The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-02-26
THOLLIN'S PHANTOM.
The Illusion Was Dispelled and
Happiness Wrecked,

illusion IL the mother 81 happiness
and none can affirm thu contrary. for
without illusion what would life hc?
And what would have been Richard
Thollin'S marriage? 1t simply would
not have been. that is evident.
Richard Thollin was thirty. tall.
dark, with sharp, bright eyes and Il
long, silky mustache. lie was chief of
an important department AT the
Louvre, enjoyed good salary and
fair percentage on silks and Shawls-
So well To do was bs- in fact, that hc
could well afford i few luXurics. and
after mature reflection he resolved -
lay his heart and riches at ihc feet of
Mile. Stephania Msrchet, the daughter
of n small merchant, an enthusiast in
music and a pupil at the conservatory.
She possessed no dowry. hut she was
so graceful, exquisite. and Richard
was 80 full of courage.
1t was n beautiful June evening. and
they had passed through all the phases
of delightful honeymoon, when Rich
ard suddenly iroachcd "A proposition to
his radiant spouse
My dear Stephania," hr said ten
derly. II have reserved the hest for
the last. l wanted To give You =. Ht.l.
surprise, and here it is. Now. what
would please you InoSt-a two weeks
trip on the Rhine or a beautiful cash
mere shawl to protect You pretty little
shoulders from fog anl rain:'
As became al enthusiast Il in music.
StcphanIa affected 4 dreamy pose and
replied:
My love, prefer the trip To the
Rhine: to that classic land of music. IF
my sacred art, 1t seems To me that
am already there and that the divine
melodies of Mozart. Schubert and Bee
thoven are ring n in my ears" And
lowering her voice, she whispered:
Let us 20 there the cashmere shawl
Will come Later
And SO the voyage was decided. The
vessel that carricI VI. AMI Mime. Thol-
lin glidcd gayly along the Rhine, max
ing frequent stops on those enchanting
shores, where the happy couple unused
and dreamed, charmed by the coquet-
tish villages and the green vineyards
that nestled at the foot of the hiIl- nu
winch lowered old burcS, picturesque
ruins of ancient fcudal manors-
While ashore at >t.inburciI a fright
full storm overlook them. They .oLIi
it impossible to reach the boat in time
and were forced Ia take rcfurc in the
only inn of the place. an old tumblc;l-
down building standing At the foot of
i rugged mountain crowned by the
ruins of an old castle,
The rooms were modest and the fare
meager, consisting principally Of NUT
ton stew and bcanS-mOrc beans than
mutton. But such Il delicious white
wine Sparllicd in the glasses that they
almost forgot the rest In war we do
a warriors do: Il good conscience pro-
notes gaycty. especially when stimulat-
ed 10y u little whit, vim; AMI white
wine, must admit, was Richard
/ Thollin'S weak point
The storm continu Il To- rage without.
and they pcrforcc resigned themselves
to an evening at the inn
Come. mcister," said Richard. rs
they sat together in the large room
after supper. we are in the heart Of
the land of Icgcn.is. Like all your
! countrymen, you must be well vcrscd
in such lore. and, though not on tbs.
bill of fare. | hope you will serve ono
for dessert.
''Ah, my dear monsieur" protested
mine host, ''wc should not speak of
such things when the thunder is
rumhiing over our heads; il will bring
i'll luck"
Go on, anyway; we don't mind the
thunder"
''Weil. monsieur, You see that old
castle towering above us over there
II is haunted by =, spectcr, and that is
why it is deserted
..But whoiS this spcctcr"''
In his day ho WAS Il powerful lord
and Il great brigand. lie was harsh to
his vassals, robbcd travellers and buried
his money and stolen goods in some
| ca-c known to him only During a
great storm he died suddenly and had
no time to disclose the place of con-
ccalment in which he had chosen to
bury his treasures And since that
time, whenever there is q storm, fright
full cries are heard from the ruins 1t
is the soul of the accursed lord, con-
demncd to wander there until some
good Christian finds the treasure and
distri Lutcs' At to the Door"
Bah. What farce snccred Rich
ard. Il must go AMI see the place, and
if ! find the famous trcasurc-wcll,
you shall have your cashmere shawl.
my Stcphania.''
My dear. you are ridiculous with
your legends" replied his wiic. They
make ms yawn; / an going To bed
Ii was midnight, the fantastic hour
Richard ThollIn was toiliny up the mar
row, rocky path that led TO the ruins
OF the old castle. He was 10 coward
and was determined to search the old
burg in the hope of meeting the phar-
tom and finding out where the treas
ure was concealed.
As he entered the somber archway
there suddenly arose before him tall,
white figure. luminous and moving,
with the light and shadowy movement
of the spccter.
$50 you have come at last, Thoilin,"
said deep, ecpulShral voice. Il have