Written by William E. Spear
Published by The Three Fifty-seven
30 April 2024
His altar was the grave.
(Theme for THE GHOSTLY GROOM plays and goes under)
My name is William Spear and this is our series titled THE GHOSTLY GROOM. It is inspired by, and interpreted from, Washington Irving’s THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM.
Lenore Katzenellen is the 45-year-old founder and president of a financial analysis firm. She is also engaged but her fiancé is killed in an automobile accident. And then calls Lenore’s house.
Her father and aunts are terrified. She is curious.
The dead fiancé’s bandaged face and head is seen outside the kitchen window.
Lenore is now intrigued. Her family is petrified.
While she is out for milk, a uniformed police officer stops at the house and tells them Lenore’s car has been found abandoned on the side of the road.
Find out what happens in the Fifth and Final Episode titled REMAINS.
(Theme for THE GHOSTLY GROOM plays and goes under)
The two aunts wailed in unison: “Our poor, poor Lenore.”
The officer continued: “There was a note.” The baron read it out loud. “I’ve gone with him.”
The officer asked who’s the “him”?
“Her dead fiancé,” sobbed the aunts. “Now she is dead.”
The aunts hugged each other and gasped in fragments. “Even worse. He came back . . .” “To keep the wedding vows. And they will have . . .” “Spirit children.”
The two looked at each other and spoke with a single voice: “Wretched, phantom, spirit children!”
Despite implication of his daughter’s death or worse, marriage to a ghost, the baron remained silent. Oddly, calmly, quiet. Rather than add to the tsunami of misery, he thought, “What would Lenore do? What would Lenore do?”
He asked where her car was found. “Up north. About thirty minutes,” was the answer.
“That’s where Geoffrey died,” said the baron.
They headed to the door and the officer stopped them. “We received a call from the hospital about a woman matching Lenore’s description.”
They piled into a car and drove to Wurtzburg hospital. The receptionist said it was too late for Lenore. More tears from the aunts.
The baron countered with, “Do you mean dead or left?”
The receptionist clarified: “I am so, so sorry. She left.”
The baron and aunts pondered the details.
One of the thinkers spoke of “needing a miracle” and another spoke of praying and the third said, “a church would be useful for divine thoughts.” Whereupon the three pirouetted, exclaimed, “Of course” and headed off.
Moments later they were careening through the cemetery of Wurtzburg cathedral.
One of the aunts pointed to a shadowy figure and the other shouted its head was covered in bandages. The baron steered the car on a collision course, cornered the fugitive between two mausoleums, and confronted the spectre: “Take me to Lenore or I will deliver you to the worms.”
With no escape available, the figure dropped to its knees. The baron would have run it over if a voice had not interceded: “Father, it’s alright.” It was Lenore!
The two hugged and the aunts made it a watery foursome. Their relief was interrupted by the sobbing figure.
The baron approached fiercely: “The police will show more mercy than me.”
Lenore stepped between them, comforted the figure, and helped it stand. She told of more details.
The figure spoke: “I am Herman Starken. My father served with you in the last war.”
The assemblage bowed their heads and offered, “We thank him for his service and may he rest in peace.”
Herman told of Geoffrey offering a ride. “Then,” continued Herman. “Geoffrey asked me to call Lenore on his mobile. When he finished, a herd of deer bolted across the road. Geoffrey swerved and the car crashed down a ravine.”
The aunts gasped and Herman continued: “My face and head were bleeding badly but Geoffrey was worse. His breathing was labored. He begged I tell you what happened. I laughingly told him he would get well and tell the story at his wedding reception. He insisted I speak with you or his soul would not rest.”
The eyes of the aunts welled. Herman again continued: “I agreed and . . . he died. I grabbed his phone and wallet, crawled out of the ravine, and collapsed on the highway. A motorist called an ambulance. You know most of the rest of the story.”
Herman added: “I hope, Sir, you and your good family, will find it within you to forgive me for any pain or sorrow.”
The baron’s anger began to rise but the aunts counseled him privately on the genuineness of Herman’s motive. The baron wavered. Lenore spoke of the respect Herman had shown for Geoffrey’s dying request. The baron, who thought his daughter was dead and was grateful she was still alive, re-considered and thanked Herman for his actions.
Upon which, Herman collapsed and was rushed to hospital.
A few days later, the real Geoffrey Ochre was lain to rest in Wurtzburg cathedral. His parents and family wept and Lenore comforted them. After the funeral, Herman went back to the hospital. He was released several months later.
However, the aunts were less fortunate. They lost a chance to tell a real life ghost story and organize a traditional wedding. But others came along. Weddings, not ghost stories.
And Lenore continued running her business.
Dear readers and listeners, this is how the story ends.
(Theme for THE GHOSTLY GROOM plays and goes under)
That was the Fifth and Last Episode titled REMAINS.
Theme music is through the courtesy of Nicky.
William Spear wrote the series and it was produced by The Three Fifty-seven.
Thank you for your attention.
(Theme for THE GHOSTLY GROOM fades out)
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