Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 14, Number 12, Jasper, Dubois County, 26 April 1872 — Page 2

The Jasper Courier.

C. DOANE, Publishes. MY GRANDFATHER'S HOST STORY. I have frequently heard the following marvelous story related by my grandfather as an actual episode in his life. I will give it, as nearly as I can remember, in his own word, leaving each reader to form his own opinion upon the incident, without anv commentary upon my part, farther than the statement that my grandfather was man whose veracity I had never any reason to doubt : It was during a summer vacation that I met Karl Korner. I was reading hard for my degree; for having been somewhat idle and dissipated during the term, I found it necessary to spend what should have been my holiday among my books. For this purpose I pitched my tent at Bucksleigh, an ancient and romantic village in the New Forest. I was guided by several considerations in my choice of locality : first, it was a reasonable distance, even in those days, from London and Oxford; secondly, I was bitten about that time by an entomological mania, and here was the spot of all others for rare moths and butterflies; thirdly, a delightful and salubrious climate: and fourthly, not faraway, near Stony Cross, was the family seat of some college chums, whither, if books anct butterflies became too monotonous, I could flee for a day or two's relaxation. These friends had very much pressed m to take up my abode wholly with them; but had I done so, I might as well have left Greek and Latin behind me, for all the use I should have made of them there; so I prudently declined, with the compromise I have mentioned. The house I lodged in was at least as old as the Tudor days pointed roof, overhanging stories, latticed windows, painted beams, dark oak staircases, paneled rooms, carved fire-places, etc. It belonged to family who had resided abroad for several years, and was let, during the summer months, in apart ments to visitors. I had but one fellowlodger when I first came to Bucksleigh, Karl Korner, a German, who, with bis servant and the old woman who looked after the house, was, besides myself, its only inhabitant. From the first he curiously impressed me. In appeaamce he was the very beau-ideal of the mysterious German of romance. Long fair hair, blue eyes deeply sunken, pale hollow cheeks, a moody demeanor, and tall powerful figure he might have been Charles Moor himself. In his habits he was reserved to moroseness. He had a weird way of talking to himself, and a strange trick of almost every moment casting sharp fearful glances over his shoulder, as though he fancied some unpleasant object were behind him. No one was suffered to enter his apartments save his own servant, a dark saturninelooking man. as mysterious as him-elf. I questioned Mrs. Adams, the housekeeper, as to who he was. But she was as much in the dark and far more curious than myself respecting him. About two months before his arrival she had received a letter from her m ister, who was then residing in Germany, to say that a foreign gentleman would, in the course of a few weeks, arrive at Bucksleigh. The choice of apartments was to be given him; she was, in all respects, to attend to his wishes, and, above all, was to ask nu questions. The time of his sojourn was uncertain ; he might leave at any moment. This was all the information ?he possessed. There was something about Korner that attracted and yet repulsed nie. The mystery that excited my curiosity may be ascribed to the first feeling; the dirk sinister expression that sometimes r.i tilled with tue gloom upon his face t-. the second. I frequently saw him wandering about in the forest during my entomological rambles ; but both in and out of the house he avoided an ac tual meeting. We had been fellow-lodgers about a fortnight, when, without having previously exchanged a greeting, we became suddenly acquainted. It happened in this way : I had been out in the forest all the morning butterfly-hunting, and having captured in my net a splendid red admiral, two peacocks, and some smaller fry, I was lying basking in the shadow of a huge beech, gloating over my prey, when, happening to look up, I saw the German leaning against a tree, with his arms folded, and his eyes bent upon me. 1 had not heard his footfall upon the soft turf, and his sudden appearance quite staitled me. Without a word of introduction he threw himself upon the grass and entered into conversation as freely as though we had been old acquaintances. He spoke English fluently, although with a strong foreign accent. I found him to be a man of highly cultivated mind. Our topics were Greek, Latin, poetry, entomology, scenery; and upon all his remarks were equally just and lull of knowledge. He grew warm and eloquent, his cheeks flushed, his eye brightened, the whole man was transformed. Suddenly, without any warning, in the very midst of a speech, he stopped, the color died out of his face, leaving a ghastly pallor in its place, while his eyes, full of horror, stared wildly upon vacancy. The change was so instantaneous that for a moment I was struck as speechless as himself, my eyes instinctively following the direction of his. I could see nothing but the waving branches ol the trees and the bright sunlight. Before, I had recovered my self-possession sufficiently to speak, he sprang to his feet and hurried away; as the trees hid him from my sight, 1 saw him cast the old fearful look over hi shoulder. There was something about the incident that, in spito of the bright sun

shine, nave me a strange superstitious!

