The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-22
THE sArsr-GAsELLE INN.


live I'm our little city oil Alirepoix; ne oio
moi lodge in our large house with req
window. which was the family
residence. lie was an advocate, and lived
M Folk. but almost every Saturday we
wouId see him coming on bis horse, nnd
orr ioyous cries hailed him at distsnce.
we were quite numerous around him be-
cause nv uncle was the oldest OF q family OF
three children, and we others, the iittlc
children OF this great family, part Wild
their parents. and the rest-my sister and
our infirm mother; out
courageous aud bright we would look Tor
ward 10 the coming OF my Uncle Baylc as
one looks forward TO 4 holiday. IL seems as
II could see bin now descending heavily
with his borse. There were ten hands 10 re-
ceiye bis rding-w hip, ten hands to bold us
birdie, and when betook of bis coat SIX OF Us
scrambled 10 carry 1t, so weak that we were
crushed with the weight OF u, so small that
n always dragged little in the dust; and
then he mounted our oak stairway, the
finest stairway in the country, | believe,
and we, crying aud laughing around him,
m ,unted with great noise, following and pre-
ceding him, opening the door with bang
and announcing him at distance by our Joy
Gus laughter. I will always remember the
respectful reception which all our parents
gave him, rising at bis entrance in the
salon, and the loving and superior bow
with which be replied 20 each one, at the
same time going toward my mother, to
whom he said atlectionaiely:
Good day, my sister; still sick?"
NV mother graspcd his hand and answer
ed him with a smile. Then from this
moment, after exchanging few serious
words with his brother, we little children,
who vet knew nothing but TO love him, took
possession OF our Uncle Bayle. He belonged
to us until supper was the time for talking
over family affairs, and we were then sent
to bed, 80 we seized upon him and ayalled
ourselves OF our uncle's goodness, and
sometimes we abused il. He followed in
then and we all went down to the kitchen.
Not such kitchen as you have at your
mothers, but an immense kitchen with q
fireplace more than six feet high, like a
large aicove, and having at the side bench
OF brown oak. under which slept the little
dog that served as turn-split. The servant,
nv old jeanette, came Immediately TO salute
our Uncle Bayle, who carefully informed
himself as 10 the supper. Then, after
having added or changed something IN the
bill of fare, he seated himself in large
chair OF carved wood, which we dragged up
TO the IRE, and without delay we all began
TO cry, "a story! storyl" On this
evening the cry was less boisterous, because
we had formed little conspiracy, and no
one dared to speak first. Finally my pretty
cousin, Dorothee, the most laxative little
girl Of the house, ventured to cry: GA
ghost story :" aud we replied all together ::
"Yes, a ghost story !"
NV uncle frowned and looked towards
Jeanette, who was very much confused,
and wished TO appear absorbed in pepper
ing her chicken pot-pie, and she really
peppered it so well that we were not able
TO eat il. 1t was she, in fact, who had told
MS repeatedly the story Of the "Spectre
Leg" and the "Open Eye" and who bad
urged us to make this demand.
"There are only fools or rogues who be-
lieye, or pretend 10 believe, in ghosts,
said nv uncle in severe tone. We all
waited in silence, so much authority was
there in his words, but moment OF reflec-
ton seemed to calm him. We saw him
smile, IL II to himself, and he added, in "A
tone full OF sweetness, " You want ghost
story, my children? All right, | will
relate one to you which happened 10 me, so
that it can not be doubled"
We gathered around him closer than
usual; the lamp hung by chain attached
to The manielpiece, and thus our uncle
told bis story:
One autumn evening, it must have been
forty years ago, because / was scarcely
twenty years old at the time, was return
ing from Toulouse. | had made good
tourney. because | had already passed
a uterive. where some friends had urged me
TO pass the night, but | was very anxious
TO reach Swerdun, which, you know, Is
nine miles further, and | resumed my
Journey. bad arrived almost in front OF
the BOibonne Monastery, beyond the beau
tifuI woods OF Lecourien, where Father
Vaniul (whose Latin works you will have
to translate some day. composed his Pred
dunn RuSticum, when a sudden and fright
ful storm, like those that come down from
our mountains, Unexpectedly broke forth
In less than 10 time the night became
black and travelling impossible. L woulC
certainly have asked shelter at the m0naS
tery, but the moment / took that resolution
my horse. frightened at the flashes OF light
ming and noise OF thunder, darted into III
tie bv-patb and carried me with him in spite
OF ali nv efforts TO the contrary. Notwl;h
standing his rapidly, soon recognized tina
he had taken the road to Saint-Gabellc, an(
that he was leading Us there all right. Some
day this summer we will Visit Saint GaDelie
where the church is built on the top OF ;
hill. commanding view OF the entire city
the foot of which is higher than the roofs o
the highest houses. | will take you to SCI
the choir balcony built entirely OF oak, will
teautiiul carving, and we will ask NJ. LAM
cue to play for us on the organ, which /
nerbaps the best in all France. In th,
mean time my horse gallopped on, until h
sionped of his own accord as he had started
and | perceived that was at the door OF al
inn. | entered. The company was numer
ous. q mixed crowd OF Spanish merchant
and young sportsmen OF the vicinity, over
taken like myself by the storm. After dry
| ing ourselves at the fire, composed OF
dozen vine branches which had beer
thrown in the fireplace, supper was an
nounced, and we all sat down to the table
| At first the conversation turned on tn
frjebtful weather, One had been throw
| from his horse; another had been detained
an hour in getting himself and cart out OF
pool OF mud; finally some one exclaimed
alt Is an internal night, just the time for
meeting OF witches" This remark. whc
was very simple. gave place 10 singuIa
observation, made in a tone SILL more sin
gular.
"Sorcerers and ghosts prefer for thei
meeting beautiful moonlight 10 night 5
unpleasant as this"
| We all gDzed at the man who said this
and saw that 1t was one OF the SPANS
merchants. You have often seen them, m,
| children, with their leggings and shor
breeches omen at the knee and showin
their naked hairy legs. You know what
mingled air Of pride and misery they hay
with their capabilities attached to their fee
| by narrow bands OF leather, their red cloak
which they wear so gracefully, their brow