The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-23
THE COOUETTE OF ARLON,

LIE CUQOEt lE Ur AhbVNs
In very ancient times the inhabitants
of Arlon worshiped the moon, and the
learned maintain that the name Arlon
is derived from the two words ara lu'aoe,
signifying "altar of the moon" 1t is
perhaps for this reason that the young
women of this ancient town now and
then had odd fancies. Apropos of this,
I propose to relate q story which Mr.
Adolphe Dechamps must have listened
to when he was Governor OF Luxem-
bourg, for it is one of the traditions of
that province. 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 worshiped the moon.
It was said that about one hundred
years ago there resided in Arlon a
young girl named Gertrude. She was
eighteen years of age, and was gay,
frank, and good natured, alway smiling
and happy, and full of life and activity.
She was the daughter of Charles Stock,
q wealthy proprietor of the little town,
and generally designated as Stock, Jr. g,
to distinguish him from his father and
grandfather, who were yet living.
"They last long in that family" was q
local expression.
Gertrude had many admirers, but
none of them appeared to make any
impression on her heart. This, to.
gether with her fascinating manners,
gave her the name of the "Coquette of
Arlon." Do not take this appellation
in its hardest sense, for her father and
mother allowed her to do as she pleased,
having the utmost confidence ia her.
And it was not misplaced. Among the
many who sought her hand in marriage
were four young men of the town who
deserve special mention. Their names
were Sigismund de Vletter, Gilles Col
lin, Wenceslas Stroobant, and Lambert
Won Moll. The first named was so
calm and undemonstrative that the
other three did not give themselves any
uneasiness about him. They, on the
contrary, were so pressing that the
neighbors all expected that she would
certainly marry one of them.
The four suitors pressed their claims,
each one in his own way urging her to
decide in his favor. So one day in
September, 1743, she devised q strata
gem by which to test their courage and
affection. Her parents once more al
lowed her to have her own way, for as
she never undertook anything without
first consulting them, we may suppose
that they were not the stern and tyran-
nical parents that usually fall to the lot
of the unfortunate heroines of modern
romances. About quarter of league
from Arlon, in field belonging to her
father, Gertrude had often noticed an
old Roman tomb, which no one dared
to approach on account of it's ghostly
reputation. All sorts of strange and
mysterious stories were told about it.
This tomb has now disappeared-I
cannot say how. Gertrude resolved to
make it the centre of her batteries.
Gilles Collin came as usual and ut
tered more ardent and passionate pro-
testations of love than ever, declaring
that he would willingly walk over surn-
ing Goals to please her.
&c l am not so unreasonable as to re-
quire that of you," said she "all
things considered, 1 do not refuse to
marry you, but 1 wish to have a proof
OF your devotion, and at the same time
of your courage"
every WE'LL" answered Giles, civil
give you any proof of that you can de-
mand; only say what it shall be-"
You know" replied she, "the
ancient tomb which is situated on q
knoll, a quarter of league from
town."
eyes" replied the puzzled GILES.
" have seen it from distance there
is nothing remarkable about it,"
Well, this evening, at nine o'clock,
want you to go, without saying word
to any one about it, 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 you think
ing of? What is your object ?"
You area coward, you are trembling
already. Perhaps it is caprice, but /
have my project, and I wish to try you.
If you do as L wish, shall know that
1 can trust you, and, providing that
you remain there from nine o'clock un-
til midnight, 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
objection, but he thought of the freez.
ing recitals to which he had listened
OF apparitions from another world that
were seen gliding around the tomb, and
of the witches who held their nocturnal
meetings and made it place of deposit
for their unguents and diabolical COM
pounds. In truth, fires had sometimes
been seen burning near there through
the night, and surrounded by groups
of sinister or grotesque looking faces
but they were undoubtedly gypsies,
with which Luxembourg and Limbourg
were at that period infested. But some
persons professed to have seen super
natural beings, and thousands of Won
derful stories were related about them.
For year, however, nothing had been
seen there, and though GILES was more
afraid than he would have cared to ac-
knowledge, he was so deeply enamored
OF the young girl that he accepted the
condition, and promised to do what was
required OF him without divulging his
intention to any one.
Shortly afterwards, Wenceslas Stroo-
bant came in his turn. Gertrude gave
him very gracious reception. He was