leenug. Auer a ioug cogmuion i wuiu come to only one conclusion, that the German was mad, and tbt his caturnine servant was his keeper. A week passed away, and I saw no more of Korner, beyond a fleeting glance as he passed my window on his way to the forest. In the mean time I had a visit from my college chums of a few miles off, to whom I related my German experiences, and thereby inflamed their imaginations with the most outrageous ideas. He was one of Schiller's robbers, Mephistopheles, a Werter, the wild huntsman, Halathiel, a banished count, and I know not what. Ensconced behind my window-curtains, they waited his passing to catch a glimpse of him, and the sight of his strange, gloomy face made them almost seriously incline to those ideas that had been but jests before. The object of their visit was to induce me to go with them to a ball that was to come off in a fortnight at Southampton. But I heroically resisted all entreaties ; so they left me to my studies in disgust. Great was my surprise one evening, just as the twilight was closing in, at receiving this message from Mrs. Adams - "Would Mr. Serle honor Mr. Korner by his company, and sup with him that evening?" The old lady was all in a tlutter as she spoke the words. We exchanged looks. My curiosity was aroused to see the sanctorum that none had beheld, and I instantly accepted. When I entered the room, I felt almost surprised to lind that there was nothing peculiar in it, except that it was peculiarly comfortable. Although the weather was warm, a cheerful fire burned in the grate, and three large lumps illumined every part of the large, souibre room. u I like plenty of light," he said, after cordially greeting me ; " I hate dark corners." So it seemed, I thought. Our conversation was upon German literature, which thetranslationsof Soott,Coleridge and others, and the imitation of a host of BnjfKfh writers, were bringing into fashion. His mind was deeply impregnated with its mystic and metaphysical character. I found him to be a profound believer in the wildest dreams of the Uosicrucian and the demonologist. Our conversation had naturally, although almost imperceptibly, drifted into this channel, and I could not help remarking the strange forced manner in which he spoke upon the subject, as though compelled to talk of it by some occult power against his will. 1 ventured to be skeptical, and shall never forget the look with which he turned on me. M Your philosophy," he said, bitterly, " rejects all thing that do not come within the scope of its narrow reasonings, regardless of the fact that every object that exists contains within itself unsolvable mysteries. Of the nature of our souls, of their condition or destination, after they are freed from their bodies, we know nothing. Can we conceive eternity ? can we conceive illimitable space? space before matter? the principles of our own being ? We know these things are, but we cannot bring them within the petty circle of our reason. In the face of these mighty mysterie, and of the yet mightier mysteries of the Christian faith, how dare man arrogantly assert that aught can not be ! One of your poets says, 'Where iirnorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.Wisdom is usually purchased at a bitter cost." There was something in his manner that deeply impressed me, and I would have continued the conversation, but he skillfully changed the subject, and we were soon deep in the discussion of the comparative merits of ancient and modern literature. In this agreeable discourse, aided by an excellent supper, some equally good win and cigars, time glided on almost imperceptibly. It was just upon the stroke of twelve when I wished him good night. As I opened the door, I fancied I heard a sound like the rustling of a woman's dre-s. Thinking it was Mrs. Adams, who was the only female in the house, coming up to speak to me, I turned my head ; but there was no one upon the landing or on the staircase. The sound passed me, and there was a flutter in the air, as though it were disturbed by some moving bo iv. Following its supposed direction, my eye', fell upon Korner. In a few seconds a ghastly change had üllen upon him. His face was deadly pale, his eyes fixed with a look of horror, his hands convulsively clutching the arms of the chair upon which he sat. I was advancing to him, thinking he was ill, when a hand laid upon my shoulder held me back. I turned, and saw the German servant, who by word and gesture requested my absence. The next moment I found myself outside the door, and heard the key turned in the lock. A week elapsed, during which I land Korner never once met. I had been hard at my books, had completely shaken off my late superstitious terrors, retaken to skepticism, and had thoroughly made up my mind that the German was the victim of some painful disease, of which I had witnessed the paroxysms. It was the night of the ball, which I have before mentioned. I had had a letter from my friends that morning, as a last persuader, to meet them at Southampton, and accompany them to the ball. But I heeded not the voice of the charmer, and was further strengthened in my virtuous resolution by the weather, which, uncertain for several days past, toward the evening in ques tion assumed a most savage aspect : the rain descended in torrents, the wind blew a hurricane, and there was distant muttering in the air that portended a thunder-storm. As I looked round my gloomy room in the fading light, I could not help picturing with a sigh the brilliant ball-room at Southampton.

