The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-22

looked by 8 fine chateau, induced them q
halt there for the night. They were IN
formed by the landlord Of the rustic Inn
that the gray-walled mansion to the south
was, the. property of Monsieur Gaspard, a
widower, who desired to dispose OF 1t, ana,
mean while, resided about league from
| the house. Next morning Mrs. L. and her
daughter spent some hours in exploring the
venerable mansion, and roaming IN It's no
BILE but neglected gardens, until they ar az,
rived at the conclusion that nothing coulu
suit them better. A proposal was 1ort u
with addressed to the proprietor. NO d1m-
culties ensued, and the ladies were quickly
installed in their new possession, as well as
it would seem, in the good graces of Monsieur
Gaspard himself, for he paid them trequent
visits, and speedily established himself on
the footing of On intimate friend.
He was man of more than ordinary Ia
Tents. having, moreover, the art to turn them
to advantage: and it not was very long De,
fore Monsieur Gaspard became the declared
sutton Of Ada L. -, ;, :,
One popularity he possessed, which ma. had
soon attracted Mrs. LIS notice-a haDlilty
to sudden fits Of gloom and abstractlon'
against which he manifestly strove In vain;
These, however, it was true, were not Oh
freouent occurrence, and, with this single
exception. all went merrily as that marriage
hell which, in about fortnight, was to
celebrate the union of the afianced pair
for Monsieur Gaspard was an ardent lover,
and gave his mistress no peace until ne Sc
cured an early day. One night Ada, Ia
tigued with walk somewhat longer than
common, withdrew early to her chamber, o
lofty, spacious apartment, with furniture OF
oak and ebony, and having large old
wardrobe directly facing the bed. She was
awakened by sounds like the rustling OF
silk dress, and, to her amazement, saw q
young lady, richly attired in the fashion OF
q past period, cross the room and disappear,
as it seemed, into the closed wardrobe.
The vision had passed so suddenly that
the young lady had no difficulty in persuad-
ing herself that it was nothing more than
dream, or one of those Impressions SO real
in appearance that frequently visit us on
the confines of actual sleep. When, how
ever, on the next night precisely similar
incident required, and still more when the
third night presented the same image, Miss
LIS alarm and dismay were fully aroused:
On this last occasion she had taken her maid
to sleep with her, and it was the loud scream
of the latter that awakened her in time to
notice the retreating figure.
Cautioning the servant to be silent on the
matter, Miss L. communicated the clrcum-
stance to her mother. Workmen were sent
to examine and remove the wardrobe, when,
at the back, was found small door. This
being forced open reavealed q narrow fight
of stairs which conducted the searchers to
q little vault-like chamber. In one corner
lay heap of moth-eaten clothes and other
objects, which nearer scrutiny proved to
be the remains Of human being, of which
little more than the skeleton was left. A
ring and locket were also found, and these,
at the police inquiry which succeeded,
tended to the Identification of the remains
as those of beautiful girl Of the village,
who, FIVE years before, had, as it was sup
posed, quilted her home with o young SOL
dier who had been seen in the neighbor-
hood.
Monsieur Gaspard was placed under sur
veilance but even this cautious step suf-
feed. His conscience had long tormented
him. He acknowledged that he had seduced
and murdered the girl; but under what
precise circumstances was never revealed,
except to his confessor. lie was found
guilty, but not executed-passing the re-
mainder of his miserable life in the condi-
tion-worse than death-of prisoner in
the galleys, without hope of pardon.