Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-09
NT-GABELLE INN.

You would have been very fortunate
my children, fyou had known my incl,
Bnyle, because he alone knew nor,
stories tllau you have ever read. NJ,
uncle did not live in our little city Of
Mircpeix; he did not lodge IN our large
house with red window shutters, which
was tho family residence. He was an
advocate, aud lived ut Folk, and almost
every Saturday WE would see him coming
on his horse, and our joyous cries hailed
him ut distance. The servant, my old
Jeanette, cnme Immediately to salute
our Uncle Bayle, who carefully informed
himself MS to the supper. Then, after
having added or changed something in
the bill of fare, he seated himself in a
large chair of carved wood, which he
dragged up to the fire, and without de-
lay we all began to cry, "a story, sto.
ry" On this evening the cry was less
boisterous, because we had formed lit
tie conspiracy, andln one dared to speak
first. Finally, my pretty cousin Doro-
thee, the most laxative little girl of tic
house, and now the grave Superior of O
convent of tho Sisters of Charity, ven
tured to cry: "a ghost story~ and we
replied altogether ayes, y ghost story!r
My uncle frowncd and looked towards
Jcanncttc, who was very much confused,
and wished to appear absorbed in pep
pering her chicken pot-pie, and she real.
ly peppered 1t 50 well that we were not
able to cat IT, It was she, in fact, who
had read us repeatedly the story of the
Spectre Leg and the Open Eye, and who
had urged us to make this demand.
"Thore are only fools or rogues who
believe, or to pretend to believe, in
ghosts" said my uncle in a severe tone.
We all waited in silence, so much au-
thority was there in his words, but
moment ofreilectiOn seemed to calm him.
We saw him smile, as If to himself, and
he added, in tone full of sweetness ::
"You want ghost story, my children!
All right; I will relate one to you which
happened to me, SO that it cannot be
wv saI&a.Ja
We gathered around him closer than
usual; tho lamp hung by a chain attach
cd to the mantel piece and there our I'M.
Gle told his story: .r .1 .a
One autumn day, it must have boon
forty years ago, because was scarcely
twenty years old ut tho time, | was re-.
urning from Toulouse. | Ind made a
good journey, because | had already
passed Autorive, where some friends had
urged inc to pass the night, but l. was
very anxious to reach Swertlun, which,
you know, Is nine miles further, and /
resumed my journey. fGEt
l had arrived almost in front of the
Bolbonne monastery, beyond the beauti-
flll woods Of Lecourien, whore Father
Farinl (whose Latin works You will
have to translate some day. composed
his "Preadlum Rustioum" whom sud-
den and frightful storm, like those that
come down from our mountains, unex-
pcccdly broke forth. In less than no
time tho night became black and trav-
cling impossible. | would certainly
have asked shelter ut the monastery,
but the moment took that resolution
my horse, frightened at the flashes of
lightning and noise of thunder, darted
inIoa little by-patb aud carried me
with himin spite of all my efforts to the
contrary. Notwithstanding his rapidity
! soon recognized that he had taken the
road to st. Gabelle, and That he was
leading mo there all right. Some day
this summer we will visit st. Gabelle,
where the church is built on the top of
the hill, commanding n Wow of the on
tire city, the foot of which is higher
than the roofs of the highest houses. |
will take you to see the choir balcony
built entirely Of oak, with beautiful
carving, and we will ask NJ. Lanlgue to