STRANGE PRESENTIMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2116, 30 January 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

STRANGE PRESENTIMENTS.

In the " Souvenirs do la Marquise do Crequi " the following story is told : — The Prince and Princess Radztwill reared with their own children an orphan niece, the Countess Agnes Lanskoronaka, at their chateau Nowiemsko. In order to go from the grand apartments of tha Prince and Princess to the part of tho chateau in which the children lived it was necessary to cross an immense hall. The Countess Agnes, only between five or six yearn of age when she came there, always uttered piercing shriek* when they made her pass through tho door in the great hall which opened into the drawing-room. An soon as she was old enough to talk intelligently and explain this strange behaviour, she pointed, trembling and paralyzed with terror, to a great picture orcr the door, which rep. resentatcd Cumean flybil. Thoy vainly sought to have her prow familiar wita tho painting so horrible to her. There was nothing about ij which ought to frighten, a child. She fell into convulsions as soon as the entered that hall. ' Her nnole was unwilling to yield to what he called a mania, and send the Sybil to the garret, because it was a magnificent picture by Titian. The Princess, more compassionate, at last gave orders that Agnes should be brought around the out* side of the chateau by the large court or by the garden terrace, but always taken to and fro in a way to reach the other end of the building without crossing tho great hall. Here is the end of that story, an told me by the Prince de Hohenlohe. Ho was at the Chateau de Newiemsko during the Christmas festivities, nt a re-union of from fifty to sixty of the noblemen of tho neighbourhood, with their wives and families. The young people were going to give an entertaiument, which originated in France (but which is now out of fashion) called la coitnc dv lioi. There was talk of giving it in the great hall, and for the first time in her life the Counters Agnes did not show any fear. Her uncle whispered that (the had become reasonable, and tho Princess added that, as she was to bo married in thrco days, she did not want to displease her undo by refusing to enter the great hall whoro the wedding-ball would naturally be given. They wore obliged to let her pass in first, because she was betrothed to a Princo Wisnowski, who wan a Jagellon. But when fho reached the threshold her heart failed her — she dared not enter. Her uncle lectured her, hor cousins and her intended Lusbind laughed at her, but still the clung to the folding-doors and refused to enter. At last they pusheirlier in and closed the door* to prevent her coming out. Then they heard means and supplications for them to open the door*. She cried that she was in danger of death, that she was going to die, that she wai dying. Then camo nn awiul crash, and after that they heard nothing more. The shock thoy had given tne doorway had loosened the accursed picture, which had fallen with its block and massive frame. One of the ornaments of the Radziwill coat-of-arms, which was of gilded iron, had pierced the poor girl's skull, and the unhappy Agnes lay there rigid in death. Vernier, in M 3 "Avonir Nationale," relates another ease within his own knowledge. It is as follows: — De Musson, who was fond of mystification, grew more and more gloomy. At four o'clock, one afternoon, I entered his studio just as he wai about to pol^h his boots. " You are going out to-night r" " Yes," he said, " a dinner at Madam Hainguerlot's house." " Fine table, charming women, intelligent company." 41 1 should much rather not pro. I had a bad dream last night. Something dreadful will happen to me if I go out tonight. I dreamed that I was here busy at work, when some one knocked on the door three times. I had scarcely answered " Como in " before a very tall woman, with her face vailed, entered and took a seat. "It is M. Musson," she said, "to whom I have the honour of speaking P" 11 It is, Madam ." 11 Will you make my portrait?" " I am at your service, Madam." " But it must be done at once." I wm impatient to see the face concealed behind the veil. I hastened to say : " Let us begin this instant." The unknown made a movement in her chair, as if trying to push herself in a suitable attitude. "It will be necessary, Madam, to lift your veil." When the veil was removed I uttered a cry. I had before my eyes a death* head! " Isn't it good, la Mystification ?" said the whistling voice which issued from that empty mouth, " Farewell till we meet again, Monsieur Musson." I insisted that he had mistaken the meaning of his dream, and at last ho again took up hit brush and box of black* i»g. At nine o'clock I passed Madam Haingnerlot's house on my way home. The night was stormy. The street-lamps, ill-tended then, wero smoking and dim. A carriage started away from the house at a rapid pace. I heard a loud cry. People ran out with lanterns. A man, stretched out on the pavement, was dying. I bent over the prostrate figure, and recognised the unfortunate Mussou. The po eof the carriage had penetrated his breast. His presentiments had not deceived him.— Translated from the French.