Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-21
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2l 1880

pretty chateau near Cologne, where they
still lived when l knew them. Gaspar
went with them, and was much talked
of in the neighborhood. The peasants
said that he might often be seen, after
uightfAll, pacing s'owly backward and
forward on the bridge which led to the
neighboripg town ofSt. Pierre. and many
of them went by choice tho lower road,
by the canal, to avoid the chance of
meeting him.
Madame St. l.. had only two children,
both sons, who At the proper age entered
the French army. They had hardly at.
taiued TO manhood when Monsieur St.
l.. died, rather suddenly, after long and
distressing illness. Soou afterwards the
two ladies had lawsuit in England de-
cided in their favor, but found y vexa.
tious opposition made to their taking
possession of the small property which
had been in question, ny tho person
inhabting tho house positively refused
to give it up. At last Madame st. LIS
English lawyer wrote to advise their
coming over to try their personal iuAu
ence with the opposing party. They went
and in paying visit TO the lady, their
opponent, were agreeAbly surprised to
find that all difficulties had been smooth.
Cd away by the visit, . few days before,
of Spanish gentleman, who had fully
explained overy circumstance connected
with the property, and bad placed in .
very clear light the justice of Madame
st. LIS claim. The lady agreed to leave
the house in u day or two, and to send
tho keys 80 Madame st. L., which was
done.
The two sons Of this lady were natur-
ally subjected to much quizzing on the
part Of their acquaintances, and always
strenuously denied having the slightest
faith i'll tho family ghost; indeed, were
very angry If any allustion were made.
The elder sou, however, being at home
Oh leave, and overhearing bis mother
aud aunt talking Of Gsspar, pondered
much on the subject, and, unknown to
his family, resolved to watch for one
night in the room where his father died
aud where Gaspar was said to DO con-
tinually present, as it WAS much used
by the family; their evenings were also
spent there, and supper partaken in ono
corner of the room. 1t was always
Madame St. LIS custom to remove tho
wine decanters and glasses into q large
cupboard, which stood at the end of the
room nearest the door, and also any dish
from supper which would DO required
for next day; having done this, she
invariably locked the cupboard and took
the key up with her to led.
On tho night in question the young
man prepared for his lonely vigil by
placing bis lamp and book on the table
at tho far end of the room he then laid
his loaded gun within reach of bis hnnd,
and also bis drawn sword. Two we'll
traiued dogs, used for sporting, and
thoroughly obedient to his voice, we're
bis only companions, and having care
fully secured the door and windows, he
sat down to read, the dogs lying at his
feet. When his few preparations were
completed it was about II o'clock, and
he read quietly for nearly an hour. When
the clock was on the stroke of midnight
strange agitation seemed to- pervade
the room. The dogs ut their masters
} feet began to howl and whine and crouch
, to the ground, with every symptom OF
terror, and at length, quito regardless
, of his voice, skunk under the table al
which he was sitting, the heavy cover
of which hid them from view.
As the clock struck II. young St. L
distinctly saw Gaspar, as he had al
y WAYS been described to him, ente
through the closed door, and stop op
7 posite to the cupboard where the vim
, and supper had been put away. With
bunch of keys, which the young maj
clearly recognized as bis mothers, Gas
l par opened the cupboard quite wide
J. cut slice of pate and began to eat
| then poured out some wine and drank
2 When he had finished, he turned an,
o looked tercely at the young man, VIII
4 tried to rise, but felt chained down b.
!, some invisible power. He stretched on
/ his haud for bis gun and pointed it a
the figure, but it fell from his hand OF
J. the carpet, without even exploding
Q and under the mysterious Influence Q
h Gaspar's steady gaze he fell back in hi
# chair utterly inseusible and remembere'
- IN mora till the broad snnlirht stream