The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-02-04
A NIGHT in A CEMETERY.
1T CARL wHATELY, JR.

1t was near the close of a chilly day in
late November, 1884, that I arrived al
st. Jean de Luz, en- route for the Chateau
de c., about twenty miles distant
where was to be employed as teacher
in the household of Count d'A--, q
French nobleman of much influence and
wealth. Having secured lodgings at a
sec csnd-rate hotel-fOr / was a young
man of limited means-I repaired to the
apartment assigned me, and threw my
self upon dusty couchette, which occu-
pied one corner of the long -been-tenant-
less room, with an expectation of re-
ceiving rest before pursuing my journey.
This hope was partially realized, when
was suddenly awakened by heavy and
continued knock at the door. sullenly
muttered "comc in," but remembering
to have bolted it, / arose to open. A
form stood before me which might have
once been called human. He was of
giant proportion, his features marked
with savage expression, his person clad
in garment anonymous both as to color
and texture. "Uncombed his hair, and
squalid his ATTIRE" thought I. with
Dryden, as 1 looked upon the stranger
At length, having summoned sufficient
courage, inquired his desire, when, in
terrupting me, he hastily asked if was
the person who wished to 60 to the Cha
teau de C., 1 responded in the affirm
ative. He then offered his services to
bear me thither for a small sum, if it
were necessary for me to reach my desti-
nation that night. l assented to his
proposition, more through dread of bid
ding him begone than the benefit to be
accrued.
1t was not long before an old, dimin-
utive carriage was announced, with the
identical ihcoenito as its driver / hast
lily prepared myself for derarture, with
out having been the happy recipient of
any quiet since my arrival at the above
named village. Previously had asked
the stranger if he was acquainted with
the route to be taken, to which he gave
no specific reply; but when about to en-
ter the cab / made similar inquiry, in
answer to which he contem ptuously
flung out: eyes, yes, within" l obeyed,
however, with reluctance, for knew not
whittier | was going, nor what might be
the results. Sad feelings possessed me,
but were soon dispelled, for, suffering
under much physical lassitude, / sank
into peaceful slumbcr.
l shortly awoke much refreshed, and
saw that the moon, in her full beauty,
had gained mid heavens; from this /
knew that the drive must have been
long and slow. / experienced a renewal
of my drowsiness, when determined to
ask my guide how many leagues had
been traversed. In pursuance with this
resolve, / thrust my head out of the
window, and inquired the distance yet
to be passed. "Not far, not far" he an
swered; but there was such disdain in
the tone of his voice that insisted upon
his returning me to st. Jean de Luz. I
looked on either side, and saw no trace
of a human habitation. then told him
that was certain that he had taken an
indirect road. He then endeavored to
assure me of speedy arrival. This.
however, did not concern me. reiter.
atcd my command to be taken back TO
the place from whence we had started.
He asked me why had engaged him to
carry me, if abandoned all intention of
proceeding thither Suspicious arose,
but half doubted whether was correct
in them, and calmed myself with all the
arguments that / could form; but they
were unavailing. Every thing appeared
desolate, though the mild light of the
moon shone upon the earth. ! greatly
feared this man acting as my guide, and
dreaded to accost him in any manner,
and believed at one time that l would
offer him the small contents of my purse.
but thought that possibly I might be
wrong in thus conjecturing doubts and
fears, and that should willfully place
myself in his power. At length, pro-
jecting my head out of the window. I
saw in the distance what appeared to be
the white walls of park or shrubbery.
/ beheld trees rising here and there. but
no sign of dwelling. This, perhaps, is
the chateau, said to myself, and all my
fears will soon be at an end. The driver
now slackened his pace, and presently de.
scended and walked at the horses head.
My suspicious were now aroused, for
what reason know not. Presently the
cab stopped, and / saw gate opening
into the walled inclosure. Coming ND 10
the door, he said:
"You must alight here"
Here" l exclaimed, "in this sterile
placer
"Do as / command" he said.
81 shall do nothing of the kind" re.
piled. "You agreed to take me to the
Chateau Of C, and shall not aliph,
until you have fulfilled the agreement >
"This folly is absurd" he answered
"listen to what / say. We are many
miles from st. Jean de Luz, and from
any habitation. None but deathles
spirits can answer to your shrieks. Thi,