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

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and dreamed all this of the horse without
rider. The marchioness, however, had
not been asleep, nor had she been dream
ing. She crossed herself with a pious
shrng, and half feared she had bcheld the
Evil One in the form of a black horse.
For day or two the marchioness's
dream was the joke of the men and
maids. both the indoor and outdoor msnials
Of her ladyship but very soon her strange
narration received confirmation strong"
Antoine, the woodman or keeper-Antoine
himself. the most hilarious of the sceptics.
was the next who behcld the apparition.
Only few days later, he was coming
down the avenue or lane towards the chat
eau at a late hour in the evening, when
ne beheld the large black horse approach
ing him at terrific pace. Its wild name
was tossing and flying in the air, and An
tome fancied its eyes shone with super
natural fire. The bride was over its neck.
and the saddle on its back, but no rider !!
And what was more strange, more darkly
suspicious than all. the horse sped along
the hard road in mysteriously silent man
ner: its hoofs, in fact, not making more
noise than those Of a goat. Surely. after
all. the marchioness had not been dream
ing. They who had discredited her had
been the fools.
The honest woodman was stricken with
superstitious terror at the phcnomenon.-
Though almost frightened out of his wits,
he still looked after the flying horse. ex-
pecting every minute to see the earth open,
and the creature leap into its stables in
Hades, amidst fire and smoke But the
creature went straight on up the avenue,
neither turning to the right nor the left (;
neither rising into the air. nor des ending
into the bowels of the earth for Antoine
looked after. and watched it as long as he
could see even the waving of its ample
tail
After this, there was nothing talked of
at the Chateau Beauyoisin but the phan-
tom horse and while the excitement was
still reigning in the minds of the fair mis-
tress OF that household and her several
retainers, Antoine made Il special journey
Of inquiry into the matter, proceeding
straight up the village at the end of it,
and calling upon all his acqnaintances
and gossips there. But the whole affair
was quite new to them they had never
seen or heard anything about this horse /;
nor had any one heard of an accident TAX
ing place, such as would account for
horse being seen without rider. As for
the said horse running without making
any noise. all Antoinr's friends scratched
their h. ads amaln. and thought that rath
er too good not to be considered as a joke.
Antoine had many wrestling argument
with them on the subject and as argu
mcnt is rather dry work, many a cup of
wine was drunk while the subject was be-
ing discussed. To the latter circumstance
must be ascribed the fact, that Antoine
did not set out upon his return until the
evening was somewhat advanced notwith-
standing that h;sfoute lay down the haunt
ed avenue. unless he were disposed to make
circuit Of several miles. The wine,
while it had tempted him to prolors his
stay. had also impaired to him some meas
ure Of hazy. effervescent bravery. He
broke away from his cronies with a laugh
and boast, and to tell their taunts and
Jokes about the haunted lane and the phan-
tom.horsc. declared that he should be only
too glad if he could meet the Evil One
himself. for then, perhaps, his dark majes-
ty would be kind en- ,ugh to explain to hun
the mystery of the whole affair.
So Antoine set out upon his homeward
walk. 1t was growing dark. but the stars
were peeping forth, and it was the time
of the new moon, and promised to be an
evening at least light enough for one to
walk home in comfort. The people were
all retiring within their houses. As he
passed along the straggling village street,
many jaiousies were closed, and many can
dies lighted. Notwithstanding the wine,
Antoine soon began to think that it was
a dreary thing to be out late by ones self,
and to wish that the chateau were not so
far away; and as exercise and the increas-
ing cold qualified more and more the daunt-
less mood in which he had set forth. he
began to look forward with considerable
discomfort to that part of his journey
where he should have to strike into the
avenue wherein the equine apparllion had
been beheld by both himself and his
mistress. With every step that brought
him nearer to the spot, he grew more se-
rious. till he might be said to be in state
not far from downright trepidation.
Antoine crossed himself many times
that p;ght When ones nerves become
excited. it is astonishing how much may
, be found to alright in the commonest
+ sights and sounds. The swaying OF
branch in the wind, the signing and muir
muring of the air amidst the leaves, gain
new significance in twilight hours, and
when heard by ears prepared for alarms
Thus honest Antoine was in such a
state by the time he found himself at the
ton of the dreaded avenue, that he walked
on mut,ering his prayers aloud and shut
. ting his eyes every instant. for fear that
the next step might reveal something hor-
rible straight before him. A dark, dis
mal-looking house. surrounded on three
sides by ancient sombre trees-one OF the
= country seats of the Du Foinvert family
=. I:..lo ,,saJ . G a ras sdance for MANY