The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1891-09-03

THE GHOST BELL

u he NuO01 BELL
1t is many years since was quartered
with my regiment in Vienna. Among
my acquaintance there was young
lobleman in the Imperial Guard
Baron Won Steingraff. A finer hearted
fellow could not be found in his ma
jestys dominions nor better soldier
In his army. Frank and gay as a COM
panion, he was a favorite with his own
sex, and good figure and good prop
erty, made him not unacceptable with
old mammas and young daughters.
Friedrich, however. seemed to be no
marrying man, though he had nothing.
misogynistic in his nature. When our
friendship had grown into close lnti-
macy happened to banter him on the
subject OF matrimony, but he assured
me he had resolved never to marry.
Not, said he, shat 1 have any dis
inclination to the matrimonial state. but
fate, cruel and inexorable, has forbid
den me to enter it.
stared at him in silent surprise.
After moment he told me how, when
q child, he had met gypsy woman,
from Bohemia, as he crossed wood
near the Schloss. She had stopped
him, looked into his hand and said
Young herr, when you 60 to marry
wife take heed. The way to Gods
Altar lies through Gods acrer"
"Welll' cried ], laughing, that was
. safe prophecy. A man cannot we'll
get to the church door unless he walks
through the church yard.
Friedrich shook his head. THAT was
not her meaning said he, shut rather
that or she whom shall wish to make
my bride must die on the bridal day.
Therefore, shall never marry"
He shivered. turned pale, and added:
"And now, Hauptman, let us never
speak Of this again.
A year passed by and was far away
in the north Of Germany when / got a
letter from Won Steingraf. 1t an
nounced bis coming marriage with
Yeung ladv:of his own Country. NV
destiny" be wrote, what it may be /
must work ont Icould not resist my
passion for my little Roeschen. So
come to me rs soon as you can; and who
knows but your happier Interpretation
Of the gypsy's prophecy may be the true
one?"
laughed heartily as I closed the
letter. The old storyl Woman's
tongue lad overcome mans resolve
pretty Roeschen had whipped the
withered gypsy from the field 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.
Not far from this stood the schloss of
my friend, built close to the ruins of
suppressed monastery and sheltered BY
dark forest. Thither / worked my
way-but slowly for the approach was
steep and circuitous, and by the time
reached the entrance and stood under
the heavy arches OF the doorways the
sun had set and the great stone mass of
building was lying in the gloom. All
was quiet and the place seemed des-
erted. / knocked at the heavy door
and an aged servant appeared. I an
nounced myself and was informed that
the baron was deathly sick. On the
very day that he had written to me he
was prostrated with serious illness
and he was now in the eighth day,
struggling with the delirium of fever. |
The doctors declared the case to be 1
hopeless, but we're in almost constant |
attendance One had Just left and had I
said he would return as the crisis would 7
occur that very night.
/ determined, Of course, to await the I
issue, and in few moments stood by 1
the bedside Of my dearest friend and I
looked down on q poor shattered being, 4
with flushed face, burning lip and
glazed eye, tossing and raving, whose 4
hand was unconcious Of my loving pres .
sure, whose ear turned from words Of \
affection.
From time TO time l could distin-
guish words through his mutte7-
ipgs, which told me how the bewil- /
dered spirit wrestled with horrible I
phantoms With appalling incongruity |
be mingled the scenes Of the bridal 1
chamber and the charnel vault, now
calling on his bride 10 wrap her grave 4
clothes about her, now bidding the I
sexton pledge him q skull Of wine.
AEIAADiC - al tulH y - " uCaA Nu4 I
painful 70 see. determined to watch .
through the night. and the faithful old (
butler begged to remain also. Indeed, /
] felt so nervous and distressed that ! /
was glad Of his company. When It /
wanted bur two hours Of midnight !
Friedrich fell into letharRic stupor. ]
left the bedside and went to sit By the
Ere. Old Klaus threw on = freah log 4
and filed glass with Hungarian vine
from . flask on the table noticed /
that the old fellows hand trembled,
and his eyes we're filed With teara i /
spoke = few words Of comfort and be
pobbed aloud:
-Alasi Herr Hauptman, ny Mid
uisEives ne sadly fear every mo-
manf that shall hear The dismal riDg- 4.
ing e tie ghost dad beliI'