Part 27 (1/2)

Now, had the fellow been honestly engaged, it is not likely that the blunder would have happened; and even had it occurred, he doubtless would have discovered at once the cause

But very worthy people are sometimes affected by superstitious fear, and run counter to the dictates of good sense and sound judgiven by a lord, in a very ancient castle, on the confines of Geruished for great self-possession and bravery

Many of the guests were to reallant hussar was informed that one of them must occupy a room reputed to be haunted, and was asked if he had any objections to accepting the room for himself

He declared that he had none whatever, and thanked his host for the honor conferred upon him by the offer He, however, expressed a wish that no trick ht be followed by very serious consequences, as he should use his pistols against whatever disturbed the peace of the roo; and, wearied by the festivities, soon fell asleep He was presently awakened by the sound ofabout the apartrotesquely attired, singing a e

The , and the hussar listened for a ti sadness, and, however seductive at first, after a time lost its charm

[Illustration: THE UNNERVED HUSSAR]

The officer, addressing the musical damsels, remarked that the e the tune The singing continued in the same mournful cadences He became impatient, and exclaimed,--

”Ladies, this is an i ives me any further trouble”

He seized his pistols in a manner that indicated his purpose But the mysterious ladies remained, and the requiem went on

”Ladies,” said the officer, ”I ait five minutes, and then shall fire, unless you leave the rooures remained, and the music continued At the expiration of the time, the officer counted twenty in a loud, ed both of his pistols

The ladies were unharmed, and the music was uninterrupted The unexpected result of his violence threw hih his courage had withstood the shock of battle, it now yielded to his superstitious fears His strength was prostrated, and a severe illness of some weeks'

continuance followed

Had the hussar held stoutly to his own sensible philosophy, that he had no occasion to fear the spirits of the invisible world, nothing serious would have ensued The daures were made to appear in the room occupied by the hussar, by the effect of a mirror The whole was a trick, carefully planned, to test the effect of superstitious fear on one of the bravest of men

In no case should a person be alaration will show, in most cases, that the supposed pheno for one to be frightened by a nightcap on a bedpost, for a fright affects unfavorably the nervous systehtcap on a bedpost is in itself a very harinal poem by Mr Beal

CHAPTER XI

COLOGNE

BONN--HOLY COLOGNE--THE STORY OF THE MYSTERIOUS ARCHITECT--”UNFINISHED AND UNKNOWN”--VISIT TO COLOGNE CATHEDRAL--THE TOMB OF THE MAGI--THE CHURCH OF SKULLS--QUEER RELICS--THE STORY AND LEGEND OF CHARLEMAGNE--THE STORY AND LEGEND OF BARBAROSSA

”We eed from the majestic circle of the Seven Mountains, the ain met our view The river ran smoothly, the Middle Rhine was passed, Bonn was in view, and there we dismissed our boatman

”We stopped in Bonn only a short time We went to the Market-place and walked past the University, which was once a palace

”We took the train at Bonn for Cologne, in order to pass rapidly over a part of the Rhine scenery said to be cone!