Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-09
play for us on the organ, which il per
hpps the best In all France. ,a,

In the meantime my horse gall0ped
on until he stopped Of his own accord
Us he had started, and l. perceived tha,
| WAS at the door of an inn. I entered
Tho company was numerous, n mixed
crowd of Spanish merchants and yoanp
sportsmen of tho vicinity, overtsker
like myself by the storm.
After drying ourselves ut the fire, CON.
posed of u dozen vine branches which
had been thrown in the fireplace, sup.
per was onnollnced, and we sat down TO
the table. At first the conversation
turned Oh the frightful weather. One
had been thrown from his horse another
had been detained an hour in getting
himself and cart out Of q pool of mud.
Finally some one exclaimed:
cts an internal night, just the time
for meeting of witches" /
This remark, which was very simple,
gave place to singular observation,
made In tone still moro singular:
| "Sorcercrs and ghosts prefer for their
meeting u beautiful moonlight night,
rather than night 80 unpleasant as
this" ,..r
We all gazed ut the man who said
this and saw that it was one Of the
Spanish merchants Yon have often
seen them, my children, with their leg
gng and short breeches open Mt the
knee and showing their naked hairy
legs You know what u mingled air Of
pride and misery they have with their
capabilities attached to their feet by
narrow bands of leather, their rod cloak,
which they wear NO gracefully, their
brown faces Drowned with black hair,
and their large gold earrings. He who
had spoken had, more than any you
have seen, that savage bearing which is
characteristic Of them all. None Of us
had thought Of replying to this obser-
walton, made in a. grave and severe
voice, when my neighbor, a young man
with frank and open manner, burst
out laughing AZ he said:
1T appears that this gentleman knows
the habits of ghosts, and TINT they have
told him that they do not like to got wet
or dirty
He had not finished his sentence when
the Spal'ard threw on him terrible
look, us no said 'bA
i Young man, do not speak so lightly
OF things You know nothing about"
"Do you think you can make mo be-
liove there are ghosts 7" replied my neigh
Dor, disdainfully. at4
"Perllaps," replied the Spaniard, III
you had the courage to look at them.
The young man jumped up, red with
anger, but calmed himself, and sat down
again quietly, saying:
'You would have paid dearly for that
remark if it were not that of d fool" -
'That of a fool" cried tho Spaniard
jumping up in his turn. well thon,''
added he, slapping his fist on tho table
and throwing down big leathern purse
"Here are thirty quadrnples (al,out $2l6)
which l offer to lose If within an hour |
do not make you see, you who arc SO
positive, the face of one Of your friends
that you will name, let him be dead for
ten years, and if, after having recognized
him, you dare to permit h,s mouth to at
tach kiss to yours" a
The Spaniard had an air so terrible in
saying these words that we all started.
My ncighbor alone preserved his laugh
ing, hooking manner, and replied:
"You will do this, you"
"Yes,' replied the Spaniard, "and |
will lose thirty qnadruples if l do not,
on condition that you will lose an equal
amount if | keep my promise and you
acknowledge it." 20
The young man was silent a moment,
then he said gaily;s
Thirty quadruplcs Myworthy sor-
ccrer, that is more than q student Of
Toulouse ever possessed but if you will
keep your word for tho five quadruples
which are here, ] am your man."
The Spaniard silently took his purse
again, and said scornfully:
"Ah, you back out, my little gentle
man 7" a.
81 back out" cried the young man.
"Ah, if | had the thirty quadruples you
would see if backed out"
'Here are fonr," cried l, (which add
to your stake"
| had no sooner made this proposition
than five or six persons, attracted like
myself by the singularity of tho chal-
lenge, offered tc take part in it, and in |
less than no tino the Spaniard's amount
was covered, This man seemed 30 sure