The state herald., 1892-07-22
IKE .port al the hi.ssditary .sdas.

y s~sSAs . esAAA fSoSSos0as 4aV AAob wv
DER your feet is the skin Of wild
animal l slew with my own hands
l know Its haunts and It's habits, !
have fought against them day and
night on foot and on horseback
alone and together with other hunts.
pen. and nobody can say that l ever
shrank from danger at any time. On
any other night l would fly to bring
you that ribbon and would do so Joy
fully; but tonight yea to-night-why
should hide It from you'll um
afraid. Do you not hear tho bolls
tollingp Tho hour for evening prayer
has struck al San JaaB del DIero; the
ghosts begin 10 emerge from their
gravea curdling tho blood OF any one
who beholds them, turning his hair
gray or dragging him of in the
whirl OF their fantastic dance US a
leaf 10 swept along by the breeze"
An almost imperceptible smile
curled Beatrice lips while the young
man was talking and she exclaimed
la an Indifferent tone after he ceased,
meanwhile stirring the fire SO that tho
bright sparks flew out:
oh no. indeed! How silly! Don't
think OF going to the mountain now
after such trife On such dark
night too. when tho ghosts are
abroad and the road lie full Of wolves!n
As she spoke these last words she
Emphasized them SO that Alfonso could
not fail to understand her bitter Irony.
As though mechanically. he arose.
passed his hand over his forehead rs
though to dlspol the fear no felt men,
tally, but not In his heart and In a
firm tone no said. addressing the
beautiful girl who was amusing her.
self by stirring tho fire on the hearth.
Farewell Bentfiz, farewell! II
return. 1t will be soon"
Alfonso Alfonso she said. turning
around rapidly; but when she do.
sired to detain him, or appeared to do
80, tho young man had already dis.
appeared.
Soon after, tho sound OF his hor- O s
hoofs was heard as ho galloped of.
The proud beauty with radiant
look OF gratified vanity lighting up
her face listened uttentiveiy to the
sound until 1t died away. though the
church bells kept on their lugubrious
tolling,
An hour two and three elapsed.
and midnight struck as Beatriz retired
to her oratory. but Alonzo had not re.
turned yct though he had had plenty
OF time TO 10 and como back
Perhaps he was afraid" the young
girl exclaimed. closing her prayer
book after vainly attempting to muir.
muir some OF the prayers the church
dedicates TO All Souls day. for the
spirits OF those that have passed. away.
After putting out tho lamp and
drawing the silk curtains around her
bed. she fell asleep. But her sleep
was restless aud uneasy.
Tho postcrn clock struck twelve,
and Beatriz could hear its slow.
sad strokes and half opened her eyes
She thought that she had heard some-
one call her at the same time in a
FONT suffering accent The wind
still moaned and shook the easement
Beatriz tremblingly thrust her head
out OF tho curtains and listened for n
moment She could hear many
strange sounds but passing her hand
over her brow. she listened again,
but all was now still and quiet.
Her pupils were dilated and she
seemed to see shapes moving around
all over the room; but as she fixed her
eyes more closely sho perceived that
the darkness was impenetrable and It
was duo TO her Imagination.
Bah" she said. resting her lovely
head again on tho pillow. 'can DO
rs timid rs those poor souls whose
hearts beat with terror under their
armor on hearing some ghost storyP"
So. closing her eyes she tried to 20
TO sleep but In vain did sho cndcavor
to calm herself She again started
up pale uneasy and more terrified
than evor.
This timo It wns no illusion, the
brocado porticres over the door had
rustled US thcy were pushed aside and
sho could hear heavy footsteps on tho
carpet Tho sound they made was
dull and almost imperceptible but
continuous and rs they moved along
she could hear something creakIng
like dry wood or bones Tho footballs
drew nearer and nearer and the prayer
desk near hcr bod moved. Beatriz ut.
tered n sharp cry. and burying her.
self under the clothes hid her head
and held her breath.
The wind beat against the easement;
while the monotonous flow OF tho foun.
tain could be heard from afar and tho
barking OF dogs ms we'll as tho church
bells OF Sorin. some near. some far.
ther on while they sadly tollod Tor
tho dead
Thus the night passed on. md IA
Bcatriz II seemed as though II would
never come to nm end. Finally. the
frat faint rays OF dawn lighted up
the sky. and she opened her eyes and
recovered her eli.posscssion.
After . slecpless night OF terror
how beautiful eooms the bright clear
morning light!
She drew back tho curtains OF her
bod and was about TO laugh at her
terror OF tho previous night when
suddenly cold perspirntion broke gu,
on her forehead. her eyes seemed
stnrtirg from their sockets and n
deadly pallor ovorsprcad her checks;
for on her prayer desk shc bcheld the
blue ribbon stained with blood. the
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