Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-05-20
:. -[From the Atlantic Monthly.]
A. GHOSTLY GUARDIAN.

A very curious instance of a lifelong
ghostly guardianship came to my knowl-
edge a few years before leaving France.
had heard many circumstances relat-
ing to it freely discussed and commented
on long before knew the parties AT
length the introduction Of mutual friend
brought me into intimate acquaintance
with two. Of the most delightful people it
was ever my lot to know. Madame St..
L., the widow of q French gentleman of
rank and fortune, and her sister, Miss
O.. T., We're two elderly ladies', well known
to large circle Of friends for their piety,
henevolence and rare accomplishments.
They lived in a pretty chateau with
beautiful grounds, the property OF the
elder lady. They We're aughters of an
English gentleman, whose extravaganza
: has disMpated a, large fortune, hut at
whose death they each came into posses
sion OF competence, which, having been
settled upon themselves, he had been I'M
able to touch. Their acquaintance with
their self-constituted guardian began
when they were young girls, and resid-
ing with their father, Mr.. r., at house
close to the ''Paul Brique, which lies
some miles from Calais on the road to
Cuisines, part Of that debatable land
during. the occupation of Calais by
the English, French and Spaniards. On
the site Of their hotlse had been in that
far-otf time fortress, which had been
besieged, taken, and burned to the
ground after the slaughter Of all in it, by
a mixed army OF French and Spaniards.
They were often left alone with a
younger brother for many weeks and
even months at a time, their father pre-
terrlngthe gayeties OF Paris to the seclu-
sion OF their country home. It was d11r
Ing one Of these intervals that ,their
2 brother was taken very i'll. and ghis.sis-
tiers were one night SO alarmed about
him that they agreed to sit up together
tor the whole night, which they had not
done before. A little passed midnight
they were|' aroused by shrieks
and cries for help, coming directly
from the garden below their
- window. g Shortly after their maid
servant rushed into the room half Wild
with terror, saying that she heard men
placing ladders against each side of the
house and vociferating loudly. The
young ladies. distinctly heard the same,
but the brother never once awoke from !
his sleep. His sisters dared neither to
lock out Of the window nor go outside Of
the hall door to investigate, for they
were alone in the house with one servant.
and even the gardener lived in a cottage |
some distance off, Their fears came to A !
climax when the windows began to shake
violently, and the. looking glass in their
room was shivered to atoms. A perfect
lu1 succeeded. and after time they be-
came aware of the presence of a tail,
shadowy figure draped in long Span
ish cloak, evidently:an officer. ne spoke
to them in French, and told them not to
= be a1armed;~ that he was spirit, andn
corporeal; that he was a Spanish officer
killed hundreds of years ago in the siege
of the fortress which had then occupied T
the site Of their house; that his name
was Gaspar; and that he would ALWAYS
attend them, and through life be their
faithful and devoted friend. He then
vanished from their sight, leaving them
in state Of utter bewilderment. When
made their acquaintance forty years
had gone by since that memorable night,
and nohly had Casper redeemed his vol
untary promise. He accustomed them
to long conversations with him, and
always gave them the soundest advice.
He mixed invisibly in all their amusee-
ments; played on the guitar to their
piano playing; accompanied their voices
when they sang, so that many of their
, trends We're ,astonished at the strength
and zsweetness Of their fornance;
would take ashand at'a cards; and be
gave. He Was rarely Invisible
even to themselves, but many heard
his voice was joining in conversation.
he rescued them from many an unpleas-
ant dilemma. Once, when they went to
ball, and by some mistake the carriage
which brought them, and which ought
to have returned to- take them back,
went home with some other party:
they were left quite helpless. A drench-
ing rain was falling, all their friends had
lett, and it was q long past midnight.
They were in the greatest perplexity.
when suddenly their names were called.
a carriage being at the door to convey
them hong They were most thankful.
but made'no inquiry, till, on getting out,
Miss r. asked the driver how he came TO
know their names and where to come. as
His was not the carriage they had order
ed. The man replied that he had been
gong home for the night, when an off,
Ger 1n long cloak stopped him and en-
gagged his vehicle for two. ladies'. giving
thaf; names and telling him wIere Is 81
for them: Nor did Gaspar, While they
were yet girls and unmarried. disdain to
join IN any harmless freak tending to-
their amusemer. They,were ones fa,lY.i
ing in their drawing groom Of q private
fancy ball to be given by friend in
Calais, and to which they were especial
" invited: Speaking Of some Of their
one. xhose adsotaionc mad9 Ill Ft general.
ydisagreeable, and who was at the same
time so exceedingly, plain that it was
difficult to. 1nd tatneis for her at any
OF the parties where they met. ----- + vi
Would II be CURIOUS >, said the older1
Miss ~ ~ Ga.ppr Fer4 to Cd to tie
ball j Ma full ,drea ss q Spanish officer.
and: with a profasion of bows, solicit tie
honor Of dancing with her?"
eyes" replied the other sister, "and
wheQ the dance wes ended takesh her back
to sHf lnalpma; With aaomphmentafy
speech on the elegance of her daughters
dsncings 20 They then made up u speech
tor the o0caeiQn, and laughed heartily 1t
their own c0njectures.r The day on which
the bah was to b6e given arrived, aid In
the afternoon thes aistersg Walkede into
Calais, as they were. to dress; and after
wards sleep, at their friends house.
During their walk they ineessantly heard
footaAseRsr behind them yet on looking
back no one was in sight. On. entering
the steeb IF Calais; TIE tlhey distinctly heard
the; blinking Of aapuzso6h thet jpajehhent, r
and made sqye that rsome officer. was
following them but ,coii1d see no one.
Having !dresaea ihcostame IN. Tie even +
Ing, they Joined the gay circle in the ball (
room, and at first sat down 't WiffR Some
young frlepds, the young lad. If whom
mRa1b'ss;ll&&3 . s;atAHaa&et: