Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-05-19
IFrom the Atlantic Monthly.l
A GHOSTLY GUARDIAN.

A very curious instance of a lifelong
ghostly guardianship came to my knowl-
edge few years before leaving France.
[ had heard many circumstances relat-
ing to it freely discussed and commented
on long before I knew the parties. At
length the introduction of mutual friend
brought me into intimate acquaintance
with two of the most delightful people it
was ever my lot to know. Madame ST.
L., the widow of French gentleman of
rank and fortune, and her sister, Miss
r., were two elderly ladies, well known
to a large circle of friends for their piety,
benevolence and rare accomplishments
They lived In a pretty chateau with
beautiful grounds, the property of the
elder lady. They were daughters of an
English gentleman, whose extravaganza
has dissipated large fortune, but at
whose death they each came into posses
sion of a competence, which, having been
settled upon themselves, he had oeen I'M
able to touch. Their acquaintance with
their self-constituted guardian began
when they were young girls, and resid-
ing with their father, Mr.. r., at a house
close to the 'tPaul Brique, y which lies
some miles from Calais on the road to
Cuisines, part of that debatable land
during the occupation of Calais by
the English, French and Spaniards. On
the site of their house had been In that
far-oH time a fortress, which had been
besieged, taken, and burned to the
ground after the slaughter of all in it, by
a mixed army Of French and Spaniards
They were often left alone with a
younger brother for many weeks and
even months at time, their father pre-
ferring the gayeties of Paris to the seclu-
sion of their country home It was dur
ing one of these intervals that their
brother was taken very Ill, and his sis
tiers we're one night so alarmed about
him that they agreed to sit up together
for the whole night, which they had not
done before. A little passed midnight
they were aroused by shrieks
and cries for help, coming directly
from the garden below their
window. Shortly after their maid
servant rushed into the room half wild
with terror, saying that she heard men
placing ladders against each side Of the
house and vociferating loudly. The
young ladies distinctly heard the same,
but the brother never once awoke from
his sleep. His sisters dared neither to
lock out of the window nor go outside of
the hall door to investigate, for they
were alone in the house with one servant,
and even the gardener lived In a cottage
some distance off. Their fears came to a
climax when the windows began to shake
violently, and the looking glass in their
room was shivered to atoms. A perfect
lul succeeded. and after time they be-
came aware of the presence of a tall.
shadowy figure draped in a long Span
ISL cloak, evidently an officer. Ire spoke
to them In French, and told them not to
be alarmed; that he was spirit, and not
corporal; that he was Spanish officer
killed hundreds of years ago in the siege
of the fortress which had then occupied
the site of their house; that his name
was Gaspar; and that he would always
attend them, and through life be their
faithful and devoted friend. He then
vanished from their sight, leaving them
III state of utter bewilderment. When
I made their acquaintance forty years
had gone by since that memorable night
and nobly had Casper redeemed his vol
untary promise. He accustomed them
to long conversations with him, anC
always gave them the soundest advice
He mixed invisibly in all their amuse
ments; played on the guitar to theil
{. piano playing; accompanied their voices
when they sang, SO that many of theil
friends we're astonished at the strength
and sweetness of their performance
would take hand at cards, and be
one of any little party they
gave. He was rarely invisible
even to themselves, but many heard
his voice was joining in conversation
He rescued them from many an unpleas
ant dilemma. Once, when they went tC
ball, and by some mistake the carriage
which brought them, and which ough
to have returned to take them back
went home with some other party
they were left quite helpless. A drencn
ing rain was falling, all their friends hat
left, and it was long past midnight
They were IN the greatest perplexity
when suddenly their names were called
a carriage being at the door to conve,
them home. They were most thankful
but made no inquiry till, on getting out
Miss r. asked the driver how he came t.
know their names and where to come, 81
his was not the carriage they had order
ed. The man replied that he had beer
going home for the night, when an off
Ger in long cloak stopped him and en-
gagged his vehicle for two ladies, givins
their names and telling him where to q