Year: 1874

A HUNGARIAN STORY.


l HAD fulfilled my youthful dream, and
become possessed of an old castle and
large estate in Hungary.


1t was at some distance from Pesth,
anG had not visited the property pre-
vious to purchasing, for the lawyers rep.
reservations convinced me that it was a
bargain, even with the membranes,
which consisted of an adopted daughter
and some favorite servants of the late
Count. These were all, however, provided
with annuities by his will, so that it only
remained to endure their presence in the
castle, and if they should prove to be
serviceable should already be provided
with servants accustomed to their routine
of duties.


From The lawyers manner on discover
ing that l myself intended to reside in
the castle l concluded that it bore the
reputation of being haunted, and rather
reveled in the anticipation of bringing to
light the secret terrors of the place.


/ wrote to the steward to send a car
riage to meet me at the nearest station.
This | found in waiting, with prim
coachman IN deep mourning, which 1 at
first supposed to be for the late Count


The man understood his business. His
driving was faultless. But his continual
sighs and means, alternated with weeping
outright, at last led me to questions,
which resulted in his confding to me
that he was mourning for his sin in hav-
ing murdered his younger brother. l
was somewhat startled. But in spite of
his violent grief he drove well, and soon
brought me TO the village in state of
bewilderment both as to his actions and
my duty in the case.


Some time before we reached the castle
we saw the porter posted on large stone,
in military attitude, and shouldering a
long stick as if it were riAe. AS we
approached, he shrieked in fearful tone,
"Present armsw and began to initiate
the sounds of the drum and trumpet,
while with his stick he went through the
eight movements of the Austrian parade
regulations, after which he jumped down
from the stone, mounted the stick as if
it were horse, and galloped before the
carriage like an outrider, all the time
shouting, "a master is a master even in
hell" When we reached the gate the
porter dismounted and stood like post,
saluting me as sprang from the wagon,
and retaining the most precise military
attitude. l looked at him sharply. He
had an honest, open countenance, stamped
with faithfulness and loyalty. This man
was not drunk, but, il would seem, some
what out of his head.


/ next encountered the gamekeeper,
who speechlessly turned his back in
answer to my inquiries; but in mo-
ment there appeared the valet, a gay fell
low of over forty, with his face wrinkled
into the most comical expressions by
habitual laughter. He was communi
cative and we'll trained in his duties.
While assisting me off with my overcoat
Louis informed me that the three servants
| had previously encountered were all
mad. By the time he had shown me to
the stewards apartments it was sufficient
ly apparent that he himself was at least
| equally so, though his was perhaps a less
disagreeable mOnomania. The prospect
was not cheering 1t was thankful to
find the steward, at least, rational man.
He was remarkably well informed with
regard to his duties, although his APP
pearance would rather have indicated a
public officer than farm steward. After
long conversation, during which he in
formed me that the adopted daughter
was also insane, asked him for a pen
and ink, in order to write to the lawyer
from whom l had made the purchase.
He politely showed me his writing-desk,
and then brought me lamp similar to
the Davv-lamp used by miners.


wrote somewhat sharply to the law
yer, winding up by saying that the only
redeeming feature in this bedlam was the
finding of remarkably sensible and
well-educated steward.


Having finished, | asked the steward
for light and sealing-wax. He begged
me to use waters, and upon my still pre-
ferring wax insisted that | should not
seal it in his room. He begged to be par
doned, and turned pale as he said; "
must tell you, sir, that ! suffer from a
peculiar malady. The air in my lungs
changes quickly to hydrogen, so that the
room in which am gradually becomes
filled with hydrogen gas, and if any one
should enter with light the gaseous va
pors would explode and would set the
house on fire"


fell back in my chair. Good heavens
this man was the most insane of all /
was here with six mad people, and was
myself the seventh; for had bought this
splendid company. | tore up the letter
and despairingly sought my room. Hav-
ing locked the door after the valet, / no.
ticed that the fire was burning brightly,
and that the supper stood upon the table
and could not but wonder what mailman
had cooked it.


l could not sleep. turned over in my
mind scores of plans for getting rid OF
the property or for leasing it, but none
seemed practicable. There was only the
one thing certain-that must get away
Excitement played tricks with my imagi'
nation; the old Count seemed to descend
from his frame on the wall and approach
me, murmuring, "Now | have another
fools" an old clock began to strike, and
kept on into the hundreds; the bed was
uncomfortable; the moon shone in and
tormented me till curtained it out, lest
| too should go mad, as was everything
else, servants, pictures, clocks, beds anC
moonlight. l sprang up in rage, re
solved that the morning should rid me OF
my tormentors.


Suddenly something began to stea
over me which quieted thought. Wha
was it, song or nusic?-a tone escaped
from the harmony of the spheresY
knew not whence it came but it was en-
chanting and exerted a wonderful in
fluence. 1t ceased in a few moments
even before / could be certain what i
: was.


l forgot my annoyances, opened the
window and leaned out in the moonlight
listening. But the window opened oil
the courtyard, and there was no soun(
but the low barking of q dog. | Wen
; out into the hall The song began again
and seemed as If il were under me- /
was deeply melancholy-yet not u song
only dreamy, Thymeless melody, likl
the notes of forest bird, but so charm
: ing and beautiful that l stood enchanted
forgetful Of my surroundings.