Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1882 — Page 6

THE INVISIBLE GIRL.

Having'decided to finish the year in Italy, I looked around me for a dwelling, to be had upon reasonable terms. I found what I wanted in the outskirts of the ancient oity of Lucca, one of the lovliest spots on the peninsula. The house was quite new, and in every way desirable, while the rent asked for it was absurdly low. I questioned the agent in regard to this circumstance. Having my money safe, he could afford to be truthful. “There is nothing against the house itselfibut the grounds have the reputation of being haunted. Strange sounds are said to be heard near the ledge of rock in the park yonder. We Italians are superstitious, signor,” he added,with a bow, but I presume to an American a ghost is no objection.” “So little.” I replied, laughing, ‘‘that I am obliged to you for the opportunity of making the acquaintance of this one.” Such superstitions are common in Italy, and the agent’s story made * 'very little impression upon me. During a tour of inspection around the premises, I came upon the rock in question. It consisted of two walls of granite, perhaps twenty feet in height, meeting at an oblique angle, covered over their.gi eater extent with wild vinep. It struck me as an exceedingly beautiful nook, and appro* priate for my hours of outdoor lounging. ✓ On the following morning, provided witl* a book and a cigar, I went thither, and disposed myself comfortably in the shade of an olive. I had become absorbed in the volume, when I was startled by the sound of a voice near me. It was evidently that of a woman wonderfully soft and sweet, singing one of the ballads of *he country. I could distinguish the words as perfectly as if spoken at arm’s length from Me. I started up in amazement. I had no visitors and ray only servant was an old man. Nevertheless I made a thorough exploration of the neighborhood. and satisfied myself that there was no one on the grounds. The only public road was half a mile distant. The nearest dwelling was directly opposite, across a level plain —in sight, out far out of ear-shot. In a word, I could make nothing of it. I observed that when I left my original position Under the olive, the voice became instantly silent. It was only within a circumference of a circle of* about two yards in diameter that it was audible at all.

It appeared to proceed from the angle between the two walls of rock. The minutest examination failed to reveal anything but the bare rock. Yet it was out of this bare roch: that the voice issued. I returned to my former station in downright bewilderment. The agent’s story occurred to me, but even now I attached no weight to it. i am a practical man, and was firmly convinced that there mnst be some rational explanation of the mystery, if I could discover it. The voice was certainly that of a young girl. But where was she? Was the old fable of the'wood nymph a truth after all? Had I discovered a dryad embosomed in the rock? I smiled scornfully even as these fancies ran through my head. For more than half an hourAhe continued. Then it ceased, and, though I waited patiently for its renewal, I heard no more of it that day. When I returned to the hou e I made no mention of the matter, revolving to keep it to myself until I had solved the mystery. The next morning at an early hour 1 returned to the spot. After a tedious interval the singing began again. It went softily and dreamily through one verse of song, then ceased. Presently I heard a deep sigh, and then in a slow, thoughtful tone the voice said: “Oh, how lonesome it is! Am Ito pass my whole life in this dreary place?” There was no answer. Evidently the person was only soliloqu'zing. Could she hear me if I spoke, as I heard her? supposing her to be a liviag being at all. I determinrd to hazard the experiment. ‘•Who is it that is'speaking ?” I asked. For some minutes there was no reply; then in a low, frightened whisper the voice said: “What was it?” I heard a voice!” “Yes,” I answered; “you heard mine. I spoke to you. “Who are you?” asked the voice, tremulously; “are yon a spirit?” “1 am a living man,” 1 returned. “Can you not see me?” “No,” answered the voice, “1 can only hear you. Oh, where are you* Pray do not frighten me. Come out of your concealment and let me see you.” “Indeed, 1 don’t wish to alarm you,” 1 replied, “1 am not hidden. 1 am standing directly in front of the spot whence your voice seems to come.” “You are invisible,was the trembling answer. “Your voice comes to me out of the air. Holy Virgin! you must be a spirit. What have I done to deserve this?” “Have no fear of me T entreat you, I said earnestly. “It is as much of a mystery to me as it is to you. I hear you speak?' but you are otherwise invisible.” “Are you a real living being?” asked the voice’ doubtfully, “Then why do I not see you ? Come to me. I will sit here. 1 will not fly.” **Tell me where 1 am to come, “1 said. * “Here in my garden in the arbor.“ “There is no arbor here,”l returned, -only a solid eock, out of which you seem to be speaking.*, “Saints protect me ” answered the ■voice. “It is to awful. 1 dare not stay here longer spirit or man farwell. •'but you will come again, “1 pleaded.

“Let me hear you speak once more. Will you be here at the same hour?” “1 dare not—but vet your voice sounds as if it would do me no harm. Yes, 1 will come.” Then there was utter silence —the mysterious speaker had gone. I returned home 111 a state of stupid wonder, questioning myself if I had lost my senses, and if the whole occurrence was not delusion. I was faithful to my appointment with the voice on the following morning, however. I had waited but a few moments, when the soft, trembling accents broke the silence, saying: “I am here.” “And I too,” I answered; “I am grateful to you for coming.” “ITiave not slept the whole night,” said the voice, “I was so terrified. Am I doing wrong to come?” “Are you still afraid of me?” “Not exactly, but it is so strange.” “Will you tell me your name?” “I don’t know—Lenore. What isyours?” “George,” I answered, imitating her example and giving my first name only. “Shall we not be friends, Lonore?” “Ob, yes,” answered the voice with a silvery peal of laughter. Evidently its owner was getting over her fears. “Don’t be offended, George. It is so Ftrange—two people who cannot see each other and perhaps never will, making friends.” “I will solve the mystery yet, Lenore,” I answered, “and find out what you are. Would you be glad to see me in m yproper person?” “Yes, ’she replied, “I should like to see you.” “And I would give a great deal to see you, Lenore. You must be yery beautiful if your face is like your voice. “O, hush!” was the the agitated answer. “It is not right to speak thus.”

“Why not? Do you know, Lenore, that if this goes on, I shall end by falling in love with you, though I never see you.” “You are very audacious,” was the reply. “If you were really here, before me, I should punish you for it. Ar it is, I am going now.” “But you will come again to-mor-row, Le'nore?” “If you will promise to be more discreet, George, yes.” As maybe imagined, I did not fail to keep my engagement with my invisible friend. For many consecutive days these strange meetings continued. As absurd as it may seem, the voice was beginning to make a powerful impression upon me. I felt in its solt tones tne manifestation.of a sweet, refined woman’s soul. True, I had made no progress toward unraveling the mystery Nevertheless, I was confident that through some inexplicable dispensation of Providence I had been permitted to hold communion with a real, living, lovely woman, from an unknown distance. She had not yet told me more than her first name, and I did not press her for more as yet. Her only answei to my question as to where she was, “In the garden.” She did not seem capable of grasping the fact that I was not invisibly near her. She seemek content with matters as theytstood, and for the present I could do no more. I made no one my confident as to my daily occupation; first, because I knew I should be regarded as a madman upon my mere statement of the facts, and, next because I shrank from having an auditor at my mysterious conferences. Will it be"believed? I was in love with the invisible girl—iu love with a voice. Absurd, of course, but I am not the first man who has fallen in love with a woman’s voice. Besides I was confident that it was only a matter of time before I should see the girl in person. One day, towards the end of summer, we had been talking as usual, and I had said: "My stay in Italy is nearly ever, Lenore.” “Ah,” was the quick reply, “you will leave me, George?” “Noj Lenore,” 1 answered, “not if you wish me to stay.’ “How can 1 belp*it, George, whether you go or stay ? 1 have never seen ycu; 1 never shall see you. What am 1 to you?”

“All the world, Lenore,” 1 answered. “Ours Has been a strange experience. Without knowing each other as people ordinarily do, we have yet been close friends. You are more to me than a friend. 1 love you, Lenore.” There was a quick suppressed erv, no other reply. “Be truthful, Lenore. Tell me your heart. If you love me, trust to me to discover your whereabouts and come to you. If you do not, say it, and I will spare you the pain of meeting me, and let us never speak again.” There was a pause; then she tremuously said: “I have never seen you, but my heart tells me to trust you. I know yeu are good and noble, and I am willing to leave my fate in your hands, Yes, George, I love you.” Even as she said the words she uttered a cry of alarm. Then, a gruff man’s voice spoke: “Go to your room, Lenore. As to this villain with whom you have been holding these secret meetings, we shall soon find him and punish him, as he deserves. Search for the rascal, Antonio, and bring him to me.” There was a quick trample of feet and crushing shrubbery, as if the men were breaking through it.# Then another man’s voice spoke: “He has disappeared, your excellence.” “Very well, we shall And him vet. He cannot escape me. This is a fine piece of business, surely—the daughter of Count Villani holding secret meeting with some vagabond. Lenore shall take the veil.” “Yes,” I cried, “the bridal veil,

