Page:The Literary Souvenir for 1825.pdf/196

 168 NEW YEAR’S EVE.

his early years, exchanged some intercourse with the well-known Cagliostro,.and still retained a great fondness for the mystical and wonderful, notwith- standing the exposure of that worker of miracles. His collection of books therefore contained, besides the best literary works, a great number of tales of wonder, legends, and ancient chronicles, which Angelica had, from her childhood, perused with the ‘greatest avidity. The friends often sat until late in ‘the night, inflaming their imaginations with stories of spectres and apparitions. During one of these paroxysms of mental excitement, they made each other a solemn promise, that she who departed firet from this life should. appéar to her who remained. They had just been reading some instances of these kind of promises; and, in order to bind each other the more firmly, they mutually. agreed that even a remission of their pledge should not release them from their engagement. Whilst they still held their hands solemnly clasped in each other the clock struck midnight. ‘ The sound of the hour of my death!’ ex- claimed Angelica suddenly, as if inspired—‘ in this ‘ hour the promise will be fulfilled.’ Carvline sprang up, alarmed at this ill-boding observation. ‘ Be not 8o terrified at my mistake,’ said Angelica, smiling ; —sixteen years since at midnight I.was born—doubly dear to me therefore is the promise given, and I am
 * I meant to say it is the hour of my birth that strikes