Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-08-30

WHY YOUNG MAN WOULD HAVE Ills
BEDROOM DOOR, LOCKED.
One evening on which a merry Christ
mas party was assembled in an hospitable
country mansion in the north of England.
one OF the company, young man named
Charles Lisle, called the host aside. as
they were standing in the drawing-room
before dinner, and whispered, II say,
Graham, | wish you'd put me into a room
that has either bolt or key" They
have all keys. or should have" returned
Mr.. Graham" 1.-The key of my room is
lost, d" returned the other; 81 asked the
housemad. 1t is always the first thing |
look to when enter strange bed-cham-
ber can't sleep unless the door is lock-
ed "How very odd. | never locked
my door in my lile," said MIR. Graham.
Il say, Letitia, continued he addressing
his wife, "here's Charles Lisle can't sleep
unless his door is locked, and the room
you've put him into has no key" At this
announcement all the ladies looked with
surprise at Charles I.isle, and all the gen.
tlemen laughed; and 'how odd," and
'what a strange fancy" was echoed by
them. 81 dare say you think it very odd,
aud indeed 1t must appear rather ladylike
particularly" responded Lisle, who was a
fine, active young man, and did not look
as il he was much troubled with super
natural fears ''but circumstance that
occurred to me when | was on the conti-
nent last summer has given me nervous
horror of sleeping in room with an un-
locked door, and | never have been able
TO overcome it. This is perhaps owing to
my having been i'll at the time, and | can
pal | 10
effects of that illness yet" Naturally all
wanted to know what this adventure was
the programme being certainly exciting
and so one of the visitors offered to ex-
change rooms with Charles Lisle, provided
he would tell the story. which accordingly,
when assembled round the fire at evening,
he told in thelfollowing words -
You must know, then, that last year,
when | was wandering over the continent,
was surprised one evening by violent
storm OF hail, and it became so suddenly
dark that could scarcely see my horses
head had twelve miles to go to the town
at which intended to pass the night, and
| knew that there was no desirable shelter
| nearer, unless | chose to throw myself on
the hospitality of the monastery of Pierre
| Chatel, which lay embosomed among the
| hills IA little TO the east of the road i was
travelling. There is something romantic
and interesting in residence at convent,
but OF that | need not now say anything.
| After a short debate, | resolved to present
myself at the convent gate and ask them
to give me nights shelter. So turned
| off the road and rang the heavy bell, and
| was answered by u burly, rosy-cheeked
| lay brother, who forthwith conducted me
| to the prior, who was called Pere Jolivet.
| He received me very kindly, and we chat
ted away for some time on politics and
the affairs of the world and when the
brothers were summoned to the refectory
| begged leave to Join them, and share
their simple repast, instead OF eating the
solitary supper prepared for me. There
were two tables in the hall - and l was
| seated next the prior, in situation that
| gave me pretty good view Of the whole
company. and as cast my eyes round TO
| take survey OF the various countenances,
| they were suddenly arrested by one that
| struck me as about the most remarkable
had ever beheld From the height of its
owner as he sat, judged he must have
| been very tall man, and the high, round
shoulders gave an idea of great physical
sire yth, though at the same time the
whole mass seemed composed of bone, for
| there was very little muscle to cover 1t.
| The color of his great, coarse face was OF
unnatural whteness, and the rigid immo-
bity of the features favored the idea that
the man was more dead than alive.
| There was altogether something so re-
| markable in his looks that l could with
| difficulty turn my eyes from him. My
| fixed gaze, imagine, reused some emo
| tions within him, for he returned my scru-
tiny with a determined and terrific glare.
If forced myself to turn away my head
for moment, round it would come again,
and there were his great mysterious eyes
upon me and that stiff jaw slowly and
mechanically moving from side to SIDE,
as he ate his supper, like something act
ed upon by pendulum. IL was really
dreadful; we seemed both bewitehed to
stare at each other; and longed for the
signal to rise, that L might be released
| from the strange fascination. This came
at length; and though L had promised
myself to make some inquiries OF the pri-
or concerning the owner OF the eyes, yet
not finding myself alone with him during
the evening, forebore, and in due time
retired to my chamber, intending to pro-
ceed on my journey the following day.
| Bot when the Morning came found my
| sui kCI uuWtIt, 1hO thS AO0PieeSiS RAANN
recommended me not to leave my bed;
and, finally, was obliged to remain there
not only that day but many days-in short
it was nearly a month before was aole
to quit the convent.
fIn the meantime, however, L had
learnt the story of Brother Lazarus-ior
so found the object of my curiosity was
called; and had thereby acquired some
idea of the kind of influence he had exer-
cised over me. The window OF the little
room | occupied looked into the burying
place of the monastery; and on the day
i first left my bed perceived monk be-
low digging grave. He was STOPPING
forward with a spade in his hand. aud
his back toward me; and as my window
was good way from the ground, and the
brothers were all habited alike. could
not distinguish which of them il was.
| 'You have death amongst youT said
to the prior when he visited me. NO..
returned he, we have even no serious
sickness at present. i see one OF the
| brothers below digging q grave, 1 re-