The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-10-09
rHE COQUETrB OF ARLOx.

TAE tO9UETTk OF ABLOy.
In very ancient times the inhabtantl
OF Arlon worshipped the moon, and the
learned maintain that the name of Arlor
was derived from the two words ara luna
siguifying "altar Of the NOON" 1t is,
perhaps, for this reason that the young
women Of this ancient town now and
then had odd fancies. ApVpos of this,
propose to relate a story which Mr..
Adolphe Dechamps must have listened
to when he was Governor of Luxem-
bourg, for il is one of the traditions Of
that previncc. All the Arlonese know
IT, and write it down for the benefit Of
those who have not been governors Of
provinces, and whose ancestors have not
worshippcd the moon.
1t is said that about one hundred years
ago there resided in Arlon young girl
named Gertrude. She was eighteen
years Of age, and was gay, frank, and
good-natured, always smiling, and full Of
life and activity. She was the daughter
Of Charles Stock, wealthy proprietor Of
the little town, and generally designated
as Stock, Jr., to distinguish him from his
father and grandfather, who were living.
They last long in that family" was a
local expression.
Gertrude had many admirers, but none
Of them appeared to make an impression
on her heart. This, together with her
fascinating manners, gave her the name
Of the "Coquettc of Arlon." Do no,
take this appellation in its hardest sense
for her father and mother allowed her to
do as she pleased, having the utmost conf
dence in her. And it was not misplaced
Among the many who sought heI
hand in marriage were four young men
Of the town who deserve special mention
Their names were Sigismond de vletter
GILES Collin, Wenceslas Stroobant, and
Lambert Won Moll. The first named
was 80 calm and undemonstrative thai
the other three did not give themselve,
any uneasiness about him. They, on tn,
contrary, were No pressing that the neigh
bors all expected that she would Ger
tainly marry one of them.
The four suitors pressed their claims
each one in his own way urging her t.
decide in his favor. Sc, one day in Sep
TENDER, l74S, she devised stratagem b,
which to test their courage and affection
her parents once more allowed her t.
have her own way, for as she never un
dertook anything without first consulting
them, We may suppose that they were moi
the stern and tyrannical parents that
usually fall to the lot of the uufortunat,
heroines of modern romances.
About quarter Of a league from Ar
Ion, in field belonging to her father
Gertrude had often noticed an old Ro
man tomb, which no one dared to ap
proach on account of its ghostly reputa
ton. All sorts Of strange and mysteri
Gus stories were told about it. This toni
has now disappeared, can not say how
Gertrude resolved to make it the centr,
of her batteries.
GILES Collin came as usual and ut
tered more ardent and passionate protest
ations of love than ever, declaring thai
he would willingly walk over burnin:
Goals to please her.
81 am not 40 unreasonable as to re
quire that Of YOU" she said; call thing
considered, | do not refuse to marry you
but | wish to have proof OF your devo
tion, and at the same time of YOU
courage"
Very well, answered Giles, 81 will
give you any proof Of that you can de,
mand; only say what it shall be-"
"fou know" replied she, "the an.
cient tomb which is situated on knoll
aquarter OF league from town.
Yes" replied the puzzled GILES, 81
have seen it from distance; there is
nothing remarkable about it,"
well, discovering about nine o'clock
! want you to go, without saying word
TO any one about il, and lie down in the
old tomb"
"In the witches den? What ca.
price,"
"And you must remain perfectly mo-
tionless until midnight"
"But Gertrude, what are ysu thinking
off What is your object?"
"iou are a coward. You are trem-
bling already. Perhaps II is a caprice,
but ! have my project, and wish to try
you. II you do as wish ] shall know
that can trust you, and, providing you
remain there from nine o'clock till mid.
night, my heart is yours. If you refuse
l shall marry some one else"
Struck by the decided tone of the
young girl, GILES dared not offer further
but he thought of the freezing
recitals to which he had listened; of APP
partitions from another world, that were
seen gliding through the air and around
the tomb, and Of the witches who held
their nocturnal meetings there and made
II place of deposit for their unguents
and diabolical compounds In truth,
fires had been seen burning near there
through the night, and surrounded by