Wichita eagle., 1889-10-16
THE GHOST DEAD BELL.

It is now many years since was quartered
with my regiment in Vienna. Amongst the
acouaintances which l formed there was
Young nobleman who was in the Imperial
Guard, the Baron Won Steingraff. He was
the sole descendant of an ancient Syrian
family that had lived for centuries in a castle
near Salzburg.
A finer hearted fellow could not be found
in his imperial majesty's dominions, nor a
better soldier in his army than Friedrich.
Frank and gay as companion, he was IA
vorite with his own sex, and good figure, to
say nothing of a good property, made him
not unacceptable with old mammas and
young daughters. Friedrich, however, seemed
to be no marrying man, though he had moth
ing misogynistic in his nature. When our
friendship had grown into close intimacy
happened to banter him on the subject of
matrimony, but Friedrich assured me grave
" that he had resolved never to marry.
Not" said he, that l have any disincli-
nation to the matrimonial state, but Fate,
cruel and memorable, has forbidden me to
enter into it."
/ stared at him in silent surprise. After a
moment he told me how, when a child, he
had met Ziegeunerinn, or gypsy woman,
as he crossed a wood near the Schloss. She
had stopped him, looked into his hand and
said:
Young Herr, when you go to marry
wife, take heed. The way to Gods altar lies
through Gods acre!"
"Welll" cried |, laughing, that was a
safe prophecy. A man cannot well &c: to
the church door unless he walks through the
church yard!"
Friedrich shook his head. THAT was not
her meaning" said he, but rather that l. or
she whom l shall wish to make my bride,
must die on the bridal day Therefore, dear
friend, shall never marry. You may think
me superstitious and a fool but there have
been stranger things known to our family"
He shivered and turned pale, but just as |
would have questioned him, he laid his hand
on my shoulder and added, And now,
Hnuptmann, let us never speak Of this again."
A year passed by and | was far away in the
north Of Germany, when got letter from
Won Steingraf. 1t announced his coming
marriage with young lady of his own
country. my destiny" he wrote, ''what-
ever it may be, l must work out. / could not
resist my passion for my little Roeschen. SO
come TO me soon you can, and who
knows but your happier Interpretation of the
gypsy's prophecy may be the true oneP'
l laughed heartily as | closed the letter.
The old storyl Woman's tongue had over
come mans resolve-pretty Roeschen had
whipped the withered gypsy from the fieldl
And so saying, packed for my journey and
the morrow found me en- route.
At the close of lovely autumn day drove
along the road between Salzburg and st.
Gilgen where it skirts the picturesque little
lake of Mondsee, SO snugly embosomed in
precipitous hills clothed with pine and larch.
Not far from this stood the schloss Of my
friend, built close to the ruins of suppressed
monastery, and sheltered by the dark forest
on whose tree tops the evening sun glinted
warmly. Thither l worked my way-but
slowly-for the approach was steep and cir
cuitous and by the time | reached the en-
trance and stood under the heavy arches of
the doorway, the sun had set and the great,
stone mass of building was lying in gloom.
This gave me a strange, unpleasant feeling,
which increased as l stood knocking for many
minutes at the heavy open portal without re-
Spouse from within
Was /, then, not expected And at this
hours shook of a sensation of nervousness
and beat loudly on the paneling with my
closed fist and with the heavy handle of my
riding whip
There was the sound of the slipping of bolts
on An inner door, and with a sense of relief
knew that, at last, my summons had been
answered. Then the door opened and before
me stood person who looked more like
holzknechr, or woodsman of the district, than
the servitor of a well ordered establishment
such as believed Friedrich's to be. He car
ried lamp in bis hand and over it he re-
garded me suspiciously. | stated who | was,
and desired him to conduct me 10 his master
To this be made no reply, but shaking his i'll
looking head mouoned me to follow. We
crossed the great hall and entered a small
chamber, where my strange guide deposited
the light, and left me without ord
"A strange welcome" muttered, from a
bridegroom to his best man." and then
looked about me.
The room in which stood alone was ele-
gantly and most comfortably furnished.
There were cases well filled with books run
ming along the walls and above them racks
holding curious weapons many guns, spears
and hunting gear. An escritoire Of exquisite
Workmanship stood near the fireplace, but no
cheerful fire glowed on the hearth a few half
burned logs lay cold on the iron dogs, and
again the strange feeling of gloom and nerv-
business settled upon me.
Suddenly conscious of some other presence
looked up from the cherries hearth An
Did serving man stood in the doorway. Bow
Ing respectfully, he entered the room and in
, few words solved the mystery of my strange
reception On the very day his master had
written me he was Frustrated with serious
illness and he was now in the eighth DAY,
struggling with the delrium of fever The
doctors OF st. GilGen declared the csse TO be
hopeless, but were in almost constant attend
anceL One had just left the young baron and
had said be would return, as the crisis would
occur that very night
need not say how this intelligence affect
Cd me- determined, of course. TO await the
issr,e and asked 70 ~ shown - F-iaeirich's
cnamner. IN q rev moments 1 STOOD py the
bedside OF my dearest friend and looked
dswn on poor, shattered being, with flushed
face. burning lip and glazed eve, tossing
ana raving, whose hand was unconscious OF
my loving pressure, whose ear turned from
INV words of affection. ] sat beside him for
hours. From time to time could distinguish
words, through his mutteripgs, which told
how the bewiidered spirit wrestled with hor-
rible phan.orQS With apnalling incon2ru-