While thus meditating, there was a knock at mv door. Before I could

answer it, Korner stood before me. Even in the twilight I could perceive that his air was excited with a kind of forced gayety. " How horribly dull you are here!" he cried. " Coins up to my room; I have a cheerful fire and plenty of light, a bottle of good wine, an irreproachable cigar, and Mrs. Adams is preparing an appetizing little supper." Now, after my one experience, I did not much care about passing the even ing with Korner, so I began a polite apology about the necessity of study. But he impatiently interrupted me: " Pshaw, man I it is the last oppor tunity you will have of refusing me." " Aro you going to leave us, then ? " I inquired. " Yes ; my release is at hand, and I wish you to join me in celebrating it." " Your release ! " I reiterated. "Yes; but we will not talk of it tonight ; you will hear all about it tomorrow," he answered, lightly. After that I could not refuse his invitation. There was a strangeness in his man ner that I could not understand, which impressed me disagreeably. He was as gay as a Frenchman ; he laughed, told anecdotes and doubtful adventures, sang German student songs, and was so unlike himself, as 1 had previously known him, that at times 1 had serious doubts whether 1 was waking or dreaming. u 1 astonish you," he cried. " I have cast aside what you call the blue-devils for to-night, and, as Shakespeare says, ' Richard's himself again ;' what I was in my old student days, the merriest fellow within the walls of Bonn." But I did not like his merriment it was to me far more depressing than his gloom. 1 drank his hock, I smoked his cigars, and I laughed at his stories ; but I felt all the time like one oppressed by a nightmare, and would havo been delighted to have found an excuse to get down quietly to my own room. In the meantime the storm was raging violently, the rain dashing in sheets against the windows, and we could hear the crash and moan of the forest as the wind rushed through the trees ; and the thunder, nearing, though still distant, rolled sullenly through the air. " A pleasant night for a journey!" he cried, in the light, jesting tone he had assumed throughout the evening. " You are not going a journey tonight?" said I. " No; but Fritz has gone. I shall not start upon my journey till to-morrow morning a far longer one than Fritz's." I shuddered, I knew not why. M Now, my friend, it is time that we so parate," he said suddenly, rising, and holding out his hand. The intimation was sudden, and not strictly jiolite ; but I took the hint with the most cheerful alacrity. " Pardon my abruptness, but I must now prepare for my journey.'' An odd time, 1 thought, to begin preparations for a journey. As I wished him good night, I heard the rustling as of a woman's dress behind me, felt a movement in the air, and the sensation of a passing body, just as on my previous visit, and on Korner's face fell the same ghastly look. My nervous system was highly wrought, whether by the shadow of coming events, or by the electricitv of the atmosphere, I know not; I and without another word I hurried out of the room. As before, I heard the key turned in the lock ; but, as before, I did not hurry down to my own room, for my limbs trembled so violently, and my head felt so dizzy, that 1 was obliged to lean against tue wall for a moment, for fear of fulling. The tempest had reached its culminating point. The thunder-clouds were upon us, and sent forth peal upon peal, till the house trembled and shook as though swayed by an earthquake the lightning flashed in sheets, and in streams of jagged fire, now blue as steel, now luridly red ; the rain had abated, but the wind, rushing through the forest leaves, sounded as though a furious mountain torrent or a roaring sea was coming down upon us ; while the branches crashed, and groaned, and shrieked, as the hurricane swayed and broke and hurled them one against another. Never have I heard so awful a contention of the elements. I can never recall the memory of that terrible night without a shudder. And there I stood in the full blaze of the lightning, as it shone through the staircave window, with the fascination of U rror upon me. Suddenly through thedin of the storm there, rose a sharp wailing cry, that curdled my blood and bristled my hair. It came from the room I had just left. By a sudden impulse, which I could never explain, I resolved to try and solve the awful mystery that was about me. There was but one way. Across the front of the house ran a narrow balcony. The window I was standing against was in a line with those of Körners room. With the rain beating down upon my bare head, and the wind sweeping round me and almost lifting me off my feet, I crept on to this balcony, and between an opening in the curtains peered into Korner's room. And this is what I saw: The room was blazing with light, just as I had left it. With his back toward me, quivering and crouching, was the form of Korner ; facing the window, and looking in his face, stood a woman. Her dreBs was that of middle-class German life, but her face was the most lovely I ever beheld ; the hair was of the brightest, rarest yellow, the complexion faultlessly pure ; the eyes large, dresmy, and of a deep violet the nose and mouth of the most perfect shape. While I gazed, fascinated by her extraordinary beauty, a hideous transformation took filace before my eyes. I he clothes iidcd from her form, her beauty melted away like a vapor, and in its place my horrified gaze, was fastened on askeleton,

