Litchfield enquirer., 1880-09-23

story:
One autumn evening, it must have been
forty years ago, because | was scarcely twen-
ty years old at the time, was returning from
=, Toulouse. had made good journey, be-
cause 1 had already passed Auterive, where
s some friends had urged me to pass the night
but Twas very anxious to reach Swerdun,
which, you know, is nine miles farther, and /
resumed my journey. I had arrived almost
in front of the Bolhenne monastery, beyond
the beautiful woods of Lecourien, where Faith
er Vaniul (whose Latin works you will have
to translate some day. composed his ''Praedi-
UNI Rusticum, when sudden and fnghtful
storm, like those that come down from our
mountains, Unexpectedly broke forth. In less
than no time the night became..black and tray
cling impossible. would certainly have ask
ed shelter at the monastery. but the moment
took that resolution my horse, frightened at
the flashes of lightning and the noise of the
thunder, darted suddenly into little by path,
and carried me with him in spite of all my
efforts to the contrary. Notwithstanding his
the road to St. Gabelle, and that he was lead
ing me there all right. Some day this sum-
mer we will visit st. Gabelle, where the
church is built on the top of hill, command
ing view of the entire 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 M. Lanigue to play for US on the
organ, which is perhaps the best in all France.
In the meantime my horse galloped on until
he stopped of his ownaccord as he had started
and perceived that | was at the door of an
inn. entered. The company was numerousy
young sportsmen Of THE vicinity, overtaken
like myself by the storm. After drying our
selves at the fire, composed of dozen vine
branches which had been thrown in the fire.
place, supper was announced and we all sat
down to the table. At first the conversation
turned on the frightful weather. One had
been thrown from his horse another had
been detained an hour in getting himself and
cart out of pool of mud. Finally some one
exclaimed, sit is an internal night, just the
time for meeting of witches" This remark,
which was very simple, gave place to singu-
lar observation, made in a tone still more sim
gular. -. .. bI.S 49, - - o. wyfs
"Sorcerers and ghosts prefer for their meet
ing a'beautiful moonlight night to nightso
unpleasant as this"
We all gazed at the man who said this, and
saw that he was one of the Spanish merchants.
You have often seen them my children, with
their leggings and short breeches open at the
knee and showing their naked, hairy legs.
You know what a mingled air of pride and
misery they have with their capabilities at.
tached to their feet by narrow bands of leath-
er, their red cloak, which they wear 80 grace
fully, their brown faces, crowned with black
hair, and their large gold earrings He who
had spoken bad, more than any you have
seensa that savage bearing which is character
Istic OF them all. None of us had thought of
replying to this observation, made in grave
and severe voice, when my neighbor. young
man with frank and open manner, burst out
laughing as he said: -
sit appears that this gentleman knows the.
habits of ghosts, and that they have told him
that they do not like to get wet or dirty
He had not finished his sentence when the
Spaniard threw on him a terrible look, as he
said:
''Young man, do not speak 30 lightly of
things you know nothing about" I \
"Do you think you can make me believe
there are ghosts9" replied my neighbor, dis
painfully.
"Perhaps," replied the spaniard, eff you
hadsthe -coufageto look at them"
The young man jumped up, red with anger,
but Gained himself, and sat down again quiet
ly saying:
mark if it were not that. of fool"
ing up in his turn. "Well, then, added he,
slapping his fist on the table and throwing
down big leathern purse. "Here are thirty
quadruples (about $216) which offer to lose
if within an hour do not make you see, you
who are so positive, the face of one of your
friends that you will name, let him be dead
for ten years, and it,. after having recognized
him, you dare to permit his mouth to attach
kiss to yours. -
The Spaniard had an air so terrible in say
ing these words that we all started. My neigh
Dor alone preserved his laughing, hooking
manner, and replied: .u .s.. -.aEl.
"You will do this, you" ......
eyes," replied the Spaniard, 'and l will
lose thirty quadruples if do not do it, on
condition that you will lose an equal amount
if keep my promise and you acknow ledge
it,"
The young man was silent moment, then
he said, gaily
'Thirty quadrupiesl My worthy sorcerer,
that is more than a student of Toulouse ever
possessed; but if you will keep your word,
for the five quadruples which are here, am
your man."
The Spaniard silently took his purse again.
and said, scornfullY: .ss-.z
81 back outW cried the young man. "Ah,
if had the thirty quadruples you would see
if backed out"
Here are FOUR" cried l, (Which add to
your stake"
l had no sooner made this proposition than
five Or six persons, attracted like myself by.
the singularity) of this challenge, offered to
take part in it, and in less than no time the
Spaniard's amount was covered. This man
seemed 80 sure of his work that he confded
the stake to the young student, and we got
ready for the demonstration.
To that end we selected small pavilion,
perfectly isolated, in the garden, so that there
could be no deception. We searched it mi.
nutely we assured ourselves that there were
o other openings than window securely
fastened and door which was closed in the
same manner, and at which we all stood after
we had left the young man alone in the pavil-
ion. We had placed writing materials on the
table and took away all the lights. We were
eagerly interested in the issue of this scene,
and were all keeping profound silence, when
the Spaniard, who had remained among US,
commenced to sing in sweet and sad
voice song which may be rendered as fol-
lows:
Noiseless cracking the coffin has broken in the half
And the white hantoms black foot is resting on the
grass, cold and green. -,
After this first verse he raised his voice SOL
EMMY and said:
"You have asked to see your friend, Fran
co.'s Violot, who was drowned three years ago
in crossing the Penssgnoles Ferry. What do
you see?" .a. .s.
''Ieee,' replied the young man, "a pale
light which has risen near the window, but it
has no form and is only an indistinct mist"
We all stood stupefed.
care you afraidp" said the Spaniardin a
strong voice.
II am not afraid, replied the student in q
voice no less confident. ID "a - y - 80
We scarcely breathed. The Spaniard was
silent for moment, then he stamped on the
ground with his foot three different times, and
began all at once to sing again, but in a higher
and more sombre voice: r
Sand the white phantom, whose face has
been withered by the surge of the waves,
wipes with Hisshroud the water from his gar.
ments and hairs" ss ID ~ -
The song finished, the Spaniard. turns again