The mountain Democrat., 1863-05-09
ATrenoh GAost story.

The castle of Ardivillisrs, near Brsteul,
was reported to be haunted BY evil spir.
its. Dreadful noises were heard and
flames were seen by night to issue from
various apertnrss, ThA tsraas who was
intrusted with toe Gzrs Of tGSs tr5SSs ia
the absence Of its owner, the present
d'ArdiviIliers, could alone live there. The
spirit seemed to respect him; but any
person who Ventured to take up nights
lodging in the castle was sure to bear the
marks of his audacity. Superstition is
catching. By-and-by the peasants in the
neighbOrhood began to see strange sights.
Sometimes . dozen of ghosts would ap.
pear in the air above the castle, dancing
around. At another time Q number Oh
presidents and counsellors appeared in
the adjacent meadow. There they sat in
judgment on a gentleman Of the country
who had been beheaded for some crime .
hundred years before. In short many
had seen, and all had heard Of the won
ders of the castle Of Ardivilliers.
This affair had continued four or dve
years, to the great loss Of the president,
who had been obliged to let the estate to
the farmer at very low rata. At length,
suspecting some article, he resolved to
visit and inspect the castle. Taking with
him two gentlemen, his friends, they de-
terlnined to pass the night in the same
apartment, and if any noise or apparition
disturbed them, to discharge their pistols
at either ghost or sound. AS spirits know
all things, they were probably aware Of
these preparations, and not one appeared;
but in the chamber just above dreadful
rattling of chains was heard, and the wife
and sister Of the farmer ran to assist
their lord. They threw themselves on
their knees, begging that he would not
visit that terrible room.
my lord" they said, "what can hu.
man force effect against the people of the
other world 7" n. de Fecanour attempted
the same enterprise years ago, and he re-
turned with Q dislocated arm. N. de Ur-
selles tried, too; he was overwhelmed
with bundles of hay, and was i'll for q
long time after" In short, so many at
tempts were mentioned that the presi-
dents friends advised him to abandon the
design. But they determined to encoun-
ter the danger themselves.
Proceeding up stairs to an extensive
room, each having q candle in one hand
and pistol in the other, they found it
full of thick smoke, which increased more
and more from some flames that were Wis.
ible. Soon after the ghost or spirit faint
lv appeared in the middle he seemed
quite black, and was amusing himself
by cutting capers; but another eruption
r l., . Ak.os,
view. He had horns and long tail, anC
was in truth q dreadful object. Que o
the gentlemen found his courage rathel
fail.
This is certainly supernatural" sale
he; "let us retire."
The other endowed with more boldneSs
asserted that the smoke was that Of gun
powder, which is no supernatural compo
sition; land if this same spirit" ad
ded he, "knew his nature and trade, h
would have extinguished our candles.
With these remarks he jumps amidst
the smoke and flames, and pursaes thu
spectre. He soon discharged his piSto
at his back, and hit him exactly in the
middle; but was himself seized witt
fear, when the spirit, far from falling
turned round and dashed upon him.
Soon recovering himself he resolved tC
grasp the ghost, to discover if il were @ri
al and impossible. Mr.. Spectre, disOF.
dered by this new mAne0yl .Anshed to o
tower and descended a small staircase
The gentleman ran after, and never losing
sight of him, passed several courts anc
gardens, still turning as the spirit winded
till at length they entered all open barn
Here the pursuer, certain as he thought
Of his prey, shut the door; but when ht
turned round, what was his ama9emen
to see the spectre totally disappear. IT
great confusion he called to the servants
for more lights. On examining the spot
of the spirits disappearance, he found 4
trap door, upon raising which several mat
trasses appeared, to break the fall of the
headlong adventurer. Descending. M
found the runaway spirit-the farmer
himself! His dress, a complete bulls
hide, had secured him from the pisto
shot, and the horns and tail were not dia
bolic, but mere natural appendages ofth'
original. The rogue confessed all hi
tricks, and was pardoned, on paying tn
arrears for FIVE years, at abe old rent o
the land.