New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-08
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narIcr. which .could not be. warmed LII a
moment.
discussed my supper with considerable
pleasure madame again showing hef good
sense by leaving me quiet until had taken
off the edge Of my appetite: and. my meal
over she pointed to stool III the Chimney
corner, saying that lift was not too hot for
NE. 1 should find it comfortable; adding
also that .'Cetait permis de fumer dams La
cuisine Charming woman! What more
could the heart of man wish Tor; She
seated herself opposite to me. with her
knitting. and began telling me (while L
smoked, about the village, the people who
lived in it. and finally Of herself. How she
had been left early widow, with one
daughter. by name Justine" All, SO
pretty bat very ailing and weak at present.
She continued thus chatting until rose TO 90
to bed, when she lighted me up stairs ana
babe me GOOD night"
| suppose must have been Over-tlred ny
my long walk anyhow, sleep. refused to
!.steep my senses in torgcttuiness; so got
up, and Wit! sort of vague attraction,
walked to the window. | have already SAID
that nv room looked out into an old-fash-
;oued garden. with wall running round 1T,
and. instead of a path of gravel or sand,
there was u narrow red brick alley or trot.
tor. l penped out of mys ivy surrounded
window. There was not leaf stirring.
The garden looked white and cold in the
ghstening moonlight. All the world. save
myself. peacefully sleeping: No. that was
not quite the case; for. looking beyond tha
ivy into the garden below, l saw the figure
of a vo:,ng girl, in the old Normandy dress
high cap and sahots. She WAS pumping
slowly. slowly. ut the old pump before
mentioned, which stood in the corner
so mechanically that abe appeared to
lac 20 lie a piece of machinery. |
only saw rbacll. She was entirely in the
shadow OF the wall. except when her long
arms rose with the handle and flashed
white and cleaning for moment Ill the
moonlight. There was sort OF fascination
about her. could pot help watching her.
but what struck me rs odd was, that though
she prmucd and the water ran into the
trough below. could not hear the slightest
noise. | gazed again; my artistic eye took
it all in. and l thought mot without half
shudderl what a pretty picture she would
make. standing there. with the moon above
casting long shadows-still and quiet
upon every object of the garden. l looked
for the shadow of the pump; there it was.
and the handle working up and down across
be,; of roses. but apparently it was work
Ing of its own accord. looked for the
girl. there she stood. working in the same
mechanical way, but she had no shadow.
A horrible dread Of something super.
natural now came over me. l stared at her
again, when, just at that moment. l was
conscious Of stir in the ivy around my
window. and then, with a swift. sliding
movement ,the ivy gently signing in re-
sponsej, l saw dark object swing Itself
down the yonhierc or pipe. close to my
window. Looking down. saw a fine.
strong young man rise and walk. needless
Of the ga.den- bed. straight toward the
pump. On getting within few PAGES OF
the girl ,she still continuing her unearthly
pumpinr,. he raised his hat. sort of
cLnpca. b,Igand. and | diseerned in the
evel.varv;n. moonlight ciear-cut. hand
some profile, slightly bent in sal:itatioN.
He seplaced his hat and held out his
hand. No word of greeting passed either OF
their lips. For the first time she turned.
and oh. what n wan. weird face cleaned on
his: She took his offered hand. and SO they
walked down the red brick path--her
saboes. the first sound had heard. making
a hollow click -clacl1 along the trottoir. They
reached the ed green door in the wall.
which. responsive 20 his pull. groaned itself
opeI. She passed through. He halt-turned
and looked back at the old house, then no
followed her. and the cid aoov shut again
with resounding bang.
HAVING partially recovered myself ate.
this horrible and shostl., scene. which
seemed 30 freeze the marrow q! my bones.
went to bed. and passed a most disturbed
nighs mixed Up with dreams Of pumps anu
sabot,. and waS tIanliii.I when moraing
broke and rose.
l packed up INV knapsac',. and then
called Nanctta, intending /" order my
breakfast and get away from THIS nm.
whose very atmosphere now made me shud-
der. but first must question Nancttc and
get out OF her the true story-for story felt
sure there was--of the haunted Inn.
Nanette appeared. looking extremely
coquctt!sl, in a small cap and cherry -coiorcd
bows aud cheerfuily hoped Monsieur had
slept well. and what would he have for
| breakfast! hardly answered her: going
straigh. to the point. said
"Naaettc. is that pump in the garden ever
| used:"
Her countenance fell rs she replied:
Very rarely. Monsieur; why,
SDoes your mistress keep auy o:her maid
but Yourself"
"Mais non.'
4 1could not help uoticio. hcs face Of glow.
| ing alarm: 49,.
| girl | saw iast night pumping there VITA a
Nanettc started forward. and caught me
By the arm. -,
| '..Dites done que vous nc ravez pa. WI.
| SAID she.
Hardly had the words escaped her lips.
! when through the house there rang pierc-
| inc, waiting shrek. and a voice from a
neighboring room cried. "Nancttc. Nanctte'
| je meurs. }"
Nanette stood stock still. listening. with
| her lips parted. her arm raised; then. ex,
| claiming =, "Ciel c'est accompli deja" rushed
out of the room. could not help following
her. On the landing she me. madame; Nan.
cite made but one step to her and whispered
| (hut | caught the Whisper. III la VIZ, III
dicatiug mo by an expressive thumb point
| iny over her shoulder.
| .'Qui." said Madame.
| ''SuSannc.'
Madame, on hearing tLs reply. sat down
| on the top step Of the stairs and gave her
self over to what thought premature and
! unnecessary grief, interspcrsed with eIacu-
| lations of 40, mon enfant. Que lie bon Dieu
| te pienno aux Cicux.
| Meanwhile had followed Nanette into a
room along the passage. and Oh entering l
saw a young girl half sitting, hall lying. IN
| bed. struggling to catch her taIilDS breath;
the window was thrown wide open. ana the
| scent of thoss s,,oli-stf;cilen flowers stream
ing up through it.
| I Mainly saw she was dying, FAST
| locked at her again: the face seemed
strangely familiar to ,ne--and yet where
could have seen her
just then madame entered; the young
! girl raised herself, and said feebiy. 'Chere
mere ahieu. ie parsT' She held up her face
to be kissed, and l caught her uptrIned
side face The likeness flashed upon me
Ike p thundcrbolt. She was the living
image OF that ghostly figure who WAS with
the rhnpcou bri1n,i that had watched II