Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-28
WO L l. D. ii r. HEIR ESS:
Or. Pas En<ar.

cent 6re.in the library. 1t was a true winter
day; outside,
and in the hush, which had gradually fallen
over the party, the sobbing of the wind, and
dash of the rain drops against the huge panes
of glass were mOurnfuly audible. Portia Mar
siOn, whose buoyant spirit always rebelled
against gloom. spoke first.
We are as dull as dreaming opium eaters
this afternoon. Let us do something to amuse
ourselves till the dressing bell rings
What shall it be-" was the question
Shall we tell stories2'
"OfeOu eOurse'-clapping her hands in delight
Every one shall contribute her or his memories
81 life. Some remarkable incident must have
happened to everybody. Mademoiselle turn
ing to a French lady who sat next her your
face has an expression that cOnyinces me you
can a tale unfold, If you will Please begin"
MademOlSelle protested at first that story
telling was not her tOyfS, and that she would
rather take the role OF "a good listener; but her
objections were Oyerruled by the united voices
of her companions, and at length she complied,
and related to us the following incident of hcr
early life assuring us of its truth:
Ny father and mother were, as you we'll
know, of that ancient French aristocracy who
suffered for their king and church in the ter
rible Revolution. They were both children of
emigrants; and when their families were re-
stored with the BOurbOns, they were married
TO each other by their parents desire. But,
like your own caVilIers, the once wealthy
HObIryse OF France never fully recovered the
possessions they had lost. We were very poor;
and II was consequently with a great deal of
pleasure that my father read letter from an
Old aunt of his own, who was rich and childleSs,
Offering to make me his hciress it, on aeuuaint-
ance, she should like me. / was to be sent to
her as soon a possible; and if she approved of
my manners and disposition | was to reside
with her as her adopted ghter, till her death.
cannot say L was at all pleased at the idea of
leaving that dear Paris, and entOmbing myself
IN an old chateau; but-qHe fare lit was the
viii OF my parents, and might not dispute il.
was consequently despatched with all con-
yenient speed to my ancient relative and ar
rived safely, after rather a tedious journey, at
her house. having been escorted thither by a
gentleman who was her neighbOr, on his return
nome. 1t was such an old hoUse-built, they
said by Eauban; and certainly there were
traces of fOrtlhcatiOn about it. The dOmestics
looked "a II they had waited on y Oah, and sur
vived the Deluge. One of these antiquities
ushered me into my aunt's presence. She was
seated in an immense saloon. near a stOve-for
ii was cOld-and had, like her apartment n
certain air Of faded grandeur. She retained
the dress of the court days Of Louis Seize; her
hair was dressed q la M,LTie dRtOtnetfs and
she was highly rouged. She received me with
an expression of sensibility that rather enter
tanned than touched Inc, seeing she had so long
After her embraces and welcomes were end
ed, she turned and introduced me to an old lady
VINO sat near her. bending over an embroidery
frame Ii was Madame de Bernia, her friend
and dame de eomYagHte. She was a great deal
Older than my aunt. and had a terrible face; it
hauuts my dreams sometimes even now. Her
nose and chin nearly met; her cheeks were
sunken. her hair white as snow; she also was
highly rOUged. aud the color gave a false lustre
To large pair of cold faded blue eyes, which
once seen could never be forgotten.
Madame de Bernis, = said my aunt, in a
low voice, = has been my faithful companion for
thirty years; II she were not so much older than
myself, / should have left her fortune but it is
quite unlikely that she should survive me. You
need not look at ME 80 wonderfully. In addi-
tIOn to her many infrmities, she is deaf. and
hears not a word you say
supper was now announced, and when the
meal WAS flushed, my aunt asked me if 1 would
hot like TO 60 to bed as | must be tired with
nv journey.
hope you are not timid, - she said, as she
blde ule good night; :. I like courage even in
ayOInggirl. However your room is separated
from mine only by the picture gallery, and you
can come to me If you feel alarmed
Now, by character, 1 am very timid, though
at the moment did not like to avOw 1T, and
NV transit from my aunts chamber through a
gallery Of staring, faded portraits did not tend
u encourage me The room destined for NV
Own occupation was a large one, entirely hung
round with mirrors. Whichever way turned
beheld shadOwy mimic on the walls, the
movement along which became so painful to
me, that L hurried into bed, although the
couch, placed in al alcOve. looked so dark and
solemn after my little Paris bed. that / had at
Arst shrunk from it.
had been asleep about an hour or two, when
slight rustling noise awoke me loOke ed up
and to my horror saw my auut's dame de CoIn-
Pagnie. Madame de Bernis, sitting beside the
bed Her cold still eyes were fixed on me-
looking, If possible. more ghastly than by day
aud In her hand she held a very bright clasp
knife, open | was so terrified that | could
nei.her speak nor move, but lay watching her.
whilst she never took her eyes off me- Every
noS and then she passed her finger along the
edge Of the knife, as If to feel if it we're sharp
enough, then muttering = Pas encore let il
drop again on her lap.
Me- amiSs, / cannot tell you half my fear
Nothing IN the whole course Of nv afler-Iife
hAs ever equallsd the horror Of that hour 1
thought prayer-I could not utter a sound;
not even cry for help. So passed period of
time which seemed TO me an eternity At
length once more uttering pas encore, she
TOse, descended from the alcGye. and disap-
Pe1red IN the large dark chamber; for my light
sdulcsI only 10 cnliShten the recess. tainted.
When recovered my senses il was daylight;
TIE cold gray dawn Was stealing through the
JaIOdsies. l shivered, and felt go i'll could
scarcely move. At lenth my aunts femme do
ehaEL5Is came to assist at my mornings toilet
and told her al my nights misery. She
smI!eI incrsiulous!y, and observed that
AadenOiselle must have had Il disagreeable
dream. There was no entrance or egress from
her room. save thrOugh madame and Madame
ds Bernis sleptin the other wing Of the chateau,
and was very lame"
Her words could not, however, convince me
against the evidences Of my senses. At break
last told my aunt every thing but she also
refused to believe il was anything but dream.
fancy, an indi digestion"
gloom possessed my mind the whole day
Naturally, was sAJOHee, and amusing; was
nov absent, sad and dull. Madame de Verg-
Hler, my aunt, did not find her boudoir great
~ enliYened by her young guest She did her
best good lady, to divert my mind, but one
does not easily recover from such a shock Of the
EeFYss.
1t was with inexpressible horror saw night
approach; and at length. unable to bear the