The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-03
THE KINGS CHAMBER.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY MRS. MARTHA
IAFFITTE JOHNSON.

Some years ago 1 passed the winter with
my great aunt at her chateau beyond st.
Fleur, in the Auvergne Mountains, and cele-
brated with herself and friends the festival of
Christmas Eve. It was gloomy night with
out; the rain and hail beat relentlsssly against
the windows, and the wind walled and howled
dismally. The supper was finished; tea and
rum punch had replaced the many dainties,
and cheered by the bright wood fire, we
gathered, around the hearth to enjoy its
warmth. Welded to an ancient custom, my
aunt requested that each in turn should relate
story, the more weird in character the bet
ter. AS the compliance with this wish was a
condition sine qua NON of admission to the
Christmas Eve gathering, those who accepted
the invitation subscribed willingly to the re-
quest
1t SO happened that on this occasion was
the first to speak, and in horror l truly think
the tale improvised would have thrown all
ever written by Anne Radcliffe or Hoffman
into the shade. The second speaker was q
Miss La Croix, an old lady of singularly sad
appearance. Her story interested me very
much. She seemed herself perfectly absorbed
and l saw related events which she had wit
messed. The tale ran as follows
1t was in the year 1888. 1 resided at the
time with the Count Auguste de Rocherolles,
in the capacity of companion to his wife the
Countess. Half ruined by unfortunate specu-
lations and by the loss of an important law
suit, the Count had removed from Paris with
his young wife and little son of nine years of
age to his Chateau of Sept Fontaines situated
in the department of Ardennes, about the
distance of league from Charleville.
The Chateau of Sept Fontsines is an old
Gothic monument of the Middle Ages cele
brated in the surrounding country as con-
nected with tradition which told that King
Henry ~ had after boar hunt passed
night in a chamber of the chateau, situated
upon the ground floor, this chamber ever
after being called the Kings Chamber.
The chateau is built upon an sminence in
the midst of q vast uncultivated tract of
country. To the east, far off in the distance,
could be seen the walls of the tower of Charlie
vile; in the rear of the chateau q long
stretch of forests, mountains, and valleys,
with not single farm, cottage, or hut within
sight.
At the time the following events trans
pired the only persons residing at the chateau
were the Count and Countess de Rocherolles,
little Alfred, en- old English servant named
Thomas, and myself.
One morning-it was, if my memory be not
at fault, on the 3D. day of October, in the
year 178S-Thomas, on his return from
the town, where he had gone to lay in sup
ply of provisions, announced to his master
that troop of Partisan actors had arrived
the night previous at the Golden Lion Hotel,
and proposed on the following evening to
give most extraordinary representation at
the Charleville Theatre. The Countess, who
for some weeks had been quite unwell and
much dispirited, to our surprise expressed
desire to be present on the occasion, and it
was at once decided that seats should be Sc
cured and that old Thomas should drive his
master and mistress to the theatre, while
remained at home to take charge of little
Alfred, whose delicate health and nervous
temperament precluded the possibility of his
accompanying his parents.
Without being able to explain the cause I
nevertheless bade them goodbye regretfully,
and watched their departure with feeling of
dread. Leaning against the doorway, the
boys hand elaspod tightly in mine, followed
them with my eyes as long as they were
within sight, and when the carriage had dis
appeared, hidden by the winding of the road,
/ entered the house, my mind tortured by q
nameless fear
This dread was suggested by accounts
which had reached us of the horrible exploits
of lawless band that then desola ted many of
the provinces of France. But a month pre-
vious, at their farm in the village of Gruy-
eres, about the distance of two leagues from
Sept Fontainss, an old man and his daughter
had been terribly mutilated and murdered.
The story had thrilled me with horror, and
often at night, when slespless, it had haunted
my mind. Although no disturbance had oc-
Cured ear Charleville, the thought of being
alone in the deserted chateau, with q sick
child, far from any abode or the possibility
of assistance in case of danger, rendered me
nervously anxious.
NEGLECTED no possible precaution, and be-
fore nightfsll carefully closed the gates and
dSubly bolted each window and door. New
ertheless, / could not rest satisfied, and con-
cluded TO remain with little Alfred in the
Kings Chamber until the return Of the
family.
The evening passed without any cir
cumstance calculated to augment nay fears.
At length the hour of midnight was rung out
in doleful tones by the old clock. 1 counted
each stroke and listened with feeling of re-
lief, knowing the play was over and the Count
on his way home.
The child was sleeping upon my knees Ora
dually my spirits rose; an hour passed. rsas-
sured, 1 laid the boy upon q couch and
approached the window to watch for
the carriage; the moonbsams lit the long
winding road but there was nothing within
sight. Suddenly thought heard a noise
at the extreme end of the apartment, directly
opposite where was standing. To give an
upon me would be impossible. I stood mo-
tionless scarcely breathing, my ear strained
to catch the sound and my brow covered with
great drops of cold perspiration. Alfred was
awake and had heard also. Running to me
he hid his face in the folds of
my dress, while clasping his arms
around my knees 1t was no hallueinstion
that there was some one at work beneath our
feet could no longer doubt. l could hear
the earth crumble, and 1 knew that efforts
were being made to penetrate the room.