on I grinning loathsome skull, out of whose mouldering recesses crawled bloated obscene worms. The vision was but ol a second's duration, and then I saw the bones crumble before my eyes, and the skull totter and fall. I saw no more. A mist gathered before my eyes, and the sickness of death overpowered me; but as 1 fell 1 heard a loud explosion, which sounded unlike the thunder that a moment afterward mingled with its echoes. When sense returned, I found myself lying upon the pavement of the balcony, saturated with rain and cold as ice. The morning was just breaking; the storm had cleared away, all but the wind, which still blew haul, but in fitlul, dying gusts. With a dazed brain, upon which still lingered the dark shadow ol the horrors 1 had witnessed, but no substantial idea, I mechanically sought my own apartments, and in the same automaton fashion swallowed a large glass of brandy, undressed, got into bed, and without any further recollection fell fast asleep. I was awakened by a sudden shook, and the sound of loud laughter. When I opened my eyes 1 found myself upon the floor and my friends from Stony Cross standing over me, convulsed with laughter at, 1 presume, my ridiculous and scared appearance. In returning fiom Southampton, thy had come several miles out of their way to pay nie a visit. Upou hearing I had not risen, heated with champagne, and ready for any mischief, they entered my room, lifted me out of bed in my sheet, and bumped me not very gently upon the ground. We had just sat down to breakfast when Mrs. Adams put her bead in at the door and beckoned me out mysteriously. 11 1 beg your pardon, sir, for interrupting you, but I am so uneasy about Mr. Korner that I couldn't contain myself any longer." "What is the matter?" I asked, in great agitation. Well, you know he is an early riser, never in bed afier six. It is now ten, and I have neither seen nor heard him. I have knocked at his door and can get no answer." 'Where is the servant Fritz?" I inquired. "He went away yesterday, saying he should not return for some days, and that I was to attend upon his master in the meanwhile." I told her to wait until after breakfast and I would see what could be done. All the horrors of the last night came vividly back upon my memory, filling me with evil forebodings. It was impossible to conceal my perturbation from my friends; and after a very little pressing, I told them of the housekeeper's fears, and certain of my own experiences; omitting all mention of what 1 had seen through the window, which would have excited only t.eir ridicule. The breaklast-table was abandoned ; and while I proceeded to the German's chamber, the others waited the result at

the farther end of the corridor. No an swer was returned to my knock, and after a little hesitation we decided to send for a locksmith and make a forcible entry. No one thought of entering by the windows, and I dared not propose it; I could not for my life have looked through them again. In a very short time the lock was taken off and the door thrown open. The room was darkened by the curtains, save in one spot, where the sunbeams streamed through an opening, and fell full and brightly upon an awful object the upturned blood-bespattered face of the German. He was quite dead; his hand still grasped a discharged pistol he had blown his brains out. I need scarcely remark that I did not pass another night under that illomened roof, but at once accepted my friends' invitation to return home with them. Of course you are now anxious to know the explanation of the mysterious spectre and all other mysteries. All that 1 can tell you upon the subject was gathered more from inferences than trom direct information. In Korner's writing-desk was found the miniature of a lovely girl, which 1 immediately recognized as the face I had seen in my vision; and beside it was a strange and horrible letter, of which I made a copy at tho time, and which, as nearly as I can remember, ran thus i "When you read these lines I shall be no more. Living, I am powerless to avenge your wickedness to me; but if there is a just God, my reveuge will reach you from the grave. I have prayed unceasingly to be directed to a retribution as awful as the misery you have brought upon me. My prayer has been heard, nnd, mark me, scoff as you will in your skeptical conceit, it will come to pass. In my dark hours of despairing agony, this is the vengeance 1 have engendered, and which 1 will execute. From the hour in which 1 draw my last breath I will haunt you. Fly to the furthermost extremities of the world, ami my shadow shall still pursue you; alone or in a crowd, in the darkness of the night or in the brightest sunshine, you shall know no moment of your life in which I may not stand before you. And lest habit should in time dull the horror of my presence to your hard, godless soul, in each visitation you shall behold the progress of the corruption of tho buried body as it festers in the earth. As the body is at the moment I stand before you, in that guise shall you see me. And when the last stage is reached, when the bones crumble into dust, then shall thy earthly career close. Pray, then, if you can, that the tortures you will endure in this life may mitigate those prepared for you in the next." Putting together the little information I gathered at various times, chiefly through Mrs. Adams, I framed this story : At Bonn there lived one Adeline Hturm, a burgomaster's daughter. She was the beauty of the town, had been

