The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-17

diSpel tle dIsagreeabe thoughts which would &C.
casionally obtrude themselves to disturb his peace,
and he thought of the present. and endeavored to
be unmindfu Of the future. He was in due time
blessed with children, handsome and healthy, all
his speculaons succeeded far beyond his most san
guine wishes, wealth restored TO him his friends,
and happiness greeted him on all sides.
But, Notwithstanding all this, it was observed by
all, that the prosperous architect was daily be-
coming more paid and distracted.
A short distance from the city, between the
Porte de Flandre and the Porte du Bioage, he had
built small and elegant house where he sought to
forget himself amidst its magic beauties; OCCASION
ally returning to the house we have before de-
sCribed. During nine years did Olivier live thus,
but when he saw the time approaching that he
must leave all, to follow the unknown his heart be-
came agonlZed, terroFs the most cruel were con-
stantly before his ewes; sleep fOrsook his eVeids
and he daily became thinner. In vain his wife,
whom he f0ndly loved sought to penetrate into the
secret recesses of his heart but the secret which he
there held was ina ccessible to all The caresses
of lis children agOnzed him, and the tears would
course each other down his cheek, and already had
his wife more than once remarked that he trembled
eonvulsively in crossing over the grand and beaii-
fJl bridge which he had himself constructed, when
their walks would be in that direction
At last the fated day approached when the slran-
ger would come and exact the accomplishment of
the bargain which had been made. Olivier gave
a grand supper, to (which he invited his relations
and friends, and those Of his wife, who rejoicing be-
yOnd measure at this apparent display of gayety IN
her husband, besOught Of her contessOr, the good
old Father FanMutfet, the Canon of st. Guduie, in
whom Olivier had great confidence, to attend the
festival although for the last ten years the arCh
tect had neglected altogether the duties of his
Ggion, which was owing TO most singular cIrcum-
stance, namely, that during that period he could
not enter into Catholic church without feeling
sort Of sul1ocaton, attended with deadly sickness.
This worthy priest had reflected long and sadly on
the conduct of the architect, and, without mani
Testing his anxiety, drew from thence his own in
ference and acting all through with preCautiOn,
the wisdom of which soon displayed itself
The company had assembled, and they had been
about an hour seated around the festive board.
The paIlidness Of Olivier became fearful to contem
plates in vain had he recourse to the wine, to re-
new his courage. He drank deeply, and his
thoughts became less troublesome He heard the
clock strike nlne-thIs was the moment the I'M
known had left him ten years before. With con-
vulsive movement, and intensity Of anguish, he
wished to drink again, and finding the bottles emp
PITY, he ordered his servant to fetch OF his old
est and best wine from the cellar. The servant,
taking candle, fastened 10 obey him; but when
she had descended, she perceived a large and
glOOmy-Iooking man, clothed in green velvet seat
ed on the last step Of the stairs. She drew back
afrighted, and asked him whom he sought!
Go and tell your master that / await him, > re-
piled the stranger, :" he will know who ] am"
The servant quickly assembled, and, in a trem-
bling voice, acquainted her master with what had
occurred.
The architect groaned in anguish, and at the
earnest supplications of his wife related the COM
pact he had made with a stranger, and the assist
ance he had received from him, and gave himself
up to wild despair.
His wife, his children, and his friends shreked
in horror, and vented most piteous lamentations.
- Do not We despair of the bounty and protection
Of God, said the old priest; tell the stranger to
ascend"
The heart-broken wife, and the poor children
were on their knees before the venerable priest,
beseeChng him with frenZied eageTness to spare
their protector.
Olivier, upon whom ray of hope had beamed
became more composed.
The servant, summonng up all her courage,
communicated TO the unknown that his presence
was desired i'll the drawng-rOOm.
He appeared on the instant, walking with a
firm and dignifed air, and holding in his hand the
compact signed by Olivier.
A fendish smile spread itself on his lips, and
irradiated his eyes, at the approaching consumma-
ton Of the engagement.
The old priest calmly turning to the unknown
said, "yOu did not expect to find me here; you
know that possess power over you :"
The unknown bent his head towards the ground,
and appeared i'll at ease.
The priest, raising in his hand measure full of
the grains of millet, continued: " | ask you but
one favor, and that is to grant but few minutes
Swear that you will leave Olivier in peace until
you have picked up, grain by grain, all the mIllet
which is in this measure"
l consent said the green man, after mo-
ment's silence.
Swear ii by the living God,'' said the venera-
hle eccesastic, commencing to pour out the grains
on the floor.
The unknown began to gather the grains with
fearful agility. He trembled, and said in a sepul
chral voice, swear il"
The priest making a sign, boy appeared. carry
ing with him vessel filled with holy water, and
sprnkling what remained in the measure with the
holy water. The green man, not daring to put his
finger in after this, beloved most fearfully, and dis
appeared
Thus was the architect saved, but ever since this
occurrence, the bridge over the great fall between
the gates of Het and Anderlecht has been called
The DeuiEs Bridge