The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-07-13

funeral in the silence.
quickly rose, without knowing why
Turning my eyes toward the 1Ireless chin
ney, | saw the mirrors becoming c0veret
with black cloth, the hangings being dark
ened like the mirrors, and the candle
gradually going out. Dazed By this phan
tasmagoria, [ locked for my unknown
companion. Gone! The servants gone
sprang forward. The street door opened
before me, and | rushed OUT Of that tliabol
lcal den without being able to explain t.
myself how | entered it, nor why [ hat
Just left it.
Feeling that | was perspiring profusely
[ wanted to wipe my forehead but coult
not find my handkerchief. The fresh ali
having restored me to lay senses, and being
anxious to investigate this denoumcnt
which was beyond my comprehension,
drew my sword and cut deep notch il
the mysterious house which is situated or
the Rue lie Pierre fonds, is immediately
made sure.
You can imagine how much I needed
| rest and Quietness after such an adventure
and so | returned to my room. The next
day, when | related this singular story tc
Dulaurier, he shrugged his shoulders, and
when offered to show him the house. he
treated me as If were crazy, However
he agreed to accompany me in my search.
Nothing was easier than to find the house
again, as [ had marked it with an inefface-
able sign. We were greatly astonished at
SEEING the WindoW-shutters fastened tight,
the rusty hinges Of the door, and all the
appearances Of a deserted house. rang
the bell, No answer. Impatient at this
failure, ! rang again SO violently that a
neighbor opened his window.
"What do you want?''
''The lady who lives in this house, /
replied,
"She died two years ago," said the
neighbor, "an.l since then the hollse has
been empty"
''Impossible ~
"If you have come to buy it," continued
the neighbor, S'apply at No. Il. There is
a gentleman there who viii give you the
information yon want!"
I thanked the obliging neighbor. who
shut his window again, and l went imme-
diately to No. y, with the hope that this
person TO whom WAS directed could help
me to unravel the affair, which seemed to
be more puzzling since had determined
on solving it. Ny friend and presented
ourselves at No. y, and III. Bourbon was
wonderfully polite to us as soon as told
him [ wanted 10 buy the property he had
for sale.
"It's a good bargain,'' he said, "and
when you have looked at the house.
Il know it, [ replied.
FfYou know it?'' said he, turning to-
ward me the most astonisIled look in the
world. "Imposslb.e! 1t is more than six
months since myself have put my foot III
it, and as have the keys IN my desk-Ah I!
beg your pardon,' he quickly added, lyon
were there before the owners death %
Il was there yesterday evening, re-
piled, 'sand stayed there about two hours
in the company Of a charming young
lady,
Nc. Bourbon suddenly looked at my
friend as If to ask whether I was insane.
| understood his meaning, and without
being offended continued, hoping to
make him change his mind about nc, and
wishing to furnish him with the most am
pie details of my visit,
II know" said 7, in conclusion, that
you PLACE little faith in my words, since
cannot give an exact account Of the trllth.
But there is an unansWerable way Of yeri-
flying my assertions. On leaving the
house in question ! could not lind my
and [ think ! remember
having left it on the sofa ia the salon.
will you come with us and prove it? If
we find the handkerchief, what will you
say? ?"
"My dear captain said NJ. Bourbon
II shall say nothing, but ] shall sell you
the house at your own price
ST would not have it at any price," I
said in a low tone to Dulaurier.
ne. Bourbon did not hesitate to accept
my proposition, and OIL reaching the door
pointed out to me the cob
webs in the lock.
"Do you give in?''
s'Not yet
s'But this door has not been opened for
six months
81 tell you crossed this threshold yes
rerday morning."
We entered. Everything about the
mournful aspect of that house expressed
lesertion, neglect, solitude. The walls
were mouldy, thick dust covered the
floor, the ceilings were cracked, and cob
webs overrun the staircase. On entering
the salon, the first object that struck my
Eye was my handkerchief lying on the
sofa.
He paused. After time he spoke
There's my story, my dear friend; what
10 you think Of it. -
fare YOU somnambulist, captain =
II don't know. never was aware OF
it,,
sSWere you-hoW shall I say it?-a little
you left the barracks with your
friend Dulaurier?o
stHumt 4 remember very little about
IT,
sit is necessary to enlighten me on
n. ,5.x,i