Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-07-27
THE BROTHERS.


THE BROTHERS.
Not far from Geneva there stands fine
old chateau, long in the occupation of a
strange, morose, misanthropic man, who
mixed in no society though, at the same
time, he appeared TO derive little pleasure
from the exquisite gardens and other
with which, with most lavish
hand, his beautifully situated mansion had
been surrounded. 1t was at length offered
for sale, and, much to the surprise of those.
who knew its value, passed at a very mod
crate price-into the hands of a jeweler,
well known1t to many an English tourist,
resident of Geneva. -" ri ha'Eaz'
Delighted at his bargain, Monsieur G..
lost no time in making every arrangement
for adapting the chateau to the taste of
some ''milord Anglais," who was certain
to eoyet SO lovely spot for his summer
residence. .sio v "rea maap
He was right in his anticipation. A
gentleman with his wife and two daugh-
ters, soon established themselves at the
Belle d., taking the place not for the sum
mer only, but by the year. ,
A few weeks elapsed, and they had be-
gun to feel themselves at home in their
pleasant dwelling, when, one evening Mr.,
NJ, while reading aloud to his family, en-
counterad difficult phrase, which it was
necessary to elucidate by means Of the
dictionary, and the younger sister, Emily
hastened to the library to procure that
work.
She was gone rather longer than was
expected, and, when she did return, looked
SO pale and agitated that her mother anx-
iously inquired the cause,
''Well," was the reply, 81 have had a
sort of adventures; but my ghost flor
have certainly seen one) was by no means
terrible, and l don't know why should
feel so Hurried. 1t was very handsome
young mau!' Ha'3s.'nda
ia Pressed for details, the young lady re-
lated that she had seen nothing in her way
to the library, but that on her return, just
as she was descending thefrst step of the
stair, she heard noise behind her, and,
looking round, observed young and
handsome man in naval uniform. He
looked sadly at her for some seconds, du,
ring which she never removed her eye,
from his face, pointing with his finger tc
the side of the corridor, and vanished, as
it were, into the wall
This story was received, as the MAORI
ty of such are destined to be, with some
incredulity. Nevertheless, so much i'm.
pressed was Mr.. NJ. with what he had
heard, that, when their daughters had re-
tired, he and his wife rediscussed the mat
ter, and came to the resolution that Mr..
NJ. should visit the "haunted" corridor
about the same hour, and see if any sim
liar appearance would be vouchsafed to
him. 7'r
Accordingly on the following evening,
he mounted guard, and walked to and fro
for considerable time without result
Tired at last of his vigil, he was wheel,
ing round to commence what he had re-
solved should be his last turn, when he al
most ran into the arms of a young nava
officer, precisely answering the descrip
ton given by his daughter The figure
pointed to the wall, and, before Mr.. M
had fully regained his self-possession, dis
appeared. @
Mr.. Ms countenance, on entering tht
drawing room, sufficiently denoted tina
his search had been successful, but he de
clined to say what he had actually seen
and requested his family, for the present
to control their curiosity.
Early next morning he proceeded t.
to Geneva, and called upon his landlord.
81 have come, Sir" he said, ''to asl
your permission to remove portion of tn
wall in the corridor of the chateau" Ant
finding the proprietor hesitate, he at ono
related the double apparition, adding that
unless his proposal were complied with, h
must decline to continue tenant of tn
mansion. sH.
The landlord shrugged his shoulders, ex
tended his palms, and, deciding With
himself that this was buta new exampl
of that English eccentricity which it
equally impossible to comprehend an'
resist, gave the permission required.
Some persons being sent for, the worE
at once begun. AS it proceeded Mr.. N
was much struck by the singular manne
of the master mason, who, having first di:
couraged the idea of disturbing the wall 4
all, threw every imaginable obstacle in tn
way, and subsequently, when his men ha
actually set to work, watched their prC
ceedings with fixed stare, and fac
gradually becoming deadly pale.
An hour, however, elapsed before an
discoveries were made. But at the end
that time there was turned forth to Il
light the upright skeleton of a man, whicl
as the wall was removed, fell topping 70
ward among the workers. At this sigl
the master mason reeled, and sunk upo
the floor in a swoon, 7- 8
Restoratives were administered, and Il
man was conveyed to Mr.. Ms study, whe
the latter, rs soon as he was sufficient
recovered, questioned him as to the agit
ton he had displayed, limiting that, in Il
event of his not relating all he had pre-,
ously known concerning the bricking-up
the body, the gravest suspicious might Z
tach to his own share in the business.
Under the influence of such argumer
the man related, in a aconfused and agitat'
manner, the.circumstances here given in
more connected form.
A former possessor of the chateau
Monsieur Fremont-resided there with b
wife. They had no children.