Year: 1861

amazement at the man, half doubling whether
be were in his right senses. What humbug
Is this, sergeant : Let me hear nc more of it,
If ghosts were realities-which they are not


Il should be ashamed of the men if they
could be afraid of ghosts


The sergeant said no more, but touching
his cap, turned and withdrew, while l slowly
pursuid my way. | had looked upon the mat
ter as nonsense, had treated it lightly, and
been almost angry at the Stiffness of the tale
yet it had left deeper impression upon me
than l liked, or chose to admit to myself
Was this dim, vague preSentiment of what
was to come , Perhaps it was.


/" | was half angry with myself for harbor-
ing the feeling, aad determined to shake it off.
l entered room where two or three of my
companions were assembled, and recounted
what had passed between me and the sergeant.
They all laughed, and declared that l had
done quite right in forbidding any thing more
TO be said on the subject


The monastery consisted of three buildings
one long front building aud two wings. The
right wing formed the chapel, and the other
contained the rooms and cells once occupied
by the monks In the centre of these build
ings was large courtyard, from which you
passed into the garden, and thence decended
into the valley beneath, planted with trees
and shrubs. The courtyard was quite empty,
save that fountain stood in the centre an
arrangement not unusual in southern coun-
tries


" The day passed as other days had passed;
some fshed, some louuged about doing nothing,
Harrison aud | wandered away from the rest
fol rot urf,
uBtil late in the evening We had been more
than usually Joyous, and had almost forgotten
the occurrence of the morning, when, on
entering the courtyard of the monastery, we
were surprised to perceive the mems blankets
well arranged in order round the yard. Before
either of Us had time 10 make a remark the
sergeant who had spoken to mo before came
up, aud without further preface informed me
that, the night being extremely hot the men
brought out their blankets TO sleep in the open
air, as they could not be persuaded to re-
ceive another visit in their room from their
midnight intruder | made no objection TO
their preferriug the COO! air TO the sitting
heat ot their room, and at dinner it was qui-
ely arranged that few Of Us should not 20
to bed at usual time, but should remain up
10 watch.


" 1t was a clear bright night. Beautiful
as night can be only iu southern climates. |
had seldom seen anything more striking than
that grim old monastery, with its tufrets and
befries its grated windows aud massive iron
portals, aud its large surrounding trees, stand
ing out clear and distinct under the rays OF a
full moon And beyond it, about half a
mile off, lay the small lake, calm and and quiet
beneath the branches of the graceful trees
which grew on its edge, aud bent their slender
boughs into its water. Upon its smooth sur
face the heavens were reflected each partc-
ular star looking down upon its image.


" A few of the officers. iacluding Harrison
and myself, had gone into the courtyard about
eleven o'clock, determined TO wait until the
clock struck one, and then, if nothing appear
ed, retnrn quietly TO our rooms. The men
had all lain down, but | am sure there were
none of them asleep not light was TO be
seen any where about the building, for at an
appointed hour they had all been put out
Growing tired of waiting for the ghost in
vain. Harrison and | walked up and down the
yard, the others following our example and
We were already thinking of going IN, when,
as the clock struck half-past twelve, Harrison
suddenly stopped short, touched my arm, and
without saying a word pointed towards the
chapel HIS movement had been noticed by
the rest, and all eyes were immediately turned
in that direction, when we preceived issuing
from one CT the windows overlooking the yard
a faint greeuish light We said nothing, but
drawing 10 one side, stood still. In few mo-
ments We saw emerging from the same win
dow white spectral figure, holding 10 its right
hand a small lamp, evidently the source of the
strange light which had attracted our notice.
The appaFition moved slowly along over the
beds of the men, though evidently its feet did
not rest upon anything, and looked at them
all as it passed then, reaching our groOp, 1t
turned its gaze upon Us for moment, and
disappeared through the lett wing of the build
ing.


" A dead silence succeeded we were all
to much asIonished tc speak, and We look
ed at one another Then the silence was
broken by mnrmor OF triumph among the
men, and We were obliged 10 acknowledge
that We had seen their ghost, and could not
account for it. Various surmises and conlec-
lures were broaehed, and We determined to
discover what the ghost was.


Next day We were all astiC early, aud
every room in the Old monastery was examined +;
not d corner but was thoroughly searched
Up and down, right and left, above ground,
aud iu the vaults below, no! place bat re-
echoed the tread OF our footsteps yet no
where could be discovered any trace OF our
strange visitor. You may imagine whether
We searched the chapel through and through
Seeing nothing that gave the falntest Gle"
10 the mystery. we sent for maSOuS from the
VILLAGE and had the camel doors walled up.
The windows were all barred aud boLted,
and We hope that We had most efectually
shut ont or shut in, the ghost.


The day past much as usual, except that
We awaited the evening with much anxiety