Year: 1874

by the will of the late count. / then dis
missed them unceremoniously, for l was get:
ting into that state Of mind in which l did
not wish to see any face about me. All de-
parted except the foolish door-keeper. 10 my
great surprise the man put off his military
manner, approached me, kissed my hand, and
began to speak in an entirely changed and un'
accustomed voice.


"Why will you leave this place? Does the
poor girl annoy you?"


"It seems to me that great change has
come over you" I returned.


eyes, sir wish to tell you everything,
and you will then understand much that up
to this time must have seemed strange; and
then, think, you will not leave the CASTLE"


His manner, language, and expression were
such that involuntarily invited him to sit
down, which he did. I was now convinced
that he knew the secrets of the castle, and
anxiously awaited his developments.


"The deceased count" he said, chad an un,
fortunate secret alliance. Wishing to make
reparation to his child, who was motherless
from her birth, he brought her here in order
to educate and lawfully adopt her. But he
was not permitted to make full reparation on
earth. The girl grew very beautiful, but
never learned to speak. She is not deaf and
dumb, forshe sings and notices the slightest
sound But she never speaks word, she
only sings. Likea forest bird, she has differ
ent tones, with which she makes known her
pleasures or griefs to those who understand
her speech. The poor count and [ learned
this music language, and [ understand her. l
was the counts only con6dant. He once said
to me: If should die, leaving testimony
that this child was mine, what would happen
to her? People would certainl consider her
crazy, which she is not. She has understand
ing, good heart, natural affection, and COM
prehends human thought. Still they would
put her in some insane asylum, and so make
her really idiotic. How shall prevent this
Then the count had the strange thought to
make an asylum out of his own castle for the
sake of the child. From far and near in the
vicinity he brought together the village dun
ces, and the steward he brought directly from
an insane asylum. l was the on ly one OF all
who was in possession of my FIVE senses, but l
pretended the worst madness Of all, so that
the affair should become notorious. Then
the count gave himself up to the care OF the
unfortunates with ceasless patience, and grad
ually made docile, quiet human beings ofthem,
till at last he had no servants that he had not
| partially cured from some mental disease.
His object in doing this, and leaving them
home here for life was to prevent his heirs
from either living in or selling the castle, tor
he thought no one would buy an estate under
such conditions. I confess, Sir, that when
you first came counted on your not remaining
more than two months in the castle. 1t is
built with secret passages between all the
rooms. I myself do not know how they are
arranged. Viola alone possesses the secret. "


Viola! The name startled me. And yet
it would we'll suit my fancy picture. .


"In this way Viola comes down to the hall
every night, where I have her food prepared.
If should die the steward would care for her.
On these occasions l often spoke to her of
YOU, and was surprised to find that the poor
girl, instead of being afraid of the stranger
who had bought her fathers castle, was so
much pleased with you that she sighs and
blushes at the mention of your name. Yes,
she even let me know that she was accustomed
to sit by you while you slept, and guard your
dreams. You have perhaps not known that
before %


Oh ! l knew it very we'll.


"The child is not insane but if you should
90 away now, she certainly would become so.
To-day she came to me weeping. 1 could not
imagine what had happened. As she became
somewhat calmer she made me understand
that while you were asleep she had again sto-
len to your room, and had-even kissed you.
cannot describe the tender, modest smile
with which she acknowledged it. Then,
frightened, she covered her face and fell upon
her knees, wringing her hands, with beseech'
ing look, and the tones of wounded bird en-
treating the hunter not to kill or imprisoD it.
Viola prays that you will not be angry with
her. She will not disturb you again, not even
with her singing She will be still in the
house. You shall not even be conscious of
her existence only pardon her this. But |
pray you, Sir, not to leave the castle. You
know its secrets now. We who are here
love you so much No one but you could so
we'll manage these poor unfortunates. l real
ly do not believe that Viola will visit you
again but fyou should accidentally meet her,
YOU will act with that thoughtfulness which
every prosperous human being owes to the
unfortunate"


became suddenly aware of the fact that
my porter and were shaking hands in a
friendly way but had already grown ac-
customed to extraordinary proceedings.


Having assured him that would remain,
and that l was not angry with Viola, l beg
ged he would no longer keep up the r6le OF
an idiot in my presence.


For two months l never once heard the
voice of my fairy. was like one who had
lost friend, whom he nightly dreams is
alive again, and who ponders how strange it
is that anybody can be alive who is certainly
dead


About this time a bold band of robbers be-
gan to spread terror throughout the neighbor-
hood; they had broken into many of the neigh
boring castles, committing robberies, and
shooting whoever opposed them. My neigh
bors advised me to be on my guard, for a
gentleman, happening to pass my village had
been taken for me and robbed on the high
way, and it seemed pretty certain that my
turn would come. But was too much CIV
en- up to my dreams to pay much attention to
the warning.


One November evening-it was sleeting Bit
terly-I sat alone by my CRATE, piling stick
after stick Of wood on the fire, and watching
the glowing, whistling spirit forms into which
the wood became transformed, when suddenly
was aroused bya loud shout, which was
quickly followed by shot.


/ TO spring up snatch my revolver, and rush
into the hall was the work of an instant. In
the hall opposite the door appeared two fig
ures masked received them with two shots.
One of them returned my fire without effect,
the other fell, apparently badly wounded, and
was dragged out by his comrade, who again
shot at me throug Oh the half open door. |