The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-03-19

to halt there for the night. They were
informed by the landlord of the rustic inn,
that the gray-walled mansion TO the south
was the property Of Monsieur Gaspard, a
widoweF, who desired to dispose of it,
and, meanwhile, resided about a league
from the house. Next morning Mrs. L.
and her doughter passed some hours ex-
pioring the venerable mansion, and rom
leg in its noble but neglected gardens, un-
til they arrived at the conclusion that
nothing could possibly please them better.
4 proposal was forthwith addressed to
the proprietor. No difficulties 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 fre-
quenL visits, and speedily established him
self on the footing Of an intimate friend.
He was man of more than ordinary
talents, having, moreover the art to turn
them TO advantage, and ii was not very
long before Monsieur Gaspari became the
declared suitUr Of Ada L.
One popularity he possessed, which had
attracted Mrs. LIS notice liability to
sudden fits of gloom and abstraction,
against which he manifestly strove in
vain. These, however, it is true, were
not OF frequent occurrence and, with this
single exception, all went merrily as that
marriage bell, which, in about fortnight,
was to celebeate the union of that afIi~
anced pair. For Monsieur Gaspard was
an ardent lover, and gave his mistress no
peace until he had secured an early day
: n. H. u -
somewhat longer than common, Withdrew
| early 10 her chamber, a lofty, spacious
apartment, with furniture of oak and ebo-
ny, and having a large old wardrobe di-
rectly facing the bed She was awakened
by sounds like the rusiling of a silk dress;
and, to her anazement, saw yonng lady,
richly atIired in the fashion Of past pc
Rod, 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 per-
suadiug herself that it was nothing more
than dream, or one of those impressions,
so real IN appearance, that frequently visit
US Oh the confines Of actual sleep. When,
however, on the next night, precisely
similar incident required, and still more,
when the thirl night presented the same
image, Miss L. 5 alarm and dismay were
fully aroused. On the last occasion she
had taken her maid to sleep with her, and
1t was the loud scream Of the latter that
awakened her, in time to notice the re-
treating figure.
Cautionirg the servant to be silent on
the matter, Miss L. communicated the
circumstance to her mother. Workmen
were sent for to examine and remove the
wardrobe, when, at the back, was found
small door. This, being forced open.
revealed narrow flight Of stairs, which
conducted the searchers TO a little vault
ike chamber. In one corner lay a heap
Of moth eaten clothes, and other objects
which nearer scrutiny proved to be the re-
mains of human being, of which little
more than the skeleton was left a ring
and a locket were also found, and these,
at TIE police inquiry which succeeded,
tended to the Identification of the remains
as those of a beautiful girl of The village,
who, FIVE years before, had as it was sup
posed, quilted her home with a young
soldier who had been seen in the neighbor-
hood.
Monsieur GaspaTd was placed under
surveillance but even this cautious step
sufIiced. His conscience had long tor
mented 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 remainder of his miserable life
in the condition. worse than death, of a
prisoner in the galleys, without hope of
pardon.