Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-27
THE SAINT-GABELLE INN.
TTranGsted from the French of Frederick Louie
by Newton Chienell ]

because he alone knew more stories than you
have ever read Ny uncle Cid not live IN our
little city Of NrepetX; he did not lodge In our
large house With red window shutters. which
was the family residence. He was an advocate
and lived at Folk, and almost every Saturday
we would see him coming on his horse and our
Joyous cries hailed him at a distance The
servant, my old Jeanette, came imnediately
TO salute our Uncle Bayle, who carefully In
formed himself as to the supper Then after
having added or changed something in the bin
or fare, he seated himself In large chair of
carved wood. which he dragged up TO the fire,
ara without Delay we all began TO cry, "a
stofy! story y On this even Dg the cry was
leSs Doisterous, because we had formed a little
conspiracy, and no one dared to speak first.
Finally Finally, my pretty cousin Dorothee, the most
laxative little girl OF the house, and now the
grave Superior OF convent of the Sisters OF
Charty, Ventured to cry: "a ghost story"
ana s We " replied altogether: "Yes, ghost
My uncle frowned and looked towards Jean
nette, who was very much confused, and wished
10 appear absorbed 10 peppering her chicken
pot-pie, and she really peppered 1t so well that
we were not able to eat it. Ii was she, 10 fact,
who had read us repeatedly the story OF the
Spectre Leg and the open Eye, and who had
urged US 10 make this demand.
There are only fools or rogues who believe
or to pretend to believe, In ghosts" said my
uncle IN severe tone. We all waited In silence
so much authority was there In his words, bur a
moment OF reflection seemed to calm MIN. We
saw him smile, as II to himself, ana he added, In
a tone 1ull OF sweetness d" You want ghost
story. my children? All right; will relate one
TO you which happened TO Inc, so that IT cannot
De doubted"
We gathered around him closer than usual:
the lamp hung by chain attached 10 the man
Tel piece, and there our uncle told hts story:
One autumn evening, IL must have been forty
years ago, because was scarcely twenty years
OLD at the time, was returning from Toulouse.
had made good Journey, because ! had al
ready passed Auter1ye, where some friends had
urged me to pass the night, but was very anx-
lous 10 reach SWerdun, which, you know. is
nine miles 1aIther and resumed ms tourney.
had arrived almost IN front OF the BolbOnne
monastery. beyond the beautiful woods OF Le-
courier, where Father Naniul (whose Latin
works you VIII have to translate some day
composed his ''Preadfum RuSicumn when
sudden ana frightful Storm. like those that come
down from our mountains uDeX pectedly broke
forth In less than 10 time the night became
black and travelling impossible | would GER
tslDly have asked shelter at the monastery, but
The moment i took that resolution my horse.
heightened at the flashes OF lightning and noise
OF thunder, dafted into little DypaCh and car
Iled me with him in spite OF ali my efforts 10
tie contrary. Notwithstanding his rapidtty |
soon recognized that he had taken the road to
II: Gabelle. and that he was leading me there
VIII visit ST. GahelIe, 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 OF the highest houses. |
Will take you 10 see the cher balcony built
entirely OF oak, with beautiful carving. and We
VIII ask NJ. Lanigue to play for us on the organ,
meantime my horse gall0ped on until be stopped
or his own accord as he had started and per
ceived that was at the door Of an inn. | en-
tered The company was numerous, a mixed
crowd OF Spanish merchants and young sports
men of the vicinity, oyertaken like myself by
the storm. After drying ourselves at the fire,
composed OF dozen Vine branches which had
been thrown In the fireplace, supper was an
nounced, and we all sat down To the table. At
first the conversation turned on the frightful
weather. one had been thrown from his horse;
nly c N In
himself and cart out OF pool OF mud. Finally
some one exclaimed: - It's an Internal night
Just the time for meeting or witches" This
remark, which was very simple, gave place to
q singular observation made In a tone still
more singular.
''Sorcefers and ghosts prefer for their meet
ing oeautl1ul moonlight night 10 night SO
unpleasant as this"
We all gaZed at the man who said this aud
saw mat IL was ole or the spanish merchants.
You have often seen them nv children with
their logging and short breeches open at the
knee AID showing their naked, hairy legs. You
Know what mingled afr OF pride and misery
their feet by narrow bands Of leather, their red
cloak. which they wear so 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
observation, made 10 grave ana severe voice
when my neighbor, a young man with q frank
ana open manner, burst out laughing as he
said:
1T appears that this gentleman knows the
habits OF ghosts and that they have told MIN
that they do hot like 10 get wet or dirty"
He had not finished his sentence when the
SpanlaId threw on him terrible look, as he
SAID:
Young man, do not speak 50 lightly Of things
you kICW nothing about"
e DO you think you can make me believe there
are ghosts" replied my neighbor di5daiDfully.
"Ierhap5, replied the SpanIard, III you had
Tie courage ID look al them
The young man jumped up, red with anger.
but Gained himself, and sat down again quietly,
say ing:
" would have paid dearly FOR that remark
II II were LOT that OF a TOOL
Th3f OF a fool. - cried the Spaniard iumpipg
up In his turn. We'll then.'' added he slap
ping his fist on the table and throwing down a
big lea1bern purse. Here are thirty guadru-
pies (abouy $40 which | offer to lose IL within
positive, the lace OF one OF your friends that you
viii name. let him be dead for ten years, and IT,
alter having recognized him, you dare to permit
his mouth 10 attach Kiss TO yours"
The SpaniaTd had an air SO terrible in saying
these words that we all started. My neighbor
alone preserved his laughing, hooking manner,
and replied
You VIII do this, you?"
Yes replied the SpaniaTd, ''and ] Will lose
thirty quadrupies II do not do it, on condition
that you Will lose an equal amount II | keep MI !
promise ana you acknowledge it,
Inc Young man was silent moment, then he
said gayly:
AitS ii6tuf Gftcc. MY worthy S0rcPFer. |
that Is more than student OF Toulouse ever !
possessed; but If you will keep your word for !
The i've quddfupie5 which are here, am your |
man."
The Spaniard silently took his purse again. |
and said SCOrnfuliy:
Al, you hack out, my little gentleman" |
. / back OUT cried the young man. IAN. i'll !
naQ tAe thirty quadruples you would see II |
Here are four" cried l, (which add to your |
stake
] had no sooner made this proposition than |
I'VE or SIN persons, attracted like myself by the
Slnsularlty or this challenge, offered to take !
part IL IT, and IN less than no time the span.
iaIoS amount was covered. This man seemed !
SO sure or MS work that he confded the Stake 10
Tue young student, and We got ready for the |
To that end we selected small pavilion per |
Iectly Isolated, in the garden, so that there !
could Dc no deception. We searched il mi |
nutely; we assured ourselves that there were no
0thef openings than window securely fast |
ened and door which was closed IN the same |
manner, and at which we all stood after we had |
left the young man alone In the pavilion. We
mad placed writing materials on the table and
TOOK away all the lights. We were eagerly IN
tereSted In the issue OF this scene, and Wera all
keeping profound silence, when the Spanlard,
who had remained among us, commenced to
sing In sweet and sad voice song which NAV
be rendered as follows:
Noiseessly cracking, the coffin has broken in the
balf-opened tomb.
And the white phsntoms black foot is resting on