Count. I shall pay my resueets in person to-day.” Then, leaying them to get over their astonishment as best they might, I returned to the house in high spirits. The name, Count Villani, had given me the clew to the whereabouts o Lenore. The dwelling of which I have spoken as situated across the plain, and opposite the rock, was the residence of Count Villani. I had met the old gentleman in the city, and formed a speaking acquaintance with him. As neither of us had mentioned our private affairs, I had no means of connecting his daughter with my Invisible girl. That afternoon I presented myself to the Count, and after amazing him with mv story, which a few tests convinced him was true, formally proposed for his daughter’s hand. As my wealth and social position were well known, he offered no objections, and his daughter was sent for. As she entered the room, I saw that my idea of her had been less than true. I had never seen so lovely a woman, nor one so perfectly embodied my highest conception of grace and beauty. Her dark eyes, still wet with tears, met mine inquiringly. “Lenore,” said I,j“I have come as I promised.” “George,” she cried, with a radiant smile, “is it you?” “Are you disappointe 1?” I asked “am I what you expected ?” “You could not be more,” she answered naively, “you are no less.” “Now that we meet as solid and material beings, I continued, “are you willing to ratify tbe contract we made when we were only voice, Lenore? Your father gives us permission.”

It maybe supposed that I received a satisfactory answer, when the good natured count is discreet to turn away his eyes during my reception of it. A s to the strange circumstance which was the means of uniting us, a series of tests revealed a remarkable accoustic prop-rty in the rock, by which persons standing in certain positions with reference to it, able to hear each other with ease,mors than a quarter of a mile apart. It ie a matter of fact solution or the mystery, but Lenore and I are none the less grateful for the good offices of the rock."

GOULD’S METHODS.

How Those Who Hare Money Easily Make More—A Description of Gould. Jay Gould’s regubar broker (Connor) is only one of the many in his service, and Connor himself often employs other brokers in order to carry out Gould’s secret schemes. It was in this matiner that Gould depressed the elevated stock until it touched the desired point, wnen he loaded himself with all lie could carry. He then changed from bear to bull, working out his scheme with grand success. A vast amount of money was lost by those who solu ont under Gould’s attack, and the advance of these very shares now adds a million or more to his wealth. It has been for ten years Gould’s role to watch for weak stoftks. When he has made a selection he forces it down by a series of well concert ed attacks, and then makes heavy purchases and forces]the market up as easily as he forces it down. Only a man of the highest order of genius ean carry on such a system, and the fact that Gould succeeds is the greatest proof of his vast natural powers. Gould is the most inferior of all leading business men in point of personal appearance, and a stranger would take him for a Bowery clothes dealer rather than a railway king. He has the air of a spruce trafflker in cheap goods. Both front and side face are inferior, but the lower part of the latter is concealed in a heavy beards so intensely black that it suggests artificial means. Gould leads a hard life. He labors with close application and is driven by the paessuie of his engagements until he may be considered a mere bondman. He has no leisure, no society, no reading, no recreation, but is simply under the whip and spur of necessity. To this has been added the consciousness of impending danger. To this has been added tne consciousness of .impending danger. He has a body guard of detectives to protect him when walking the streets, but he spends most of his time in his office, being as secluded as possible.

A brilliant meteor was seen in the western sky at Raleigh, N. C., abou t 8:30 o’clock Friday evening. The moon was shining brightly at the time. The News says the meteor started from a point about 20 degrees above the horizon, and at the commencement of its course looked like a fiery point. It increased in size rapidly, and swept through the air a blazing mass, leaving a fiery tail behind, until it sank below the horizon. Fire Marshal James 8. Thompson resides at 1209 Filbert street, Philadelphia, Pa., and concerning St. Jacobs Oil, he says: “A very troublesome attack of rheumatism in my forearm has been overcome by the aid of St. Jacobs Oil. I think that all persons who have to be exposed to the weather would act wisely in keeping St. Jacobs Oil on hand. Mrs. Lucy H. Hooper,who does the “American Colony Gossip” for the Paris Continental Gazette, denies the reported engagement of Miss Liliau Norton, the American vocalist, to a Russian or any oth6r kind of a noble man. Mrs Hooper is reg&ded as good authority in such matters. The town of Princeton, Worcester county, Mass., may boast somewhat of ttye longevity of its inhabitants. But Seventeen persons died within its limits last year, aud of these one was 95 years of age, five between 80 and 90, and four between 70 and 80.

