Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-25
A GHOSTLY GUARDIAN.

n uuUO1u VI UUAhUlAN.
A very curious instance Of q lifelong
gbostly guardianship came to my knowl-
edge q few years before leaving France.
lhad heard many circumstances relating
to it freely discussed aud commented on
long before | knew fhe parties. At
length the introduction Of a mutual
friend brought me into intimate acquain.
tance with two Of the most delightful
people it was ever my lot TO know. Mad
anna St. L., the widow Of a French gentle
man of rank and fortune, and her sister,
Miss r., were two elderly ladies, we'll
known to large circle Of friends for
piety, beneyolence and rare accomplish
ments. They lived in pretty chateau
with beautiful grounds, the property OF
the elder lady. They were daughters of
au English gentleman, whose extrava.
Sauce had dissipated a farge fortune,
but at whose death they each came into
possession of a competence, which, hav-
ing been settled upon themselves, he
had been unable to touch.
Their acquaintance with their self
constituted guardian began, when they
were young girls and residing with their
father, Mr.. r., az a house close to the
"Paul Brique,' which lies some miles
from Calais on the road to Cuisines, part
of that debatable land during the occu-
patton of Calais by the English, French
and Spauiards. On. the site of theii
house had been in that tar.otf time
fortress which had been besieged, taken
and burned to the ground after the
slaughter of all in it, by mixed army
Of French and Span,aras. They We're
ot,eu l~tt alone with younger brotbe.
tor weeks and even months at 4 time,
their father preterriug the sayeties of
Paris to The seclnsion of their country
home. twas during one of these inter.
vals tina; their brother was taken very
i'll ana his sisters one night were so a
harmed about him that they agreed to
sis together for the whole night, which
they had not done before. A little past
midnight they were aroused by shreks
aud cries for help, coming directly from
the garden below their window.
Shortly after their servant rushed in.
to the room half wild with terror, say
ing that she heard men placing ladders
against each side of the house and voc.
terating loudly. The young ladies dis
tinctly heard the same, but the brother
never once awoke from his sleep. His
sisters dared neither look ont of the
window nor 20 outside the hall door to
investigate, for they were alone in the
house with one servant, and even the
gardener lived in q cottage distance
off. Their fears came to climax when
the windows began to shake violently,
and the looking glass in their room was
shjvere1 to atoms. A perfect lull sue
cee0ed, and after time they became
aware of the presence of a tall, shadowy
figure draped in long Spanish cloak,
evidently an officer He spoke to them
ia French and told them not to be al
armed: that he was spirit and not cor
porea!; that be was Spanish officer
killed hundred of years ago in the siege
of the fortress which had then occupied
the site of their house that his name
was Casper, 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 uttel lewild-
erment. When made their ac9uaint-
ance forty years had gone by since that
memorable night, and nobly had Gaspar
redeemed his voluntary promise. He
accustomed them to long conversations
with him, and always gave them the
soandest advice. He mixed invisibly
in all their amusements played on the
guitar to their piano playing; accom-.
panied their voices when they sang, SO
that many of their friends were astonish-
ed at the strength and sweetness Of
their performance: would take hand
At cards, and be one Of any little party
they gave. He was rarely visible even
to themselves, but many heard a voice
joining in conversation He rescued