tolling of this unknown bell was to warn each victim
that the hour had come. At length these rumors reached
the ears of the Baron. He listened to them without
any reply except a sneer, but those who saw that sneer
shuddered when they spoke of it to their dying day.
" Years passed, and castle after castle was added to the domains of the Baron ; but at every new acquisition another of his once fair family of children died. One was drowned ; another was killed while hunting ; a third perished by the hand of an assassin ; and the fourth, and last, fell in a sudden fray ; but though he died in a foreign country, and the news of his death did not reach the townsfolk for a week, they knew, by the tolling of the mysterious bell, that the last of the Baron's race was no more. The whispers of the citizens now became louder than ever. The Baron's wife had long since died, and it was said that his turn would arrive next. When they came to look back at the deaths of his progeny, they found that, by some strange coincidence, one of his children had perished on the same day, of the same month of each succeeding year ; and it was predicted that, at the next anniversary, the Baron himself would die. But the stern old noble only scoffed at these whispers, and, as the day drew nigh, resolved to shew his scorn of the danger, by holding high festival in his castle. He caused, moreover, the bell, whose tolling had first produced these rumors, to be imbedded in solid masonry, as you see it now. so that no one could ring it. Then he made ready his feast. " You must not suppose that every one shrunk, like the honest townsfolk, from the Baron's society. There were enough bold, bad men who laughed at what they called idle rumors, and were ever ready to pledge him in the wine cup, or follow him to the chase. Yet each of these men had some stigma attached to his name. One had plundered widows and orphans, a second had ravaged defenceless maidens , another was said to be a parricide, a fourth was suspected of sacrilege, a fifth had murdered his bride, and others had committed other acts, abhorred alike by God and man. On the countenance of each was written that at which holy eremites crossed themselves and prayed. And these men now gathered to the festival of their chief, mocking at the rumors that daily gained strength. " The hall where the festival was held was a wide apartment, with walls so gloomy, and casements so deep, that the cheerful beams of the sun rarely found entrance within, or only played in sickly radiance on the damp, stone floor. But though such was the usual aspect of the room it was different now. Lights blazed in fifty places from the walls. A table, covered with the richest plate, stretched down the ample hall. Never indeed had the palatinate beheld such an array of wealth, magnificence and profusion. Here was a rarely carved goblet from Italy, and there a Venice glass of unrivalled
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beauty ; golden urns and dishes glittered along the board ; and the drinking cups of the guests flashed with jewels. Every viand that taste could suggest, or skill prepare, was arranged for the feast, while the richest and costliest wines blushed in golden ewers at hand. Servants, magnificently attired, moved noiselessly over the floor ; incense rose up from tripods burning at intervals along the walls ; and strains of music, from unseen performers, floated around, and dissolved the listeners into ecstacy. Well might the guests, thus surrounded by all that could delight the senses, scoff at the fears of the people, and deem themselves safe from harm . But ever and anon, as the wandering eye of a guest lit on the cold, damp wall, by some strange whim left bare of tapestry, he would shudder involuntarily, as if foreboding ill. These feelings, however, were rare, and did not interrupt the evening's hilarity. As the hours passed on, and the guests quaffed deeper of the glowing wine, their jests and songs and gaiety increased, until the hall rang with merriment. Many a wild deed was then related, at which good men would have turned pale, but which was hailed now with shouts ; many a ribald song was sung, convulsing the listeners with unholy mirth. And thus hour after hour passed, while still the lights burned on the wall, the incense exhaled from the censers, and the music of the unseen performers filled the air. Midnight had come, when, with a scornful sneer, and then a gay mocking laugh, the Baron arose and spoke, " Fill high your goblets,' he said, ' fill to the brim,' and as he spoke he poured forth a bumper of the rich, red wine, while each guest followed his example. We will be merry to-night, brave sirs, in spite of the idle rumors of superstitious fools, and the lying prophecies of canting priests. Ho ! midnight of the day, on which they said my race was to perish, has come, and yet here I stand, the last of that lineage, to mock at such fears. | We will be merry to-night, gallants, and see whether the old bell can disturb our revellings. Better wine than this never crossed lip, nor ever did gayer company meet at festal board. Lo ! give us a triumphal song, a gay and exulting strain. Now, fair guests, join hands, and drink, one and all, my toast, Confusion to the foul fiend.' Quaff—quaff.” " And they quaffed the wine, and, amid strains of triumphal music, with linked hands, they shouted back the toast. But ere the huzza ceased, the slow, measured tolling of a bell filled the apartment, and , as the revellers | listened , their cheeks blanched, and their voices died in their throats, for well they knew that fearful sound. The music stopped in terror, and a dead silence reigned throughout the hall. Again and again the toll of that bell clanged awfully across the night, and the lights waved to and fro, as if flared by gusts of air. Each man drew closer to his neighbor, and all gazed in wild affright at their host. At the first toll of the bell, the exulting