SOME CURIOUS STORIES

Tunneling for Free Air—He Saw a Ghost—A Foot-Pad Fooled—Other Odd Incidents. John Sansome was left on a Sansome street, Philadelphia, doorstep when a small boy, ana it is supposed that the little outcast got his name from what was then a pleasant thoroughfare. He left Philadelphia years ago, and now, while he is known as a “tip-top” person among his associates on the Pacific coast, ■ the San Francisco police have him down as “a bad one.” In 1874 Sansome was sentenced to a term of fifteen years in the penitentiary at Folson, his crime having been burglary. Nine months ago lie obtained a bit of wire, a chftsel and a block of wood from the work-yard iu which he was employed. These tools were for the purpose of exploring what sounded like a hollow space under the floor of a cell into which lie had moved. He took enough cement out to run his wire down and by prospecting there-with found that there was a considerable opening. He was much encouraged and worked half the night. It was impossible to strike a blow ordinarily, lest the sound Bhould be heard. Sansome kept his mallet in hand, however,and at every slamming of a door madß a stroke that told. One granite block was cut out and a piece of hard wood, whitewashed, was substituted. Examination of the hollow space showed an abandoned sewer. But the sewer was walled with fstone and cement. Sansome began on the wall and worked at it at night for several months. for three and a half feet he managed, by stripping, to crawl through into the sewer. After passing along the sewer some fifty feet he met an obstruction in the shape of stone and cement ten feet thick. This he removed slowly,, piece by piece, carrying it back uncler his cell like a squirrel. Reaehing the ground he tunneled for eight feet and came up through a asphalt floor into a closet. The iron bars across the windows were filed in two and one night, after eight months of constant effort, he escaped. He had lost twen-ty-five pounds during the time. On the following day he was recaptured and given another cell.' A few nights ago Henry Waters, a youth, whose home is near Youngstown, Ohio, was aroused from his sleep by something in the room. He sat bolt upright in bed. The moon shone through a window, and as young Waters looked toward the light he saw a tall figure in ghostly attire slowly approaching. He spoke, but the ghost made no reply. Then he grasped his revolver, and thus armed and thus emboldened said: “If you’re a man I kill you; if you are a ghost this won’t hurt you.” He pulled the trigger aud the report came, but as with quick motion the ghost lifted an arm Waters heard the bullet rebound against the headboard of the bed. This sent a cold chill through the youth, but lie discharged his revolved again and again, and then, wild with fear, hurled it at the intruder. At th,at moment the ghost threw off his disguise, seyeral other parties to tti<? joke came laughing in and lights were struck. The merry-ma-kers had drawn the bullets from the pistol, leaving enough powder to make a report, and at each discharge the play-gbost had thrown a bullet against the headboard. All this the practical jokers expected Waters to enjoy, as he was a jovial fellow, but they found him first dazed, then incoherent, then raving—as his parents fear a maniac.

The Empress Ts’z Tan’s Funeral.

For the last twenty years the Chinese empire has been governed by two empresses regent. One is the mother of the boy emperor, and she is styled the empress of the western palace; while the lady now deceased was the widow of the late emperor, who appointed her co-regent during the minority of his son. Her name was Ts’n Tan, and her title, the empress of the eastern palace, or, colioquilly, the eastern empress. Her death occurred in April, unexpectedly and suddenly, as her majesty was a comparatively young woman. The remains were removed from Pekin on the 31st of October, being the nineteenth day of the nineteenth month in the Chinese calendar, that day having been found by the imperial astronomers to be auspicious for the ceremony. The funeral is called by the Chinese by a term which signifies “to seal her last rest.” When the day had been fixed, public notification was given in order that the shops and houses along the line of route might be closed, so that profane eyes might net gaze upon the august person of the young emperor and the funeral trappings of the illustrious dead. The crossings of streets and mouths of lanes opening upon the route were barricaded with blue loeth, and, at the request of the authorities, the British legation sent round a circular requesting all British subjects to keep away from the line of route. The young emperor and his mother announced that they would follow the remains to the tomb in the Imperial Mausolea, which are situated ninety miles northeast of Pekin. But the impression produced by the assassination of the czar, and more recently of President Garfield, combined with the recent agitation among the ennuchs in the palace, caused a chauge of plan; and the emperor was contented to go to a plateau beyond the suburbs, where, in a marquee surroxnded by the imperial body guard he bade the remains of his stepmother a last farewell. The catafalque containing the coffin had to be carried all the way by hand, by 128 bearers at a time, 6,0U0 men being the total number of bearers employed. These men had all been drilled for weeks to carry the

