The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-07-09
THE GHOST BELL

THE GHOST BELL
1t is many years since | was qua tered
with my regiment i'll Vienna. Among
my acquaintances there was Young
nobleman IL the Iml eriat Guard -
Baron Won Steingratf. \ finer hearted
fellow could not le found in his ma
jesty's dominions nor better soldier
in his army. Frank and gay as a COM
lanion, he was 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
mI>ogynistic 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, that l have any dis
inclination to the matrimonial state. but
fate, cruel and iuexorab!e, has forbid
den me to enter it..
l stared at Him in silent surprise
After u moment he told me how, when
child, lie had met gypsy woman,
from Bohemia. as be crossed wood
near the Schloss. She had stopped
him, locked into his hand and said:
Young herr, when you go to marry q
wife take heed. The way to Gods
altar lies through Gods acre.'
Well" cried !, laughing, that was
safe prophecy. 4 man cannot well
get to the church door unless he walks
through the church yard
Friedrich shook LII, head. THAT was
not her meaning" said he, but rather
that or she whom l sha with to make
my bride must die on the bridal day.
Therefore, | shall never marry"
He shiyered, turned rale, and added
"And now, Kaufman, let us never
speak of this again."
A year passed by and was far away
in the north of Germany when l got a
letter from Won Steingraff. 1t an
nounced his coming marriage with a
young lady of his own country. "Mv
destiny" he wrote, what it may be
must work out. | could not resist my
passion for my little RocscheD. 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?"
l laughed heartily rs l closed the
letter. The Old story! Woman's
tongue had overcome mans resolve
pretty Koeachen had whipped the
withered gypsy from the fed. And sc
saying l lacked for my journey, and
the morrow found me en- route.
At the close Of lovely autumn day
drove along the road between Sa zbure
and st. Gilgen where it skirts the
picturesque little lake of Mondsee.
Not far from this stood the schloss oi
my friend, built close to the ruins of
suppressed monastery and sheltered by
dark forest. Thither l worked ny
way-but slowly for the approach wa
steep and circultous, and by the time
reached the entrance and stood unde
the heavy arches Of the doorways tn.
sun had set and the great stone mass 0
building was lying III the gloom. Al
was quiet and the place seemed des
erted / knocked at the heavy doc
and All aged servant appeared. 1 an
nounced myself and was informed tha
the baron was deathly sick. On tn
very day that he had written to me h
was Frustrated with serious Hines
and he was now in the eighth day
struggling with the delirium of fever
The doctors declared the case to b
hopeless, hut were in almost constan
attendance. One had just left aud ha
said he would return as the crisis woul
occur that very night.
| determined of course, to await tn
issue. and in few moments stood b
the bedside of my dearest friend an
looked down on a poor shattered being
with flushed face, burning lip all
glazed eye, tossing and raving. who's
hand was unconcious Of my loving pre-;
sure, whose ear turned from words {
affection.
From time to time could distir
guish words through his mutte
ings. winch told me how the bewi
de,ed spirit wrest!ed with horribl
phantoEs. With appalling incongruit
he mingled the scenes Of the brids
chamber and the chnrnel vanlt, no
calling on his bride to wrap her gray
clothes about her, now bidding til
sexton pledge him a skull of win,
Terrible as all this was to hear an
painful to see. l determined to waite
through the night, :.1d the faithful oil
butler begged to remain also. Indeed
felt SO nervous and distressed that
was glad of his company. When
wanted but two hours of midnigl
Fri, dricl fell into lethargic stupor.
left the bedside and went to sit by I'll
fire. Old Klaus threw ON O fresh le
and filled glass with Hungarian wiz
from flask on the table. notice
that the old fellows hand tremble,
and his eyes were filled with tears.
spoke a few words of comfort and
s,bbed aloud:
Alas! Herr Hauptman, my mi.
misgives me sadly. / fear every m
meut that shall hear the dismal rim
ing of the ghost dead bell!"
At this uncanDy title l shivere
"But what may that be-" / asked an
iously.
Zach! What an old fool am.
forget sometimes, but forgive it"
But Klaus said ], what did =,
mean"
Klaus bent toward me, his old ia
drawn with fear. "The bell that rim
out the life Of every Won Steingratl
SAID he, with suppressed emotion.
suppose I looked both startled and
terested, and the old servant, glad
sympathy and attention, continued in
hnshed voice: "Mayhap you observ
the monastery near the castle, sir,