The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-08
THE MYSTERIOUS ADVERTISE
MENT.

was on my way home last autumn
9from tour which | had been making
in Normandy, and arrived by a late
train at Dieppe, intending to cross over
ito England next morning, weather per-
hitting. The clock struck one before
l got to bed and, being tired with my
journey, | soon fell asleep. Between
two and three in the morning was dis
turbed. The night was pitch dark, but
there was q faint light reflected into my
room from a lamp in the courtyard of
the hotel, and the outline of my win
dow was printed on the ceiling of the
room like a huge, distorted skylight.
1t was blowing hard outside but | only
heard the distant murmur of the wind,
my side of the house being well shell
tered. Yet fancied that | must have
been disturbed in my sleep by its roar
ing.
Before had had time for much re-
Election my attention was attracted by a
strange moaning sound which seemed
to be close to me; then a sharp cry rent
the air, followed by loud EXPLANATIONS
of pain or terror, and then a series of
most distressing sobs and groans fell
upon my ear. The sounds were so near
me that they seemed to be in nv room,
and, indeed, close to the head of my
bed. l could even fancy that felt the
air vibrate, and | thrust out my hands
in the darkness to feel whether any
living object were near me from which
such terrible sounds could emanate. Aft
ver short time the groans and exclama-
tons ceased, or nearly so, and l then
called out, first in French, and after
wards in English: "Who is there
what is the matter ?' But l could OBJ
tain no answer, and presently the
alarming sounds began again and were
louder and more narrowing than before.
| had some matches in the room, but
they were not within reach as [ lay-or
rather sat up-in my bed, and / did not
like the idea of leaving it, but 1 pres
emily mustered courage and stepped on
tiptoe towards the table, feeling anx-
iously before me till l reached it. |
found my matches, struck at least half
a dozen, which would Just fash up
and 90 out, and, growing more and
more nervous every moment, at length
succeeded in procuring a light AS the
match burned up, Illuminating the
whole chamber, it enabled me to see
distinctly that there was nothing unu-
sual to be seen--nothing, at all events,
that could account in any way for the
mysterious and painful sounds which
had alarmed me.
| lighted my candle, and, after a
careful survey of the apartment, OBJ
served that in the wall by my bedside
was door communicating with another
room. | came to the conclusion that
there must be bed on the other side
of this door, touching it, perhaps, as
mine did, and it was occupied by some
one who was in great pain, arising, it
might be, from a sudden attack of i'll
ness. The groans and cries for help,
which continued to break forth while
was thus considering, left me no alter
native but to try and afford relief, so
at once tapped at the door and asked if
anyone were ill. Knock as l would,
however, | could get no reply. So |
partly dressed myself and went forth
in search OF a night porter, or some one
who might be waking in the hotel, to
whom | might communicate my anxi-
ETY..
On the staircase met q tall, thin fg-
'ure clad all in white, in point of fact
cook, candle in hand, and yawning
fearfully, mounting slowly toward his
bedroom. l had some difficulty in
making him understand what it was
that | wanted, he was so very sleepy.
At length he seemed to apprehend a
little of my meaning, and with GEES
ature and ''Tenez, m'sieur," turned
away suddenly and left me- After
about ten minutes he returned, bring
ing with him another sleepy person,
probably waiter who had Just risen
from his bed, to whom / repeated my
story; he also said: "Tenez, m 'sieur,"
and retired. In course of time he re-
turned with third, who said and did
likewise. Finally about dozen of the
strangest, most fantastic, weird-looking
objects you could imagine found
themselves" grouped around me in the
corridor listening to my account of
what had happened in or near my bed
room. The proprietor of the hotel,
stout as feather bed, wrapped
in lowered dressing-gown, the wait
ers in their drawers and slippers, a
housemaid or two, cook or two, in
fact, nearly the entire establishment, in
every possible variety of undress, were
present and expressed, by all sorts of
strange calculations and remarks, their
opinion of my story. At length led
the way to the bed-chamber where I
pictured to myself the subject of my
solicitude lying upon his bed, or per-
haps upon the floor, dying, if not al
ready dead. The door was locked, but
the landlord, by some process known to
himself, opened it quite easily, There
was bed. as | had conjectured, hear
the door which communicated with my
room, and on the pillow could sec
from the distance gray head and a
pale face lying perfectly still and quiet.
The whole party entered the room in
single file, forming a procession which
reached from the door to the bedside;