Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-12-03
THE GIPsY,s FLOWERS.
ORIGIN OF THE STORY OF BLUE
BEARD.

ORIGIN OF THE STORY OF BLUE
BEARD.
There was once Spanish gentleman
of high rank, who led very wild ant
disselute life, but now desired to settl,
down on his estate and take (,
himself wife who would preside owe
the household in fitting fashion. Be
ipg rich and handsome, his wickednes
went for naught, and soon he was be
trothed to lovely lady, whose famil,
were pleased with the alliance, and
who brought him fine fortune.
The wedding was celebrated with
great pomp, and when he brought his
wife home with him to his palace, the
poor of the place, as usual, gathered
about the door, and one, withered
old woman, being loud in the praise ol
the lady's beauty, and begging to be
permitted to present her with bOu-
| quet of flowers that she had gathered
in the woods.
"A poor offering, my lady, said the
woman, but all the poor gypsy has to
give.' - -
The lady took the flowers with a
smile, and dropped a coin into the
gipsy's hand. AS she entered the
door she bent her lovely head and in
hailed the perfume of the flowers.
The servants remembered the action
and the smile as she passed into her
apartment leaning upon her husband IS
arm, for it was the last they ever saw
of her. An hour after she lay dead, and
all the doctors in Madrid could not tell
what killed her. ~.
The widower was sad for long time,
but by and by he began to find life
bright once more, and chose for him.
self a second wife. This lady was
younger and lOvelier than the first,
though not so rich. Her predecessors
fate did not alarm her for she was
strong and full of health. Death seem
ed to be very far from so radiant a
creature as she stood before the church
altar and plighted her troth to the man
with whom she hoped TO pass her life;
but those who remembered the first
wife's fate shuddered, as at the fall of
evening she entered her husbands vii
la. The same old gypsy who had greet
ed the former bride stood among the
crowd. -r-a a.l l8a ,a0
Heaven and the saints bless you, la
dyp she cred. Il greeted her who came
here before you, and faded like flow
er. May you live until your hair is as
white rs mine. Flowers are all have
to give. Will you honor me by ta-
king them !ady?' -. -. .-..'f,.
The bride as the other had done, &C.
cepted the offering and repaid the gift
with coin. s.-i.
She held the blossoms loosely in her
hand aid passed into the hall. A BAN
quet was prepared, and she partook of
it. Wine was on the board; she tasted
it. When the dance began none danced
more gaily than the bride. 1t was a
merry wedding; and when a. last in
the early hours of the morning the mu-
sic died away, the guests departed, and
the lamps were extinguished, the beau
tiful girl turned with smiles and blush
es to seek her place of rest As she
crossed the thresholds of the hall she
stopped and pieked-up something from
the floor. r.l. p t5sl a lGvl.7Ia's. .
My poor gipsy's flowers she said.
Il will not reject the humble token of
Kindness and bending her face over
them she passed out of sight. ..7
Half an hour after the husband also
entered,the bridal room. All was still.
The lamplight fell over the pillows,
but no fair head rested upon them. He
looked about him; in a far corner of the
room lay what looked at first sight like
heap of rumpled satin. He advanced
toward it, and saw hand that grasp
ed c0nvulsively little bunch of white
flowers, and with cry of horror cast
himself beside the body of his bride.
She was dead, and bore no wound; no
sign of injury about her. Again the
physicians cODld find no cause for the
death, and people began to whisper
tales Ofevil spirits who haunted this IA
tai bridal chamber, and doomed to
death the fair beings who braved them
by entering it.
Again the gentleman was a widow
er, again he suffered much sorrow; but
it was not eternal. He began in time
to seek another wife, but in vain. No
one would risk the fate of those other
young and lovely women. No one
would have this Bluebeard, the myste-
ry of whose castle was so terrible; and
for years the widower went q wOOing
without winning, until one morning
meeting the Donna Mora on her way
to the church, her black eyes veiled
beneath her msntilla, madea good inn
preston, and was permitted ere long
to offer his hand and heart with true
Spanish gallantry. -i.
Donna Mora, who was a widow, lis
tened not ill-pleased. a.' Fed.
Il do not detest you, Senor,' she said,
sand frankly tell you SO; but you
have had strange bridals heretofore. /
do not feel tired of life, and desire to
enjoy myselfa little longer. Let me
know why your first wives died. You
must vacate it and give me the keys,
and must 60 up there alone with my
sister. 1 will discover the mystery if
there is one.' F--ha
Donna Nora said the gentleman,
do as you will. vacate the dwelling
at once. There are the keys. The long
one of steel opens that fatal chamber,
which beg you MOTTO enter-the bri-
dial chamber Ofmy dear brides. Adieu!
Thanks for your promise which shall
hasten to claim when you summon me-
He kissed her hand and rode away.
She at once made ready to seek the
dwelling of which she had heard so
much. The numbering carriage held
her, her sister, two brothers, maid,
man servant and pet poodle very
we'll. And at last they came in signt
of the old Moorish building, and paus-
ed to inspect it. a
Il begin to tremble,' said Donna
Anna.
Il have no fears said Donna Mora.
Then she ordered the coachman to
drive nearer, descended and unlocked
the castle gate with her own hands.
All was still; only the echoes welcom-
ed them.
Their feet awoks more on the stairs,
they made Donna Anna nervous; Dom
no Mora was as brave as a man.
They inspected every room; they
peeped into every closet; they opened
the bridal chamber, and saw the dust
that had gathered on its ornaments,
and from the neighbors they drew the