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

will decide. but be prepared for "a,
worst can give yon but little hopA
Impelled by knew not what, ! aud
denly asked:
Doctor, what could have caused
this sudden illnessg My friend has had
the most perfect health all his life IL
once told me he had never been III,
What could have caused this feverg'
4 God alone can tell" answered the
physician. piously. Tho young baron
was with me the day previous to bis Ill
ness, and babe me gayly enough TO
dance at his wedding never saw
him looking better. He was on horse
back and rode swiftly out to ST. Gil
gen, refining up his stead for an instant
TO throw money to an old gypsy who
stood, her hand outstretched, by the
road. Always kind" added the COED
doctor, always nobel ] 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
pressed Il warmly. Then went to the
chamber below Old Klaus crept after
me for sympathy. sat down by the
fire with a heavy heart
took up book from one Of the
shelves and tried TO read. Not q sound
was to be heard save the ticking Of the
great clock Ia the hall. laid down
the book and sighed. just then the
clock tolled tho midnight hour The
deep bell struck twelve times, loud and
clear, and mechanically I counted every
stroke.
Midnight A sudden thought the
crisis
Then my poor Friedrich might even
now be passing the portal Of eternity !
! was about to speak to Klaus when
discovered that he slept exhausted on
the hearth.
So / rose noiselessly, and passed sad
~ and alone into the great stone hall.
A breath of cold air struck my cheek.
1t came from the end Of the hall. was
pierced through and through with its
chill touch. Certainly the outer doors
must be open. / peered through the
vista Of the dimly lighted arches toward
the entrance, aud moved few steps In
that direction.
As did so was sure ! heard a muf-
fed knocking at the portal. listened
intently. and after moment the sound
was repeated, and followed almost inn
mediately by the slipping Of bolt.
Still / saw no one. and ! concluded the
sound must come from some other part
of the Schloss. / was about to turn and
desist from investigation when I again
felt the icy blast sweep my face and
throat Thoroughly startled, ! strained
my eyes to see more clearly before me.
They became gradually accustomed to
the semi-darkness, and / perceived the
massive doors swing inward on their
iron hinges to admit tall, dark figure
in cloak and hood.
"A priest?" l thought instantly; then
the thought was succeeded by another.
Friedrich is not Catholicl Who had
summoned him? The doctor, perhapsl"
And then again, who was it that had
admitted him? / myself had seen this
figure pass through doors bolted and
barred / heard his mutfled knock l
saw him, now, before me and vet Of
certainty knew that none had babe
him enter nor had any hand Enclosed
the gates 70 give him entrancel
Smittou with q nameless fear I atc
81 seancd against cuS ~ stUn
lars for support. The dark figure L
moved toward me down the hall
Nearer nearer it came, and saw that
/ was right it was the figure Of q
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--hlack 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.
when harsh sound smote upon my ear.
1t was followed by a shrill scream, and
old Klaus rushed from the room and
threw himself at my feet
Sod have mercy upon usP be
shrieked almost crazed with fright.
: The ghost belll"
Again came the harsh sound-the
Changing OF an iron bell 1t smote
cruelty upon my sharpened sense
Wild, fitful, Irregular and, God for
give mel not As human hands would /
have rung i'll
flew up the stairs Klaus close be-
hind me.
In a moment ] was in the baron's
shamber. The physician laid his cold
band on mine-I saw the truth written /
n his face
1T is all over, he said. He is deadl"