The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-05

their eyes and have TO wear spectacles."
Presently he halted at the doorway and
gazed down into the black abyss.
"The witching time OF night" he NUT
tered. "rhou must fortify thy heart.
Gottleib. and descend 10 make acquain-
lance with the ghosts Of the castle"
Suiting the action 10 the word, he
cropped his way down the winding stairs,
which seemed interminable. At the foot
black darkness enveloped him, ana ne
was glad to avail himself of a few
matches to light him along the passage.
As vug; supcrsitious fear can scarcely
exist in mind OF high moral culture,
nor could his imagination admit Of the
supernatural. the professor wandered
from room TO room; impressed 1t is true,
yet sersne and composed in spirit. The
effect OF the AUTHORIZATIONS induced by
the moonbeans falling through the win
dow-holes was weird In the extreme. lie
made mental notes Of what he saw. for
the mystic hour and the sense OF isola-
ton made his miad receptive and ana
ly1ic.
IL suddenly a fantastic winged creature
fitted across the glimpses of the moon,
mis- cool judgment pronounced 1t bat;
if unearthly sounds broke the stiffness.
he told himself that :1ey proceeded from
rats.
Most Of all did the lofty hall inspire
him with admiration. The night breeze
entering by the empty window-holes
stirred the banners as though with mys-
FERROUS fingers More than ever did the
armor ca the walls take the semblance
Of uncouth shapes. OF unearthly things,
clinging motionless and watching him
with dull unwinking eyes. Yet his pulses
did not quicken as these ideas struck
him. He encouraged and cweit on them
as poetical fanciss worth remembering
Unable to tear himself away from SO
impressive a scene, he sat down on
piece of projecting atonry just INSIDE
the huge chimney, from which he cohid
survey II at his leisure.
Suddenly there broke on the stiffness
Of the right a noise--a mysterious, mex
plicabIe noise-that, awakening the SUM
boring echoes, seemed to FIJI the old place
with waves of sound that walled ana
moaned like legions of lost souls.
Instinctively he crouched down and put
up his arms under the impression that
something was about to tumble on ms
head However, the noise ceasing' ana
finding himself unhurt, he sat up ana
looked about him.
Professor Sonnenscheln. as we have
stated. had no belief In the supernatural
but how was he TO account for what ne
saw? He had heard Of optical Illusions
was he the victim of one?
He strained his eyes and stared with all
his might. Yes, II was there, and he was
in Terfect possession Of all his faculties.
A female figure was gliding noiselessiy
along the far end of the hall. She held
a lamp aloft in her hand; its rays illumi-
mated her features they were transcen-
IDENTIFY lovely. Her large and lustrous eyes
moved swiftly from side TO side as she
advanced. She was dressed In long
white robe that swept the ground behind
her Her thick flaxen braids hung down
from her shapely head TO her waist.
"She Is the personifcation of Fausts
Gretchen" thought Sonnenschein, begin
ming 10 glow with admiration. The
lighted cigar that he held between his
fingers smouldered forgotten at his feet
on the floor.
All at orce she stopped short, and her
face seemed TO assume an expression or
establishment which was wonderfully
human. She shifted the air.
"Tabac!" she murmured in German, Il
could be sworn. How very odd!'
After gazing about her for few mo-
ments, yet, ghost-like, seeing not the
mortal that crouched In the chimney, she
turned and entered the passage that led
to other OF the apartments, placed the
lamp on the ground. and retraced her
airy steps back to the moonlit hall.
Remarkable II was that. although this
was the Professors first acquaintance
with ghost, he was not in the least de-
gree appalled,. His only anxiety was that
he might not. by inadvertent cough or
sneeze scare IL away. He remained
motionless. and scarcely daring to
breathe.
She had gone over to one Of the win
dows. where she leaned looking so fair,
so sweet, so spiritual. that had she I'M
folded a pair Of slvery wings and flown
away he would have grleved but scarcely
have wondered.
Now she heaved a gentle sigh, an, such
human sigh, that Sonnenscnein had
almost forgotten himself and sighed too
in very sympathy. At length she moved
away. re-entered the passage, and took
mp the lamp, then. gradually receding
was lost TO his sight.
Concluded next week..