The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-21

Will do 40 W0e0 / 109
The heRving bosom sigh Tor me.
Tho "Duenna," by =. D. Sheridan.
LA CAFETIERE.
a Curious Night Adventure in Norman
Inn.
tTheophile lnxtier.l
Last year l was Invited, with two Of my
studio companions ArriRo Oohic and Podrint
Horgnioli, TO pass few days ut u country
! house Ia the heart OF Normandy. The weGth
er, which ct the time Of oar departure prom
lsed to be superb. changed suddenly, and *
much rain fell that the roads along which WI
1 paAeed were like the bed Of = torrent. W.
sank In the mud up to our knees, the soles o.
our boots were clogged with thick coating
u clayey mud. the weight OF which retarded
our steps no much that we did not arrive al
our destination until an hour after sunset.
We were harassed. and 30 our host seeing
the efforts that we had to make In order to re-
press our yawns and to keep our eyes open,
had us ehown each to our chamber rs soon as
supper was over.
NY chamber was vast; felt. as entered
4 Il as II 1t were a shudder Of fever. for II
seemed to me that l was entering new
world. Indeed, you might have believed
yourself Iii the days or the Regency. to see
above the doors the panels by Boucher, rep
reeenting the four seasons. the furniture
overloaded with rocdille ornaments Of the
worst taste, and the heaviiy-carved looking
glass frames. Nothing had been disturbed.
"A tnttA Tn rad Vulf hu
brushes and powder boxes. seemed to have
4 bean In use nm hour ago. Two or three
dresses Of changing colors, fan covered
with silver spangles, lay careleesly on the
polished oak hoor. and to my great aston
the ohimney-piece. was full Of fresh tobacco.
/ did not notice these things until the SER
want, after placing the candlestick on the
table, had wished me goodnight, and, con-
less began to tremble like leaf. un.
Il order to have done with my foolish fears. /
eOOn closed my eyes and turned my face to-
ward the wall. But 1t was impossible for me
20 remain In this position: the bed began to
move beneath me like wave my eye!ids
we're drawn violently back. was obliged To
turn and see.
The blazing fire cast red reelection In the
apartment, 90 that the figures OF the tapestry
and Of the smoky portraits hung on the wallis
could be easily distinguished. They were the
Iron, councillors In perriwigs. and fair ladies
with painted faces and white powdered hair,
holding rose In their hand.
Suddenly the fire became strangely active;
. hleared light illuminated the chamber, and
Isaw clearly what had taken for vain paint
inRs was reality, for the eyes Of these
framed beings began to move and sparkle in
q strange manner: their lips opened and
closed like the lips Of people speaking, but |
and the whistling OF the autumn wind. An
insuperable terror seized me, my hair stood
on end, my teeth chartered, my body was
bathed In cold sweat.
The clock struck eleven. The vibration Of
the last stroke sang long In the air, and
when It died away entirely On! mol
I dare not say what happened; no one would
believe. should bo taken for mailman.
The candles lighted OF themselves. the bel
them, began TO blow the fire. rattllng like al
asthmatio old man, while the toDgs stirred
the blllete OF wood and tho shovel gathered
up the ashes. Then a coffee pot bounded
from table on which 1t had been placed. and
and put itself between the fire-brands.
rev minutes afterwards the arm chairs began
to move, and. aRitating their twisted feet In
surprising manner, came and ranged them
selves around the fire.
did not know what to think OF what saw,
but what remained for me to see was still
more extraordinary.
One OF the portraits oldest OF all, that
Ct = fat, chubby, Kray,bearded man. resem-
self Of Sir John Falstaff. pushed his head
out OF the frame with grimace, and after
having, with agreat effort, forced his shoulders
and his fair, round belly between the narrow
etlded border, be Jumped ed dow down heavily .sS -
from the pocket Of his doublet wonderfully
small key: he blew in 1t to see that the hole
VAS clear, and then applied It to all the
frames, one after the other; and all the
figures which they contained 70 pass through
with ease.
Little doll-like abbee, dry and yellow
dowagers. grave magistrates buried In large
black robes, petite naitres IN silk stockings
and prunello brooches these personages
presented such an odd spectacle that In spite
Of my fright I could not help laughing.
These worthy folk sat down; the coffee-pot
bounded lightly on to the table. They took
coffee IN cups OF blue and white Japanese
porcelain, which ran up spontaneously from
the top Of secretary. each one provided with
. lump Of sugar and . little silver spoon.
When the coffee had been taken, eoffee-pot.
cups and spoons disappeared all at once, and
conversation began. Sooth to say. It was the
most curious conversation that 1 have ever
heard, for none Of these strange takers
looked at each other while he spoke; they all
had their eyes liked upon the clock. At last
midnight struck; voice. the tone Of which
clock, was heard saying:
ut L. the hour; we must dance"
All the assembly rose. The arm chairs
drew back Of their own accord: then a,h |
cavalier took the hand OF lady, and the |
anne vdce said:
! sYJoma gentlemen OF the orchestra, begin !" |
! f0ra0E to cay that the subjects OF the |
ware on one side an Italian concerto |
nd % The other slde stag1hun with hunts,
sSss-as .ss.,< xr1x,7 Y1ntil then had MT madn