Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-21

against each side Of the house and v"ci.
ferating loudly. The young ladies dis
tinctly heard tho Same, but tho brother
never once awoke from his sleep. His
sisters dared neither look out Of the
window nor 20 ontsids the ball door to
investigate, for they were alone in the
house with one servant, aud even tho
gardener lived in cottage adistance
Off. Their fears came to a climax when
tho windows began to shake violently,
and the looking glass in their room was
shivere,l to atoms. A perfect lulI sue
ceede,l, aud after time they became
aware of the presence of u tall, shadowy
figure draped in long Spanish cloak,
evidently an officer. He spoke to them
in French and told them not to be al
armed; that be was spirit and not cor
poreal; that he was Spanish officer
killed hundred of years ago in tho siege
of tho fortress which had then occupied
the site of their house that his name
was Casper, and that no would always
attend them, and through life be their
faithful and devoted friend.
lie then vanished FROM their sight,
leaving thom in a state of utter bewlld-
erment. When ] made their acquaint-
ance forty years had gone by since that
memorable night, and nobly had Gaspar
redeemed his voluntary promise. He
accustomed them to long conversations
with him, and always gave them the
sOundest advice. He mixed invisibly
in all their amusements; played on the
guitar to their piano playing; accom-.
panied their voices when they sang, 80
that many Of their friends were astonish-
cd at tho strength and sweetness of
their performance would take hand
at cards, and be ono of any little party
they gave. lio was rarely visible, even
to themselves, but many heard q voice,
Joining in conversation. He rescued
them from an unpleasant dilemma.
Once, when they went to q ball, and by
some mistake tho carriage which
brought them, and which ought to have
returned to take them back, went home
with some other party, they being loft
quite helpless. A dronching rain was
falling, all their friends had left and it
was long past midnight.
They wero in tho greatest perplexity
when suddenlythoir names were called
a carriage being at tho door to convey
them home. They wore most thankful
but made no inquiry till, on getting ont,
Miss r. asked tho driver how he came
to know their names and where to come
as his was not the carriage they had
ordered. The man replied that he had
been going homo for the night, when al
officer in long cloak stopped him and
engaged his vehicle for two ladies, Civ.
ing their names and telling him where
to go for them. Nor did Gaspar, while
they were yet girls and unmarried, dis
dain to join in any harmless freak tend
ing to their amusement. They were
once talking in their own drawing room
OF a private fancy ball to be given by ;
friend in Calais, and to which they were
specially invited. Speaking of some o
their young acquaintances, they men
toned ono whose atfectation made he
generally disagroeable, and who was a
tho same time 80 exceedingly plain tina
it was difficult to find partners for he
at any of the parties where they met.
"Would it not DO curious" said th'
older Miss r., eff Gaspar was to go tt
the ball in his full dress rs Spanisl
officer, and, with u profusion of bows
solicit the honor Of dancing with her ~
| eyes" replied the other sister, "an'
when the dance was ended take her bacl
to her mamma, with complmentar,
speech on the elegance of her daughter
dancing" Then they made up a speecl
for the occasion, and laughed hearth
at their own conjectures. The day o
which the ball was TO be given arrived
and in the afternoon the sisters walke
into Calais, as they were TO dress an
afterward sleep at their friends house
During their walk theyincesssntlyhear
footsteps behind them, yet on lookin
back saw no one. On entering tn
streets of Calais they distinctly hear
the clicking of spurs on the pavemen
and made sure that some officer was fo
lowing them, but could SEQ no one.
Having dressed in costume in the ever
: ing, they joined the gay circle in til
, ballroom, and at first sat down wit
some young fricnds,the young lady
| Inl h