl" l thought, instantly; then the
thought was succeeded by another Fried
rich is not a Catholic Who has summoned
hims The doctor. perhaps!" And then again:
Who has admitted HING l, myself, had
seen this dark figure pass through doors bolted
and barred had heard his muffled knock
ingi saw him, now, before me-and yet of
q certainty knew that none had babe him
enter nor had any hand Enclosed the gates to
give him entrance!
Smitten with nameless fear I stood, or
rather leaned, against one of the stone pillars
for support The dark figure now moved
toward me down the hall Nearer, nearer it
came and saw that l was right-it was the
figure of priest
As he passed close beside me his cowl fell
back and revealed an old, wrinkled, ashy face
in which were set two cleaning eyes-black
and evil. He looked not to the right nor to
the left, but as he passed up the wide stair
he raised one thin, white hand above his head
and the dark sleeve fell back and showed the
skinny, withered arm bare to the elbow.
| stood frozen with terror TO the spot
know not for how long-when harsh sound
Anote upon my ear. 1t was followed by q
shrill scream, and old Klaus rushed from the
room and threw himself at my feet
God have mercy upon u.s." he shrieked,
almost crazed with fright, 'the Ghost Bell"
Again came the harsh souni-the Changing
VI an iron BELL 1t smote cruelty upon nv
shattered sense-wild, fitful irregular-and,
God forgive mel not as human hand could
have runG it.
flew up the stairs Klaus close behind me-
In a moment | was in the barons chamber
The physician laid his cold hand Oh mine-I
saw the truth written in his face
1T is over" lie said He is deadr-Dub-
lin CRiverS ~ yazre.
1r,.,sr;a! Lady Lin.uists.
To many Of her maieSty's subjects it has
been known for more than half century
past that our gracious queen is endowed with
the gift OF tongues" In fact, she is one of
the four most accomplished hnguists among
l.