educated far above her station, and was as notorious for her haughty and disdainful pride as for her personal charms. All the young men were madly in love with her, but upon all she looked down with equal scorn. Karl Korner was at that time a student at the university. He was a scion of a noble family, strikingly handsome, heir to a fine fortune, and the most heartless libertine in Bonn. The stories he was continually hearing of this girl', unimpressible nature excited his pique, and over a dobauch he laid a heavy wager with a follow student that he would will her love, degrade her pride, and abandon her. He succeeded too well in all that he proposed. It was im act of monstrous villainy; for he hud not even theexcuse of passion for accomplishing Adeline's ruin, while she loved him with all the fervor of her proud, powerful nature. Upon discovering the conspiracy of which she had been made tiie victim, she took poison. From that time Korner was accursed ; he wandered from land to laud, from one division of the globe to another, but nowhere finding peace or rest.

Fashlon Gossip. Parasols this year are trimmed with lace to match the color of the mateiial of which it is made. Tue large numberof young ladies suf fering from dreadful bunions has sent French heels out of fashion. A new kind of fringe is undo of small feathers, and is very beautiful on a thin transparent ball dress. Bonnets art very high this season, and the trimming is all pi ued on the top; they are made to fit close to the head, and have ribbon strings fastened with a sin ill bow under the chin. PoiNTF-nand scolloped fl latest style of trimming make the ladies look like bulating awnings. Lincet are the dresses, and mill peramA new style of ornament for the hair is a sin dl bumming bird with diamond eye and a jeweled arrow through its breast. Wintering Grapes. Mr. J. K. Chamberlain, editor of the St. .Joseph (Mich.) Ilera'il, hat shown us some fine samples of Diana grapes, grown by Orrin Brown, at his fruit farm south of St. Joseph, on tho lake shore. The peculiar point of intere-t attaching to the matter is the fact that Mr. Brown has " wintered" seventeen baskets of Dianas by simply placing thetn in a cool dry cellar, and covering them with paper on the top, care bein taken that the baskets should not be jostled or disturbed. The grapes are in a state of perfect preservation, with their flavor wholly unimpaired. Much difficulty has heretofore been experienced in preserving grapes through the winter in this climate, ami the fact that it has been accomplished by a process so simple and inexpensive will be recognized as of tho utmost importance to grape-growers generally. Chicuyn Tribune, April 5. Passports Abolished in France. The abolition of the passport system by the French government is an event of no mean importance. For a number of years prior to the 1 ;te war there had been no such obstruction to travel in that country, and the result must have been felt in the increased lumber of tourists who visited France and spent many thousands of dollar; there every sear. At the close of the war, however, it was thought necessity to revive the svsteni. Now, M. Thiers has again abolished it, and it is to be hoped that this is for the last time. The abolition is seasonable in view of the large number of Americans and others who go to Europe during the summer. Scribe und the Banker. A wealthy banker, desirous to distinguish himself as a dramatic author, wrote to Scribe to say that he wished that famous dramatist to Wi ite a comedy, and to allow t he banker to add a few lines to it, which might entitle him to say they had worded a part of the play, however small, together; and he was willing to leave all profits to Scribe, and put tho piece in the most splendid style on the stage at his own expense. Whereupon Scribe wrote back to say, " 1 must decline your proposal, my principles forbidding me to help in getting up a team of a bome and a donkey." By return o" post th banker Wrote to Scribe: "Your impertinent letter is at band. How dure you call me a horse ?" A Cheap Soldier)'. The mystery of the chronic revolutions of San Domingo seems at last to have been explained. The peasantry of that happy realm are so far lost to any proper senseof the dignity of labor, that they consent to serve in the army for five cents a day. It is, therefore, really cheaper to be at war than in peace, inasmuch as there is limitless foraging to he done between the infrequent battles. A M Dictator's" whole army never numbers more than a thousand men, so that the expenses of a year of fighting would not be, at the outside, over $20,000. It appears, therefore, that the rental we pay for Saman a Bay would furnish the sinews of war for several campaigns. Theaters as Moral Agents. Tho opinion is extending that cheap places of popular amusement are powerful agents in the work of social reform. Russia has recently recognized this truth in an unmistakoable manner, and on the recommendation of the commission for the improvemunt of the condition of the working classes, the government has determined to establish a cheap theater it Moscow. This, it is thought, will tend to mitigate intemperance, which has become a terribly prevalent vice with the laboring people of Russia ; as many may be attracted from the drinking places to the theatre. It can scarcely be doubted that this result will be raaliaadi