Louisiana capitolian., 1881-11-19

! I~, AAJ No"A SAAS cAV uVWu duN J.
cheerful"
Man or ghost, the creature evidentl
knew the art Of making himself at hom
He mixed some more brandy and wate
then took up my pipe, lit it, and cou
menced smoking.
"Janet!" | whispered, she is not
ghost; he is madman.!
"Madmanw cried the thing, lookin
up suddenly, for his ears were evidentl
as sharp as his eyes. "Madman! why
that-is what cousin Tom used to ca
me, but he was wrong. l was ma
when l had fierce passions and tried t
strangle him; but then the chang
came, and was light, ethereal-a spi1
it. Tom saw this, and knowing that
talked to the ghosts of our ancestors
gave me room to collect them in. Tha
is the room. Get us some more glasses,
he continued, turning to Janet, smor,
glasses and pipes; we will be merry
"He is mad" Iswhispered. DO as h,
bids you we must humor him. Bur
mako haste back, Janet.r
"Come" that looks WE'LL" he cried
when we all had some hot grog and
was smoking. "Your health, Mr.-l
beg pardon, what namew
"Judberry, sir" l replied, sternly,
"Sudberry"
"Judberry, Judberry," he muttered,
absently--don't know the name. So
you are Judberry' ] am Briareur Bal
combe. You know me, of course 7"
II can't say ! do sir. Tc tell you the
truth, / never saw or heard of you till
now-and," l added to myself, Il never
wish to again.w
'Never heard of me ?" he cried in as
tonishment. Then lowering his voice
TO q sweet melancholy, he added, "then
| will tell you my history. Be silent,
stir not, but listen to the history of
Briareus the poet of the Balconies. the
betrayed lover-he of the broken heart
was in my glory-I was about to
hear the history of the Bluebeard cham
Der.
"When was but o YOUTH" commence
I'd Briareus, my uncle returned from
Italy, bringing with him lovely girl.
How can I describe her beauty? 1t was
The beauty of dark, wild night, where
N the placid moon and gentle stars are
shining, yet the sighing Of the wind
9roclaims the coming storm. | loved
ler Time passed on, and at last she
owned that she returned my passion, but
1ade me keep our love secret, as she
ireaded my uncle's wrath. just at this
line my cousin Tom procured me a In.
'rative position in India, and with
light heart l started for that land of
ortunes, for I believed l should soon
'mass riches and be able to return and
lain Elvina.
"On my arrival in India learned that
ny uncle had died, and that Tom
lad come into my estates. My un-
lie dead, one obstacle to my marriage is
emoved, Icried, and / worked on with
enewed vigor. But alas! Twas struck
lown by q snnstroke, fever followed,
nd was ordered home.
"How long we were making the pas
age know not. At length we arrived,
nd taking post chaise, we drove to
he Yews.' ! rushed into this very
Dom, and embracing Elvina, cried, FL
ina! Elvina. behold thy Briareus re-
urned to claim his bride!' 10 my hor-
or she thrust me from her, and rushing
. my cousin, threw herself into his
Tins. asking her dear, dear Tom to save
er from the mailman.
Madam" Icriel, "are you not not
~ adianced p Briareus!, exclaimed
ON, you are mad this IS my v:fe'
II saw it all at % glance" moaned the
oor, mad creature, making my heart
Iced for him. II knew then why
ad been sent to India-why this wo-
ian had made me keep our engagement
'cret. She loved my Cousins gold
Ny passion rose; / could not control |
yself. With q cry more like q wild |
east than a man, sprang upsn Tom. !
had him by the throat, and would |
ave killed him. They said / was mad,
I'd locked me up in the chamber. Not |
one-no. no, not alone; they can not |
Tut out the ghosts. They come and |
II ME stories-wiid, horrible stories. |
i'll tell them to you some night. Hark! I
10 ghosts call me. Imust so at once,
they will come here. Farewell! to-
orrow."
Slowly he crept from the room, Mrs. ,
ruesome and following 0ur hearts
;hed for him.