The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-11-29
"Would you like to

self-possessed tone. "Would you like tt
hear about it 7"
protested that nothing would afford m,
greater pleasure.
He filled his glass, and passed me oyel
the decanter. Then folding his thin white
hands one over the other, he cleared hi.
throat and began:
you know, suppose, that two years
residence in the training college of NJ
is demanded of all c;trtfi,tTtes for admis:
sion into the Celestian Order? 1t was dur
ing my sojourn in the species of monastie
purSatory that made the acquaintance OF
certain Monsieur Pierre, then a novice
ilke myself but(who, unlike me, had al
| ready entered upon the second year of his
probation. We We're about as dissinilar
| III tastes and habits as it seems requisite
that fast and intimate friends should be.
Pierre was of 4 sad and somewhat imagine
~atlvc nature, whilst l, as you are We'll
aware, am II dull, matter-of- fact man, spe-
culative only where chemistry is involved,
and prone in other respects to speak of
things as l find them. My views upon
many subjects were diametrically opposed
to his, and an ordinary conversation in
which we both engaged speedily developed
matter ot~course, we discovered an expli-
cable charm in each others society," A
1rlendshlp was shortly engendered between
us which was enduring if undemonstrative,
and lasted without intermission up to the
time tim OF poor Pierre's departure from M.
When he was translated to Tt came
to st. Nicholas, and henceforth our inter-
course was carried on chiefly through the
medium OF the post. We also paid each
other short flying visits us often us our du-
ties would allow of. Thus matters pro
crossed, and time grew on apace until
flerre had become IL grave professor of
rhetoric, and had attained to the position
which L at present OccuDv
one morning, about four years ago, 1
received a letter fromm my friend, Informing
me that he would be in ST. Nicholas in the
course of il week, and bidding me layout
my plans for few days uninterrupted en-
Joyment.- l made my preparations as di-
rected, and patiently awaited his arrival.
ne never came, however; in his stead ar
rived Il note of apology, wherein he ex-
Claimed that prudence and slight cold
had confined him to his room, aud renew
ed his promise of visiting me ere another
month bad passed over his head He faith
fully fulfilled that promise; in what man
ner and under what circumstances | shall |
now proceed to detail.
''Some ten days from the date of Perre's
second communication, l went to bed one
night, where lay for an hour Illuminating
over Il mathematical problem which was to
form the nucleus of the morrow's class.
was not asleep, or even sleepy and al
though L had closed my eyes, it was only
to shut myself out from the distraction of
objects. Suddenly | felt an
impulse to look in the di-
Iectlon of the door. 1t came upon me in
the shape of II strange and indescribable
iesire to gaze upon something which l
knew lntuitiXelY- that- sheala- see upon
rousing myself resisted it for some time,
md 'endeavored to proceed with my calcu-
atlons. l turned OH my pillow, and com
pressed my lips firmly but all to no pur-
pose. The vague, invisible power was too
strong for me; and, obeying its bidding, ,
'alsed myself upon one arm, and stared .
around the room. {
1.-The gas was burning i'll the corridor,
IN indication from which L argued that it
vas not yet ten o'clock. Streaming in
through the open door, it fell upon the form
If Monsieur Pierre, who WAS standing by .
ny bedside in an attitude of sad abstrac- =
ion. Little doubling but that it was him .
elf whom | behold. l spoke to him, cx- c
pressing my astonshmcnt at his presence i
here, and demanding the reason of his /
visit to st. Nicholas. lie met G
ny wondering Chances with Il smile OF |
nournful sweetness. Then he answered -.
ne, not i'll hollow or sepulchrll tones, but t
'almly aud gently, if a little gravely, and .
Ie told me that he was dead f
"a curdling or freezing of the blood, a q
'aroXysm of terror, are, L believe, the G
sensations of a person who suddenly finds |
himself tete-at ete with Il ghostly vfsitant ,
experienced such feeling of horror |
Monsieur Pierre was NV good and estimo- ,