New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-19
A CHARMING GHOST

Such was the nutspckcn conviction Of the male
friends OF DR. Gottlicb Sonnenschcln Professor OF
PMloogy at the University OF Bonn. and II was
always pronounced with satisfaction. for TO nave
lost him from their midst would have occn re-
garded by all as little short OF a calamity. w mn
out Sonncnschein no supper party would nave
been deemed complete
Oh II was o good thing 70 sec him rise in his
place some special occaSion, ms Grep-Sc, eyes
cleaning like will-o '-thcwisp>, his whimsical face
twitching with suppressed humor. The company
would hang on his lips III silent expectation 70
burst into Il roar when out from its fantastic
wrappings came the reserved joke which was to
sweep down the barriers Of decorum with its final
thrust.
No wonder. therefore. that for the long vaca-
ton Sonnenschen was in great demand. lie was
besieged with invitations to join parties tolrln.
to every quarter Of Europe: vet. In accordance
with a strange freak that had taken possession OF
him TO wander alone. as he had done when LAD.
along the ban rs Of his beloved Rhine, we behold
him leaving .hc deserted town with a knapSack
his back and stout stick rs his sole cont
panion.
ascending the hill which is crowned by the stately
castle of Rhencc; lie walked slowly, hat in
hand often pausiug to wipe his heated FACE ,or
of the winding path, he discovered seat which,
standing back in the shade of trees. invited him
10 rest, and with sigh Of relief ne yielded to the
invitation.
Soon a pleasant sense Of languor stole over
him. The lovely landscape began to swim before
his gaze. and he was aware. he fell asleep.
Tie level sun shining in his face when he
awokc with u muImur of voices IN his ears ,
+ Tourists, he muttered, and "Io'z'ausehu!
This is your hat. sir said clear treble
voice in the English tongue ;,
Now Sonnenschcin understood English. he
spoke il, too. in style that was quite compre-
hensible TO the enlightened Highlander
]Ach-ohi Tail you-my hat, ie- .cs IT it's Is
much" And he beamed with a comical EXPRESSION
of amusement and pleasure on the small fairy at
She wore very short pink frock and had very
long legs for her size round hat. like pink
mushroom, adorned her head from under which
fell shower Of golden hair. She was rosy with
health and locked at him with forect-me-not
eyes. Sonnpnschein admired her immensely.
"Ach!' he calculated and she tossed her sunny
Are You going TO the castle she asked but
without awaiting his reply We are" She con,
m init re- Fhe 4' saT % a s e
late. DO YOU think they will let us in when we
She Looked up to the Professors face in much
lie looked at his watch.
so late.' he exclaimed ave must, indeed,
"Oh. and they are crawling ike sna.7 cried
the child: Il will run back and hurry them mp
And will speed me- TO acQuant the castelan
Pleas do Tell her we are close behind"
And she left him to resume the ascent with rapid
strides.
On reaching the top he found that fhc gate
leading to the entrance court stood open lie
The OLD woman who acted as guide had Just
been showing a party over tie edfce She was
turning the KEY of The nail-stndded portal son
nenschei:i approached her, and 50 adrOly did he
negotiate that when the pini fairy appeared with
her friends she grariously willing TO accom-
pany them. 1t Glanced thai the people leaving
The castle were friends Of the arrivals.
that in the surprise and pleasure Of tho meeting
the Professor remained unnotic"d
into III" oO Shadow y Of of tbr a ma nnt ,ha rS
cited group had passed him Then issuing
from his hidns-place. he entered upon one OF
those exhaustive explorations which his de-
light. He chucklcd to himself al his clcNerncss
in Guiding the others. for 70 race az the tail Of
troupe Of tourists headed by mumblinR guide,
building that teens with historical IN
teresf. was to destroy all its charm for him.
After investigating the various rooms. he
climbed the turret stairs and stepped out on the
roof The scene Which met his wow wax one 10
be remembered. What wonder that. with his
P TSSsn% sona fe s sh of c in s
How long his oblivion might have lasted il is
difficult 10 SOY. had not MS eye CHANGED Ger
tain moving objects far below on the hill side
A familiar pink mushroom bobbed in and ont
among them
were almost ~ the foot OF the hin!
As he stumbled hastily down I'll" worn steps
% the corkscrew staircase no wondered that he
did not hear tho cracked voice of the castelar,
calling 70 him. he felt that he deserved repri-
mand for keeping her waiting.
on reaching The 3rchway. he found that thu portal
was shut against him They had either forgotten
him. or taken it for granted that he had left
the castle before them. il mattcrcd not which.
He was locked in Now an ordinary person in
such situation would have at once h"Qnn 70
make row 10 be released Not 81 Professor
Sonncnschen. In face Of dilemma the philoso
ply Of his great nature asserted itself He first
tried the DIOR 10 mako quite SURF that II was
locked. and. finding that j. so. be calmly
ftrcke6 his mus'acho. dTol smile fiittInC about
his features His sense of the ridiculous was
touched.
Sound travels far on still evening; A few
hardy blows against the door with his stout
stick, would be heard in the adjacent restaurant
lie was lifing his stick to summon her. when
notion entered his whimsical head notion
that ssyornd Of romano" nnn ady"nt.mr and
love Of those elements
Why should lr not spend The night in the
cas'lep 1t would be nial,r, rN d;n. r AN; ana
What would be the sensations cagendcred by such
a situation? The desire 10 experience them A.
trpctcd him irrcsistibly. Though far from in
different 10 creature comforts hc willing
and eager 10 sacrifice his supper and his com.
Portable bed az proof Of the superiority OF
When fortified nv this heroic resolution. he
turned and re-cntercd the grand old hall. the
subtned light of declining day family iliumin"i
IT. Inc drained ana riS'ed nrinor on tie walls
scarcely reflected lis rays. Where the shadows
brooded. the linked suits OF mail and grotesouc
visors lookcl like strange clinsns creatures Of a
bygonc world. The RAGGED banners hung motion
less from the ceiling. like the pendent wings of
Songenschein fingered here. taking in effects
until it grew too dark 10 distinguish objects: then
he once marc mounted 10 the roof
II was a relief 20 emerge into the sweet pnrc
air. and leave darkness and t1lc dead past behind
To stand thus alone Eigh above the halnts of
mon. inspired the Professor with feeling Of
~xalfation He observed the signs Of cheerful
life beneath him the Rhine steamers with their
freight Of pcasurc-seckcrs the train pulling into
Prohl the main road dotte with vehicles ard
PEDESTRIANS the red roofs Of hamlcts speaking Of
peaceful donesticity and over all. lay the warm
soft tinfs from tho glowing west
Will Of broiline hef-stc, ascending 10 his
nosfrils from the restaurant awokc am TO The
consciousness Of a hungry stomach. He took out
his case and lit % cigar. beginning slowly 10 pace
the leads as he smoked IL.
Presently his attention arrested by tho
appearance of point Of light that seemed To