The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-04-09
THE GOBLIN TOWER,

solQIeFs
stcn bowed and flush of pleasur
across his brow.
The robbers above here are YER
bold, just now. They attacked you,
believe"
Three of the villains ventured to d,
80, but sent them away with more thai
they expected"
"a steel ransom. Ha HaT'
" 1t is very strange that you are no
able to discover their retreat.''
"Very-very strange. My men havC
sought in every direction"
'The country is favorable to secresy,
said CASTOR, looking round.
1t spread far away around the castle
From the height upon which Boltonc
stood, the wide plain and the surround
ing hills could be distinguished for g
great distance. Hills and crags were
near the castle, gullies and paths formed
by torrents lay among them. A rive,
flowed through the plain, turbulent and
noisy"
Yes, it is good place for them, ~
said the marquis, in reply to Gaston's
exclamation.
"But yet wonder at their hardi-
hood"
"They rob almost every friend who
comes to visit me, unless I send nv
soldiers to guard them," said Boltono,
bitterly.
"This should be stopped. Iwonder
that they do not show themselves some
where.
i have done all that man can do.
Let us forsake this subject for the pres
ent. See You yon tower?"
Yes. 1t is older than the rest of
your castle, is it not? I have been
much interested in it,"
tt is very old and is of Roman con-
stFuction. We never use it"
Never! Why not2"
Iissh shaunted."
Ha nted 2" CASTOR was surprised
at the riousness of the marquis, and
out OF respect TO him he suppressed a.
rising smile of contempt.
Yes. It has for many years gone
by the name of the Goblin Tower"
"Wby so 2"
Because there are sights to be seen
there, and sounds to be heard, which
are not of this world. Shrieks are
heard at the dead of night, and lights
CLEAN from the turrets. All the peas
antry tremble, and the hearts of all
within the castle quake with fear"
But have You never entered to see
the cause of these things P"
God forbid that I should seek to
know aught of the doings of the pow
ers of darkness
They may be done by hands of
man, noble marquis.
Impossible Who would dare 2"
:" No great obstacle could prevent
them if no one ever ventured there 7"
Men have gone there and never re-
turned. In the life of my grandfather
there was legend about it, and say
ing than whenever the castle was freed
from the goblin within, there would be
no more robbers without"
What! have the robbers always
been here? q"
All the time that the tower was
haunted"
CASTOR, was silent, and mused for a |
time.
IT will tell the story, said the mar
quls, 1T is not long. This tower was
built, as 1 have said, by the ancient
Romans, and has been in the posses
sion OF many baron. Once, about
Two hundred years ago, our family
lived ia Florence, and baron who was
related to us resided here. He was a
strange man, of dark thoughts and
gloomy aspect. That tower he made
his residence. At night lights cleaned
from 1t, and strange sounds were heard
there, like no sounds in the world. BY
lay vast clouds Of smoke poured from
It, often concealing the tower from
view. No one knew what he did. No
one could imagine what were his occcu-
oatlons. But he became very rich all
1f sudden, and built this adjoining
,astle. The neighbors all believed
hat by the assistance of the evil one,
le had found ont the philosophers
stone. The reople suffered very much
rom him, and robbery was carried on
% an alarming extent in the neighbor-
rood. Once they ventured to attack
he castle itself.
at last there came fearful time
The night was perfectly dark Sudden
=, some who were looking toward the
over saw flame and sparks issue from
he windows of the upper rooms which !
70 occupied. Shrieks resounded from
{. The people burst into his room !;
he haron was not to be seen. A bundle !
4 burnt flesh and clothes lay on the
loor, with mysterious blackened frag-
aents all around. IL
My grandfather had o beautiful
whom he promised to the
aan who would venture to search out /
he cause of those fearful sounds and I
which ever since the bar i
ms time have been witnessed there.
everal undertook it, but no one has |
zen them since. i
CASTOR was not 30 much aWed by the
sgend as the marquis.
They did well-these suitors and
would do the same for similar |
rize."
What would you venture there 2? 1
Noble sir, you have promised TO
lake me- your son-in.law, " said Gaston. |
ith his ingenious countenance covered I
Y flush of pleasure and confusion,
but have done nothing to win the 7
rely Alyira. Suffer me to win her in
lis WI - 4
4 What" cried the marquis.
g I am willing to enter that tower. c
" No, no; you are rash, This is not =