The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-24

dav or two. and TO send the keys TO Madame
81. h.. which was done.
The two sons Of this lady were naturally
subjected 10 much quixzipg on the part OF
their acuuaintances, and always strenuous'y
denied having the slightest faith 10 tne
family gn6si; indeed, were very angry II
any aIluSion were made to IT, The elder
son, however, being at home on leave, ana,
oyerhearing his mother and aunt talking o!
(saspar. Wondered much on the subject. ana
unknown 10 bis family, resolved TO watch
far one night In the room where his fsther
died. and where Gaspar was said 10 De con-
tInuaIly prescpf. as it was much used by
The family; there evenings were also spent
there, aud supper parfskeu In one corner
OF the room. III was always Madame 81. LIS
custom 10 remove the wine decanters sno
glasses into large cupboard, which $1,000
AZ the end of the room nearest tie door, ana
also any dish from supper which wou'c De
REQUIRED for the next day; having done
This. she invariably locked the cupboard
and took the key up with her to bed. On
The night In question the young man pre-
pared for his lonely vigil by placing DIS
lamp and book on the table al The iar eno
Of the room. He then laid bis loaded gun
within reach OF his hand, and also bis drawn
sword. Two well-traiued dogs used Tor
sporting, and thoroughly ebedient 10 MS
voice, were bis only companions ana
having carefully secured the door ana
windows he sat down to read, the dogs
lying at his feet. When his lew prepare.
lions were completed, 1t was aDou. III
O'Clock. and he read quietly for nearly an
hour. When the clock was on the stroke
Of midnight, strange agitation seemed 10
perysde the room. The dogs NJ tnelr
masters feet began to howl and whine ana
crouch 10 the ground, with every symptom
OF terror, and at length, quite r. gardiess OF
his voice, SUNK under the table at wnich ne
was sitting, the heavy cover OF when nia
them from view. As the CLOCK suuck
10. young st. l.. distinctly saw Gaspar,
as be had always been described 70 n.m,
enter through the closed door, ana STOP
opposite the cupboard where the wine ana
supper had been put away. With Dunch
OF keys, which the young man clearly re.
cognized as his mothers, Gsspar opened
the cupboard quite wide, cut slice OF pate,
and began to eat; then poured out some
wine aud drank. When he had finished,
he turned and looked 1erceIy at the young
man, who tried to rise, but felt chalned
down by some invisible power. He stretch
ed out his hand for bis gun and pointed IL
at the figure, but it fell from his hand on 10
the carpet. without even exploding, and
under the mysterious influence OF Gaspars
steady gaze be fell back in his chair utterly
insensible and remembered no more till the
broad sunlight streaming into the room
reused him to find the gun lying at bis feet
and The dogs still hardly recovered from
their terror, the cupboard locked as usual
and himself alone ia the room, where no
trace OF Gaspar's presence remained, but
when the cupboard was opened there was
remnant OF pate on one OF the plates and
portion OF wine in one Of the glasses. ON
being questioned Madame st. l.. declared
that the Keys OF the cupboard bad never
left her dressing. table till she brought them
down that morning.
This was probably the last time that Gas
par appeared In visible form to any OF The
family. A long time before he had told the
two ladies that it would be impossible Tor
him to let them see and hear him as they
had been accustomed to do; that be would
never leave them, and that wherever they
went he would go, but that his presence
would be manifested only by noises OF
different kinds; that should any misfortune
threaten the family, or any great changes
be impending, they should without fail
receive timely warning. This promise
was literally fulfilled; for when they took
refuge for time in England, during the
Franco German war, when both Madame st.
20 sons were engaged in the struggles OF
the French army, she always received some
intima,i0n of the arrival OF letters, which
indeed reached her safely in the most mys-
terious manner, when oftentimes the young
men had either lost them in confusion OF a
camp or beng utterly unable to post them.
Any loss by death was also communicated
in same unmistakable fashion. Both sisters
found themselves unable to sleep one night
from soft, continuous tapping on the win
dow pane, accompanied by a low moaning,
which continued for many hours. In day
or two they heard OF the death on that very
night of beloved friend who had been
their school.felIow In early days. Such
were the few OF the anecdotes Of Gaspar
which gathered from the lips Of the dear
ladies whose guardian angel he undoubted-
" proved himself TO be. For one OF them
the enigma of his influence has been solved
in another world; two years ago Miss K.
died, TO the deep regret OF an endeared
circle OF friends. Madame st. l.. lives in
Paris with her eldest son, who is married
and OF high rank in the French army.