Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-01-11

lnrtal without response rom within
Was l, then. not expected? And al
this hour? | shook off a sensation ot
nervousness and beat loudly on
the panelling with my closed fist
and with the heavy handle of my rid
ing-whip.
There was the sound ofthe Shipping
of bolts on an inner door, and with n
sense of relief knew that, at last,
my summons had been answered.
Then the door opened and before Inc
stood person who looked more like
n holzknecht, or woodsman, of the
district, then the seryitor of we'll
ordered establishment such n | be-
lieved Friendrich's to be. Hecarried
n lamp in his hand and over it re-
garded me suspiciouslv. | stated
4 who | was, and desired him to con
duet me to his master. To this he
made no reply. but shaking his ill
looking head, motioned me to follow.
We crossed the great hall and enter
ed a smallchamler, where my strange
guide deposited the light and lett me
without Il word.
"A strange welcome" l muttered,
from u bridegroom to his hestman. /"
and then looked about me.
The room in which / stood alone
was elegantly and most comfortably
furnished. There we're cases filled
with books running along the walls
and above them racks holding Gu
rious 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 halt
burned logs lay cold on the iron
dogs, and again the strange feeling
of gloom and nervousness settled
upon me.
Suddenly conscious of some other
presence, looked up from the cheer
less hearth. An old serving man
stood in the doorway. Bowling re-
spectfully, he entered the room and
solved the mystery of my strange
reception. On the very day his mas
ter had written me, he was prostat-
ed with serious illness ard he
now in the eighth day, struggling
with the delirium of lever. The doc
tors OF ST. Gilgen declared the case to
be hopeless, but were in almost CON
/ slant attendance One had Just lett
the young baron and had said he
would return, as the crisis would oc-
cur that very night.
need not say how this intelligence
affected me. determined. ofcourse,
4 to await the issue and asked to be
/ shown to Friedrich's chamber In a
! few moments | stood by the bedside
oil my dearest friend and looked down
on poor, shattered being, with
flushed face, burning lip and glazed
eye, tossing and raying, whose hand
was unconscious of my loving pres
sure, whose ear turned from my
/ words of affection. / sat beside him
for hours From time to time j
/ could distinguish words, through his
muttorings, which told how the be-
wildered spirit wrestled with horrible
I phantoms. Withappalling incongru-
/ ity he mingled the scenes of the
bridal chamber and the charnel
vault, now calling on his bride to
wrap her grave-clothes about her,
now bidding the sexton pledge him a
skull Of wine. Terrible as all this
was to hear and painful to see. de-
1 termined to watch through the night,
I and the faithful old butler begged to
remain also, Indeed, felt so ner-
vous and distressed that / was glad
OF his company. The doctor was to
return at midnight When it wanted
but two hours ofthat time, Friedrich
who had gradually ceased his raving,
fell into lethargic stupor. | felt
the bedside and went to sit by the
| fire. Old Klaus threw on fresh log
and filed a glass with Hungarian
wine from flask on the table. / no.
ticed that the old fellows hand
trembled and his eyes were full of
tears. spoke a few words of COM
fort and he sobbed aloud
ALAS! Herr Hauptmann, my
mind misgiyes me SADLY ] fear, every
moment that shall hear the dismal
ringing of the ghost dead-belll"
At this uncanny title | shiyered.
"But what may that be-" ] asked
anxiously.
Zach! What an old fool i am.
forget sometimes-but forgive itl'
but, Klaus" said !, what do
you mean?"
Klaus bent toward me, his old fnce
drawn with fear. The bell that
rings out the life of every Won Stein
graft" said he, with suppressed
emotion.
suppose / looked both startled
and interested, and the old servant,
glad of sympathy and attention,
continued in hushed voice. May
hap you observed the monastery
near the castle, sir, as you came up
the driver"
"Ay. Klaus, and fine, old ruin it
is, with it's bell-tower still standing!"
"A ruin now, sir, but it was once
grand and holy place with its lord
abbot, and monks, and broad, rich
lands Well, sir. q long time ago--I
do not know how many hundred
years the Baron SteingrafF of that
day who lived then in the Schloss
4 n