pondr'W machine with a gentle, uniform step, without any vibration, and tbe test was their carrying a heavy hearse containing a cup filled with water, which must not be spilled The roads were levelled and smoothed for the procession, and all traffic was suspended until the funeral was over, it is described as a straggling disorderly line of officers, dressed in scarlet silk and satin uniforms, variegated with embroidery, while the flags, the plumes and catafalque itself were of yellow, mostly in satin and displaying everywhere the device of the Imperial Dragon in gold thread. Some mandarins in full ceremonial dress, horsemen armed with enormous ancient spears, fans, umbrellas, and the deceased empress’s regalia in two portable niches covered with yellow silk, were the chief features in the procession. Pince Kune and his suite were a mile behind tbe coffin. The procession occupied three days on its way to the tombs; libations of wine were poured morning and evening, at every gate and bridge which the coffin passed. At the tomb the coffin was placed upon the dragon hearse, which glided down into the vault at “the auspicious moment.” and this was followed by a sacrificial offering on the terrace of the Mausolea. The tomb is very solidly constructed, and the entrance is closed by a heavy massive stone door, which, when pulled tight,moves over a balance, upsetting a heavy bolt in the interior, which so effectually bars the door as to make admission impossible except by demolishing the tomb. Thus “the last rest” of a Chinese sovereign was fealea.

Handling a Tennessee Crowd.

A Michigan man who has a patent windmill went down to Tennessee last fall to see whr t he could do among farmers of that state. Reaching a town iu the central part of that state, he went to a dealer in agricultural imElements and stated his desire to erect is machine and call attention to it. “Well, it can be done, I guess,” was the reply. “But how had I best proceed?” “Well, you kin put her up over on the hill thar. I don’t know owns the ground, but if you treat the crowd I guess no one will object.” “Very well.” ' “Next Tuesday is market-day, and there’ll be heaps of folks in town. You want: to be around early|gand treat the crowd.” “Yes.” “Set the old thing goin, and ask th boys over to drink something.” “Just so.” “You want to stand on a bar’l and make some explanations, of course, for it will be new to the most of ’em. But don’t talk too long. Make it about ten minutes, and then treat the crowd.” “Yes.” “If you have to talk any more, tell ’em there’s another drink ahead.” “I see.” “If the old man Jones comes in with his boys there’ll be a row in the crowd. They shoot on sight. Keep your eye peeled, aud if you see any signs of a row ask the whole crowd out to diiuk.” “Yes, but—” “Lookout for dog fights. If one takes place you can’t hold the boys a minute. Keep your eye on the canines. If you see a yaller purp begin to bristle up, ask the crowd to step over and moisten.” “ Yes,6but by that time the whole will be drunk,” protested the agent. “Sartin it will, and that’s what you want, of course. That will give you a chance to skip out and take your life along with you, and if you make stop anywhere within a hundred miles I’ll send the windmill by freight —provided there’s anything leit to send! Nothing like knowing how to handle a Tennessee crowd, my friend Did you ask me out to take sunthin V

Toilets at the Queen’s Drawing-Room

The beauty of the day was a lady in black, who wore a boquet made entirely of daffodils. Lady Colin Campbell was there, looking superb. One lady had a splendid bouquet of ezalies, and another had one on a very large scale composed entirely of lilies of the valley .which as each sprig cost a shilling at present, must have represented a goodly sum of money. The youngest looking person present was Maria, Marchioness of Aylesbury, in sang de boeuf and black, with a magnificent tiara of diamonds. Lady Kilmoree was by far the most lovely of the married contingent who were presented. Her corsage was of white Venetian velvet, trimmed with ostrich feathers, the drees itself being of white satin, the headdress being composed of ostrich feathers and diamonds.? Apart from the question of becomingness the following was a poetic dress, worn by a debutante: The front was composed of a mass of snowdrop fringes and some thing that looked llike icicles in the sunlight, but which were in reality bugles, The bodice and long train were heavily fringed with snowdrops and bugles, ana the large bouquet was composed entirely of snowdrops and maidenhair. As the newspapers quit talking of Oscar Wilde his audience diminishes. Should they cease altogether, it would be a case of knee-breeches and hair parted in the middle exhibition to empty benches. On Friday, during the trial qf an important case in Cincinnati, the judge dismissed the jury on account of the intoxicated condition of one of them. They seem to have “juryfixers” down there as well as in Chicago. Jay Gould An the swiftest coupon clipper in the continent.