The Weekly Minnesotian

PRETTY GOOD GHOST STORY.—A late German writer relates the following as being about the best authenticated ghost story on record. He says there can be very little doubt of its truth. Quite likely:

When Queen Ulrick, of Sweden, was on her deathbed, her last moments were embittered by regret at the absence of her favorite, Countess Steenbock, between whom and the Queen there existed the most tender and affectionate attachment. Unfortunately, and by a most singular coincidence, the Countess Steenbock at the same moment lay dangerously ill at Stockholm and at too great a distance from the dying queen to be carried to her presence. After Ulrick had breathed her last, the royal corpse as is customary in that country, was placed in an open coffin, upon an elevated frame, in an apartment of the palace brilliantly illuminated with wax candles.

A detachment of Royal Life Guards was stationed in the ante chamber as a funeral watch. During the afternoon the outside door of the ante chamber opened and the Countess Steenbock appeared in deep grief. The soldiers of the guard immediately formed into two lines and presented arms as a mark of respect to the first dame of the palace, who was received and escorted by the commander of the guard into the chamber where lay the body of her dearest friend. The officers were surprised at her unexpected arrival, and attributing her silence to the intensity of grief, conducted her to the corpse and then retired leaving her alone, not choosing to disturb the expression of her deep emotion.

The officers waited outside for a considerable time, and the Countess not yet returning, they feared some accident had befallen her. The highest officer in rank now opened the door but immediately fell back in the utmost consternation. The other officer present then hastened into the room, and they all beheld the Queen standing upright in her coffin and tenderly embracing the countess! This was observed by all the officers and soldiers of the guard. Presently the apparition seemed to wave and resolve itself into dense mist. When this had disappeared the corpse of the Queen was seen reposing in its former position on the bed of state: but the countess was nowhere to be found. In vain they searched the chamber and the adjoining rooms—not a trace of her could be discovered.

A courier was despatched to Stockholm, with an account of this extraordinary occurrence; and there it was learned that the Countess Steenbock had not left the capital, but that she had died at precisely the same moment when she was seen in the arms of the Queen. An extraordinary protocol of this occurrence was immediately ordered to be taken by the officers of the government, which was countersigned by all present. This document is still preserved in the archives.—German Paper.