Year: 1875

Translated from the German of Schiller, by Col


F. Gardner.


The Count of O., to whose memoirs Schiller
refers as having furnished him with the mate
rials for his novel, "The Ghost-Seer," was, &C,
cording to that document, the intimate friend
of German Prince, who without prospect
ofsucceeding to the throne Of his ancestors, re-
sided in Venice, where he led life of retire
ment his intercourse being confined to few
old acquaintances.


In this city, where the count of o., passed
some time with him, the Prince became &C.
quainted with a mysterious person, who, some
times in the garb of an Armenian Friar, and at
others as a Russian officer, foretold events and
brought divers things to pass, which induced
the Prince, after much reluctance, to believe
him possessed of supernatural powers.


The Prince being desirous Of obtaining all
tho ;nko.ms t;cr,- he could oonoorninS thio- IN
dividual, went with the Count of O., to the
State prison in Venice to make inquiries con-
cerning him, of certain Sicilian who was
there confined. This Sicilian, short time
before, had endeavored to impose upon the
Prince by the exhibition of magic art, when
his false pretensions were suddenly exposed
by the supernatural interposition of the "True
Magician" and he himself was arrested by
the same mysterious person, acting as an off.
Ger of the State Inquistion.


At the request of the Prince to disclose to
him all he knew concerning that wonderful
man, the Sicilian tells the following story:


1t now about five years, he began, since
I was in Naples, where carried on my art
with considerable success, when l made the
acquaintance of certain Lorenzo del NJ,
Chevalier of the Order of St. Stephen, young
and wealthy cadet of one of the first houses OF
the kingdom, who overwhelmed me with obli-
cations and appeared to take deep interest
in my secret mystery.


He disclosed to me that his father, the
Marquis of NJ, was Jealous devotee of the
Kabala, and would be highly grati6ed to re-
ceive so learned philosopher, Gas he was
pleased to call me,) under his roof. The old
MARQUIS was then living at one Of his estates
on the sea-coast, about seven miles from Ma
Piles, where, in almost total seclusion from all
Intercourse with his fellow men, he grieved over
the memory of beloved son.


The Chevalier Lorenzo gave me to under
stand that he and his family wished to make
use of my art in very sad end serious affair
that by means of my mysterious and secret
skill, some knowledge or discovery might be
had, as all natural endeavors had entirely
failed to give any information. He added,
besides, in manner full of meaning, that he,
himself, perhaps, would have reason to consid-
er me as the architect of his peace and entire
future earthly happiness.


The whole circumstances were these:


This Lorenzo was the younger son Of the
Marquis del NJ, and had been destined for
holy orders The estates of the family would
be inherited by his elder brother. Heronymo,
so this older brother was named, had spent
some years in travel, but had returned home
to his father-land about seven years before the
events now about to be narrated, to fulfill q
marriage engagement with the only daughter
Of the neighboring noble house Of 9Th, to
which both houses had been pledged, ever
since the birth of this daughter, in order there
by to unite their possessions.


And though this engagement was altogeth-
er the work of the parents, and the feeling OF
neither of the afianced parties had been con-
suited in the arrangement still they had
quietly and heartily acquiesced in it. Herony-
mo del NJ, and Antonio 9Th had been
brought up together, and not the least restraint
had been placed upon the intercourse of the
children, who, while still children, were &C.
customed to think and speak of themselves as
betrothed pair. This precocious and tender
attachment was further strengthened by the
complete harmony of their characters, and
during the years of travel, had grown into an
ardent affection. Four years of separation
had kindled, instead of cooling, the fame, and
HeroIymo came back as true and devoted to
the arms of his bride as if he had never been
separated from her. The transports of seeing
each other again were not yet cooled, and the
preparations for the celebration of their nup-
tials were pressing hastily forward, when the
bridegroom mysteriously disappeared.


He was accustomed to pass, often, consid'
erable part of the day at a country seat be-
longing to the estate of his father, which was
near the sea.shore, and to amuse himself in
sailing in a pleasure boat. After one such
day, it happened that he remained longer
than usual They sent messenger to seek,
who went out upon the water to look for him.
No one had seen him none Of his servants
were missing, so that none of them could have
accompanied him. Night came on and he
did not return morning came, midday and
evening, and still he did not return. Soon
they began to give way to the most fearful
surmises, as information was gained that an
Algerian corsair had landed at this place the
day before, and several of the inhabitants
had been seized and carried of:


At once galley was manned, which lay
there ready to set sail. The old Marquis took
command of it himself, determined to rescue
his son at the risk of his own peril. On the
third day they got sight of the corsair, of
which they had the advantage of the wind.
They would soon have overtaken it. They
got so near that Lorenzo, who was in the gal.
ley, declared that he recognized his brother
on the enemy's deck, when storm suddenly
fell upon the sea and separated the vessels
from each other Twas with difficulty they
could save their own vessel and the corsair
had entirely disappeared and their crippled
condition forced them to run into Malta and
land their crew.


The agony and grief of the whole family
were beyond description. The old Marqui:
wandered about, tearing out his gray hair like
maniac, and would not be comforted. The
life of the young Countess Antonio was almost
despaired of.


Five long years passed in fruitless search
and inquiry. Vessels were sent along the en
tire Barbary coast. Large rewards we're of
fered for the ransom of the young Marquis
but no one presented himself to claim them


Finally, it appeared the most likely suppo
sition that the corssir had foundered in the
storm which had separated the vessels, anc
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