The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-06-20

was the only instance they could then cite Of
such good fortune, which even in the lifetime
of Fabert, had appeared so cxtraordnarythat
the common people did not hesitate to assign
supernatural causes TO his elevation.
They said that from his infancy he had
been occupied with magic and soFcery; that
he had made compact with the devil; and
our inn keeper, who added the credulity Off
Breton peasant TO the ioolishness ola Cham
paignois, assured MS, with the greates; conf
dence, that in the castle of the Duke ofC.,
where Fnbert had died, black man had been
seen, whom no one knew, to enter his cham
ber and carry away the soul of the Marshal,
which he before had bought and which now
belonged TO him; aud that even now, in the
month ofMay, the anniversary of the death
of Fabert, little light, carried by the bnck
man, could be seen. These stories enliven-
ed the repast, and we drank n bottle ofcham-
paign in honor of the familiar demon ofFa4
bert, praying that he might be plensed TO take
us also under his protection, and enable IT'S
TO win some battles as famous as those OF
Collioure aud Mnrtee.
The next morning rose at an early hour,
aud repaired 10 the castle of the Duke ofC
-, an immense Gothic pile, which, per-
haps, | should not have noticed AZ any other
time, but which, confess, regarded with n
curiosity mingled with emotion, recalling to
mind the story of the inn keeper of the pre-
vious evening.
The servant to whom applied was igno-
rant whether he could receive any one.
gave him my name aud he went out, leaving
me in kind ofarmory, decorated with hun
ting implements and family portraits. WYATT
ed some time, and no one came. The career
of glory and honor upon which am TO enter,
said | TO myself, commences in this INTO
chamber and became somewhat impatient,
and had already counted all the family por-
traits several times over and all the cross
beams ofthe ceiling, when | heard slight
noise in the wanscotng. 1t was n half clos
ed door blown open by the wind. | looked
and perceived very pretty boudoir, lighted
by two great windows aud glass door tha1
led out upon n magnificent park; | took few
steps towards this apartment, and stopped at
sight which had AT first escaped me. man
with his back towards the doorI had Just en-
tered, was lying upon II sofa; he rose and
without perccivlng me, hastened, suddenly,
towards The window. His fhce was bnihed
in tears; the deepest despair was imprinted
upon all his features; lie stood for some time
motionless, his head buried in his hands; no
then began 10 pace rapidly up ard down the
apartment
l was standing near him, he perceived me
and started distressed and embarrassed at my
own indiscretiol | attempted to retire, and
murmured few words by way of excuse.
"Wbo are you? What do You wislis" said
he to me- with loud tone of voice, Selling
me by the arm.
81 am Sir Bernard, ofRoche Bernard, and
/ arrived from Brittany :" .....
II know--I know" said he and he threw
hmselfinto my arms, made me sit down by
his side, spoke TO fne hurriedly of my father
and all my relatives. whom he knew so well,
that had no doubt he must be the owner of
the castle.
avon are the Duke ofC-," said to him.
He rose and eyed me in an excited manner.
lie replied 10 me, IL was so, hut am so no
longer, | am no longer anything;" and seeing
my establishment he exclaimed
mot word, young man, do not interrupt
me-" ...
'If sir, have been an unwilling Witness
of your sorrows and your grief, ard If my
friendly devotion can afford any consolation"
ayes, yes, you are right; not that you can
in any way affect my fate. buty you can. at least,
he witness TO my last will and testament--it
is the only service | ask ofyou." ...
He went and closed the door and returned
to seat himself near me, who awaited what
he had to say with tremnlous emotion. He
was grave and serious His face also had an
expression such as | had never seen before.
His forehead, which attentively examined
seemed to he marked by some fatality. His
face was palc--his black eyes sparkled like
lightning, and from time to time his features,
although altered by suffering, were contract
ed by an ironical and an almost internal smile,
"What / am about TO tell YOU" said he To
me, "will contound You! You will Doubt
you will not heleve--I mysefvery often find
my ownself doubting--at least l would he
LII, 49, ho, o,,I,
nv thing that surrounds us, even in my own
there are many other mysteries :
which we IRE compelled to acknowledge
without being able to comprehend lbem.'i
He stopped moment, ms tito collect his
thoughts, passed his hand over his forehead
and continued
Il was horn in this castle; had two BROTH
ers, my elders to whom the honor and prop
srtv of our house were to descend. had moth
ing to expect but the family mantle and col
ar. In the meanwhile thoughts of ambition
lnd glory fermented in my brain and made
my heart beat.
| was unhappy in consequence of'my oh-
scurity, and DESTROYS of renowu, and thought
,nIy ofthe means of acquiring the atrer.---
This idea made me insensiblc to all the pleas
Tres and enioyments of life. The present
was nothing to me. ] existed only in the iii-
are, and this future was presented TO me un-
Ter the most gloomy aspects. was then
thirty years of age and was still nothing;
hen on all sides literary regulations were
growing up at the capital, the fame of which
'eached even our provinces.
All! often said to myself, i'll could only
win for myselfa reputation in the career OF
etters! It would be permanent renown
md that alone is happiness.
The confidant ofmy griefs was aiiaucient do
nestle nm old negro who WINS in this castlC