, 1874-06-21
THE Gh0UL OF MONTPARNA5SE.

Some years ago, there was terrible uproar in
the cemeteries of Pans. Armed guards patrolfed
them every night, endeayoring, in vain, to dis
cover mysterious being, always unseen, but
whose passage left marks as fearful as they wero
extraordinary. The sauctity of the grave had
been violated, and the bodies OF the dead,
strangely turn and distsured, lad been
dragged soms distance and left lying in
tho walks. Facts still moro hideouB
and which will not bear recital. filled with hor-
ror the keepers of the Cimotiero du Sud, on the
mornings of the 18th OF November, and 18th OF
December. The most incredible rumorb were
circulated in Paris. The legend went on magni-
flying ~ it was repeated, until it was 1hnddoring-
ly Whispered by knowing ones that tho ccmete-
RES were haunted by vampire, VINO dug up the
dead at night, aud feasted upon tuelr ueeaying
flesh.
Every means that could be suggested to in
crease vigilance ard render 1T elective WIS
t1ieo. Policemen were added to the guards aud
savage dogs let loose i'll the cemeteries every
night. LIE men saw nothing; the dogs did not
bark- Yet, one morning., eleven bodies
were found to have been extlumed,
cut to pieces, eut scattered over q
large area OF ground, pieces Of flesh being
even found ha,lglug-mueous trophes-on the
limbs Of the t1ees. These monsLrous doings
nov seemed confined 10 the Cimeticro
Montparnasse. An Internal machine Was
then placed there. "a smnu mortar
aud TO whose trigger numerous wires were con-
uecrcd. dlyerglut III all directions. III the night
Of tue 18th OF Marc1 the macnine was heard to
explode; and, ue1t day, it WAS ascertaiued that
3 sereeant-Aajor OF infantry, named FRAMES
Bertrand, had sought ndmlttauce into the Hos
pital OF tal de- Grace, having received so1no
Btrange-t looking Wounds i'll tie bac6. The vau1-
pire was caught
Bertrand was tried by military court. He
bore good name IN bis regiment, aud Uas
accounted Of gentle disposition and an
excellent soldier. lie was NOT ignorant, having
followed couree OF studies IN q seminary.
Far tom attempting to deny the Charge
brought against him, he confessed every
tnsug, With sincere cnador and hu.
1ul11ty. When seized with Lis s. frenzy"
Ae said, Le would escape from the barracks. sud
ruu to the cemetery. whose wall he would clear
with one bound. He know they had est up an
internal machine; lie would run to it aud kick
it over without provoking an explosion. The
dogs ran ut llIn but Ao nal ched upon them, and
they skunk away, cowed and silent. He had
reached tuas ine1p1icaplo superhuman power.
not uucolnmon III celtlln nerto.u- uIentat atfec-
tious. Has strength passed all that eau te i'm
agiuod. With nornulg but hls bands he would
olg the grnye open. bl ea the coffin, and tear to
pieces tho corpse. which he Bolnosmes also
hacked with mis- sword. Nas thus all No, but
there 80 atrocluus that the pen REFUSES
to portray the1a.
This demociac,-for' he seemed more like
man possessed Of an e:ll spirit certain hours.
than mailman having rational spells, after
committing those uunccounrable atrocities,
would hasten away from tue place he had
desecrated. aad, seeking shelter anywhere III
ditch, Oh the margin Of rver, exposed to the
rain or the snow, fall INTO caraIeptic sleep,
during which Ae retaaueu the cousc1uusness Ut
what MSS gong on around hun. After these fits
he felt worn aud bruised Tor several days lie
wasa noao.uaniac, obe,lng All irresistible impulse,
and suffering, very liael1, from lasyai epiiepsy.
The Court sentenced Lin to one years IN
prisonment.-the maximum Of tho penalty pro-
yiued by the peual code.
Bertrand, tie Ghonl. Is still alive; lie is now
perfectly cured OF his hideous disease, azd il
cited Us model Of gentleness, propriety, and
behavior. q.