The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-12-03

and ornamenting the cornices and sur
rounding the windows; but the most
fact was, that the house OPP
posite reproduced exactly the same
the same ornaments even
the sign-board, with its post and spiral
of iron, was exactly copied.
One might have thought that these
two ancient houses reflected each other.
Behind the inn, however, was grand
old oak, whose sombre leaves darkened
the stones of the roof while the other
house stood out in bold relief against
the sky. To complete the description,
this old building was as silent and
dreary as the Inn BGuf.Gras was noisy
and animated.
On one side, crowd of merry drink
ers were continually entering In and
going out, singing, tripping, cracking
their whips; on the other profound ST.
lence reigned.
Perhaps, once or twice during the day,
the heavy door seemed to open of itself,
to allow little old woman to 60 out,
with her back almost in semicircle,
her dress fitting tight about her hips,
an enormous basket on her arm, and
her hand contracted against her breast.
1t seemed to me that saw at glance,
as looked upon her, whole existence
of good works and pious meditations
The physiognomy of this old woman
hnI Il a L. hn h,~ !
tie green eyes, long, thin nose, the i'm
mense bouquets of flowers on her shawl,
which must have been at least a hum
dred years old the withered smile which
puckered her cheeks into a cockade, the
lace of her bonnet falling down to her
eyebrows-all this was fantastic, and
interested me much. Why did this old
woman live in this great deserted house?
wished to explore the mystory.
One day,as paused in the street and
followed her with my eyes, she turned
suddenly and gave me look, the hor-
rible expression of which 1 know not
how to paint made three or four hide.
Gus grimaces, and then, letting her pal.
sled head fall upon her breast, drew her
great shawl closely around her, and ad.
vanced to the heavy door, behind which
I saw her disappear.
"She's an old fool !" said to myself
in sort of stupor. My faith, it wa
the height of folly in me to be interest.
ed in her
However, l would like to see hel
grimace again old TOubac would will
lingly give me fifteen florins II I coult
paint it for him.
l must confess that these pleasantrie
of mine did not entirely reassure me-
The hideous glance, which the oil
shrew had given me,pursued me every
where. More than once, while clint
ing the almost perpendicular ladder t
my loft, feeling my clothing caught o
some point, | trembled from head
foot, imagining that the old wretc
was hanging to the tail of my coat, i
order to destroy me.
Toubac, to whom related my adver
ture, was far from laughing at it ir
deed, he assumed grave and solem
air.
Master Christian" said he, "if til
old woman wants you, take care! He
teeth are small, pointed, and of marvel
Gus whiteness, and that Is not natura
at her age. She has an 'evil eye Chi
dren flee from her, and the people c
Numremberg call her' Fledermausse.'
admired the clear, ,sagacious intellet
Of the Jew, and his words gave IL
cause for reflection.
Several weeks passed away, durin
which | often encountered Fielder
mausse without any alarming const
quences. My fears were dissipated,an
l thought of her no more.
But, an evening came, during whicl
while sleeping very soundly, l wa
awakened by a strange harmony. Itwa
n kind of vibration, so sweet, so melC
dious, that the whispering of the bree2
among the leaves can give but fain
) idea of its charm.
t For long time listened intently wit
, my eyes wide open, and holding m
5 breath, so as not to lose note. At la
3 / looked toward the window, and sa
two wings fluttering against the glas
! l thought, at first that 1t was ba
caught in my room; but, the moon risin
= at that instant, | saw the wings Of
: magnificent butterfly of the night del
7 heated upon her shining disk. The
5 vibrations were often so rapid, tn:
|; they could not be distinguished the
A they reposed, extended upon the glas
: and their frail fbres were again brougl
4 to view.
: This misty apparition, coming In Il
+ midst of the universal silence, open'
: my heart to all sweet emotions.
seemed to me that an airy sylph, touc
v ed with sense of my solitude, had con
! to visit me, and this idea melted me
J. most to tears.
!. "Be tranquil, sweet captive, be ira
}. quill" said /; your confidence shi
Il not be abused. l will not keep y,
against your will. Return to heav
"a and to liberty" then opened my lit
window. The night was calm, and IN
lions of stars were glittering in the SIX
u For moment, | contemplated this su
a lime spectacle, and words of prayer a
"a praise came naturally to my lips; bl
judge of my amazement, when, low,
-. ing my eyes,I saw man hanging frc
"a the cross beam of the sign of the B9
Gras, the hair dishevelled, the arr
nr stiff, the legs elongated to IA point, a
,e casting their shadows down the sire,
p. The immobility of this figure, unt
m the moons rays, was terrible. /
m my tongue freezing, my teeth elm
ed. was about to cry out in terr
of when, by some incomprehensib!e, IN
n terious attraction, my glance fell bel
and distinguished, confusedly, the
- woman crouchcd at her window in
nj midst of dark shadows, aud conte
Dlating the dead man with An air of