Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-12-05

ne but too well remembered. 1t was the
phantom-horse! Antoine rushed aside.
and stood quaking beneath the trees
The creature came on, bounding. tearing,
tossing; eyes shining, name and tail flying,
bride and stirrups swinging; no rider on
its back. no noise from its hoofs. 1t was
gone, past and away, in an instant. Sick
ith terror, Antoine looked after it, ex-
pecting every moment to behold some ter.
rife denomment but what was his aston
ishment when he saw i. stop in front of
the old house of the Count du Foinvert,
and paw at the great wooden gate of the
porte cochere, uttering at the same time
short inpatient neigh. And what
when, almost Immediately. he beheld
one leaf of the gate opened from within,
as if in obedience to the summons of
the diabolical horse, which thereupon
tossed its head and walked in. as proud
and confident as lord entering his own
castle. The devil has taken apartments
in the Chateau Foinvcrt ~ exclaimed
Antoine. 'No wonder the family have
not been able to live there all these years
past this accounts for it. This is the
secret Of the unlucky old house,
When Antoine reached home that
night, he was in such state as to awak-
en- the lively sympathy of his fellow do
mestics, from the coachman to the scul-
lion and when, after the administration
of various stimulants. he related what
he had seen, the whole household became
suddenly oppressed with the sense of
surrounding mystery, and believed un-
hesitatingly that the world was full of
ghosts. spirits, enchanters, and ernissares
of the Evil One.
In the morning, the marchioness heard
the story from the lips of her own wait
ingmaid, and was Immediately seized
with an inten curiosity to know who
lived in the Chateau Foinvert, and what
was the meaning of it all and. more
ever, the marchioness, like resolute
young widow, fully believed that no.
thing in the world could prevent her
getting to the bottom Of it.
Almost Immediately after breakfast
she ordered her carriage, and taking
with her the coachman, a footman, and
Antoine, was driven to the Chateau Foin-
vert.
The gates were opened by groom,
who, in answer to an inquiry as to who
was living in the honse at present, an
swered: No one but Monsieur the
Count stops at the place occasionally,
and. as it happens, is here now
.Oh = exclaimed the marchioness, I
was rot aware Monsieur the Count did
our neighborhood so much honor. Tell
your master beg to speak with him a
moment on a subject which has given
me much anxiety The words were
hardly uttered when a very elegantly
dressed gentleman was observed emerg-
ing from one of the shaded walks be-
meath the ancient trees that surrounded
the chateau He was parsonage of a
distinguished and elegant presence, and
apparently about twen'y-nine or thirty
years of age. His face was handsome ;
but in it's already sunken cheeks and Pc
culiar pallor, exhibited the ravages of a
life of dissipation. Seeing carriage
with attendants, and very charming la
dy in it at his porte cochcre, he hastened
forward.
There is Monsieur lie Comte,' said the
groom, and then turning to his master,
he cxclaimed-the name having been
communicated to him by the footman-
Madame la Marquisc de Beauvoisin de-
sires to speak with monsieur
Yes, monsieur said the lively mar
chioncss, inclining her head as the count
bowed low before her. Ihave come ex.
pressly to ask some impertincnt ques-
tons
4 shall be only too happy to answer
any questions madame may do me the
honor to ask said the count, politely
opening the door of the carriage, and
handing the marchiones out. 'Pray, step
into my poor house. 1t is not we'll ap-
pointed, for we seldom come here now
a-days but. at any rate, we may find a
chair for you to sit upon
They passed into the house, and en-
tering one oe the rooms opening from the
entrance hall, the count placed chair
by the window for the marchioness. and
drawing another for himself exactly op-
posite, sat down and prepared himself
to hear what she had to say. with gravi-
ty which in slight measure discompos-
ed the marchioness. who NIL the time was
fully conscious that her visit was solely
prompted by curiosity, and indeed was
rather fearful that some of the questions
she intended to ask might be of a some-
what hazardous sort.
i am exceedingly anxious to know,
monsieur she commenced, who it was
that was thrown from his horse last
night
Thrown from his horse, madame
w-when-where asked the count,
in surprise.
We'll that is what I am come to
learn said the marchioness- 1t was a
large black horse the gentleman had been
riding, and the accident happened some
where in this immediate neighborhood.
1T is the first have h. lrd of it, said
the count. looking at histhir vi'itor with
peculiar smile, which might have ex-
pressed grave surprise, and perhaps