The mountain Democrat., 1864-03-12
THE CAT; THE OFFICER, AND
THE SKELETON. ~
TRANSLATED FROM rHR FRENCH.

an EDghSn physician, Dr. BY mpSOn, who
was the friend and travelling companion
Of Sir Walter ScOttH This Mr.. SIMPSON
resided in Edinburgh, and was q man o
great learning and high social position,
connected also with families Of rank in
the three Kingdoms. A near relative and
dear friend, whose name, however, he Ie.
fused to give me, was judge in the Grim.
inal courts. This judge had been out oi
health; his family anxiously questioned
doctor Simpson, who was their physician,
as well as friend. He, in his turn, cross.
examined his patient, but succeeded in
eliciting only vague replies Unsatistac
tory, however, as were these answers, the
doctor was convinced that some secret lay
behind them. ..-.
One day, however in reply to the en-.
treaties Of bis friend, the Judge said with
a sad smile: Yes, l am i'll, aud there is o
secret, but, dear doctor, both the secret
aud the malady are alike imaginary
Imaginary 2
Yes, for am mad'
The doctor laughed.
Mad! But in what way, may l ask,
does this madness show itself! Your head
is cool, your voice calm, your pulse ex-
ccllentl Where, then, is your insanity p
Close the door, my friend; let no one
interrupt US, and | will converse freely
with you
The doctor odcycd him, and took a seat
near his friend.
you remember, said the judge, the
last criminal tial on which was called
to pronounce the fatal sentence?'
Yes, Scotchman, who was condemn
ed by you to be hung, and was
Exactly. Well, at the moment that the
words passed from my lips, his eyes flash
ed fire, and he shook his fist at me.
paid little attention to his manner, as such
threats are quite common with the con,
demned. But next week the executioner
presented himself before me, with many
apologies for his intrusion, but declared
he could not rest until he had informed
TIE that the criminal had died while pour.
ing out threats Of vengeance against me,
and saying that the day alter the execu.
ton, at tue same hour precisely at VIII ch
had pronounced sentence upon "him,
should hear FROM him! That was eight
. o'clock-for the trial had been long one
and had lasted the whole day.
i expected some attack from his friends
some vengeance from an armed hand,
and at eight o'clock shut myself iuto my
dressing room, with pair of pistols On
my bureau.
Ny clock struck eight. lhad thought
much during tue day of the re7eiatiOn OF
the eXeculloner; but the last stroke of tie
clock sounded without lie occurrence OF
anything extraordinary. ! turned to my
table, when singular purring sound
struck my car. | looked, and saw a large
black and white cat How had it entered
my apartment: ltwas impossible to say,
a. both doors and windows were closed.
1t Lad probably been shut up there all
day. rang for my servant, who came,
but could not euter the room, as the door
was boltyd. was compelled myself TO
unia>tcn the door. spoke to him Of the
cat, bn, it had disappeared.
i thought no more Of il; the night
passed; the next day, aud then came eight
o'clock once more and as the hour rang
forth the clear chimes from the pendule
on my chimney, heard the same puIrihg
sound, and saw the same cat. This tune
ltJunpcd on my knees.
4 have no antlpathy to cats, but at that
moment felt thrill OF terror, and push.
ed the animal down. II resisted, ana
hardly had succeeded when 1t lespt again
to my knee. Again pushed it down,
and this maneuvre was repeated several
time. At last rose impatient!y-thec cat
following each step. rang; my servant
entered :; but the cat fed Under the bed,
where we looked for her in vain.
i had no hight, and vas compelled to
ascend the stairs cautiously, lestl should
run against something. heard voices,
and As passed my wle's dressing room,
| heard my valet talking to my wife S
maid heard hlm repeat the adventure;
concluding it thus
My master is certainly mad. There
was no more OF black and white cat in
that room than there is now in my hand.
These words frightened me. II the
vision was false, and | believed | saw
something that did not exist, in that case
| was a madman; if, on the contrary, the
thing was there, aud only could see it,
it was supernatural visitation. As YOU
may imagine, waited with no little i'm
patiece, and with some fear, for eight
O'Clock to come again. The next day, un-
der some pretext, | kept my servant in
the-rOom; eight struck, and saw the cat
at my side did not speak, hoping that
my servant would take notice Of the ami
NAL, and himself would speak of it; but
he moved about, apparently perceiving
nothing. 1wallcd until coeld give some
direction that would compel him to go
very. near the cat. Put the bell on nv
table, John, | said. lie was at the head
Of my bed, the bell on the chimney piece;
to procure it he was forced 10 step on the
animal. As his foot was about to fall on
the creature, it leaprd upon my knees
John saw nothing, or, at all events, ap-
peared to see nothing. | acknowledge to
you franklyethat cold sweat broke out
on my brow. my master is certainly
going mad These words rang in my
ears.
John said !, come here. Do you
see anything on my knees:'
John looked at me. hesitated, and
then, as if he had taken sudden reSolu-
ton, replied:
'Yes, sir; see cat
Il breathed freely. 1 took it up and
said:
''Then take the animal and put it out
Of the house
: He held out his arms, gave him the
creature and he left the room.
- WAS somewhat reasSured, but for ten
mihGtes looked about me with anxiety !;
at last concluded to ascertain what John
bed done With the creature. As opened
the door, heard laugh from my wife's
room. l softly approached it, on the ends
OF my feel, t,and distinguished Johns voice