The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-06-25
The Mysterious Advertisement.

was on my way home last autumn
from tour which had been making in
Normandy, and arrived by a late train at
Dieppe, intending to cross over to En-
gland next morning, weather permitting.
The clock struck one before got to bed,
and. being tired with my journey, soon
fell asleep. Between two and three in
the morning l was disturbed. The
night was pitch dark, but there was
faint light reflected into my room from
lamp in the courtyard of the hotel, and
the outline Of my window was printed
on the ceiling of the room like huge,
distorted skylight. 1t was blowing hard
outside, but l only heard the distant MUIR
muir of the wind, my side of the house
being we'll sheltered. Yet fancied that
must have been disturbed in my sleep
by its roaring.
Before had time for much reflection
my attention was attracted by strange
moaning sound which seemed to be close
to me; then sharp cry rent the air, fol-
lowed by loud EXPLANATIONS of pain or
terror, and then a series of most distress.
ing sobs and groans fell upon my ear.
The sounds were 80 near that they seemed
to be in my room, and, indeed, close to
the head of my bed. 1 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 any such terrible sounds could
emanate. After short time the groans
and EXPLANATIONS ceased, or nearly so,
and then called out, first in French and
afterwards in English, Who is there ?
what is the matter ?" But could OBJ
tain no answer, and presently the alarm
ing sounds began again, and were louder
and more narrowing than before.
1 had some matches in the room, but
they were not within reach as l lay-or
rather sat up-in my bed, and did not
like the idea of leaving it; but presently
mustered courage, and stepped on tiptoe
towards the table, feeling anxiously before
me till reached it. l found my matches,
struck at least half dozen, which would
just flash up and 60 out, and, growing
more and more nervous every moment,
at length succeeded in procuring light.
AS the match burned up, illuminating
the whole chamber, it enabled me to see
distinctly that there was nothing unusual
to be seen-nothing, at all events, that
could account in any way for the mys-
FERROUS and painful sounds which had
alarmed me.
lighted my candle, and, after care
full survey of the apartment, observed
that in the wall by my bedside was a
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 illness. The groans and
cries for help, which continued to break
forth while was thus considering, left
me no alternative but to try and afford
relief SO at once tapped at the door and
asked if any one was i'll. Knock as |
would, however, could get no reply. So
Ipartly dressed myself, and went forth in
search of night porter, or some one who
might be waking in the hotel, to whom
might communicate my anxiety.
On the staircase met tall, thin figure
clad in white, in point of fact cook,
candle in hand, and yawning fesrfully
mounting slowly towards his bedroom.
had some difficulty in making him under
stand what wanted, he was 80 very sleepy
At length he seemed to apprehend little
of my meaning, and with gesture and q
"Tenez, m'sieur," turned away suddenly
and left me. After about ten minutes he
returned, bringing with him another
sleepy person, probably waiter who had
Just risen from his bed, to whom re-
peated my story. He also said, Tenez
he returned with third, who said and
did likewise. Finally, about dozen Of
the strangest, most fantastic, weird-look
ing objects you could imagine found
themselves grouped around me in the
corridor, listening to my account of what
had happened in or near my bedroom
The proprietor of the hotel, stout as 9
feather bed, wrapped in lowered dress
ing.gown, the walters in their drawers
and slippers, a housemaid or two, cooh
or two, in fact, nearly the entire establish
ment, in every possible variety of undress
were present, and expressed, by all sort
of strange CALCULATIONS and remarks, theil
opinion of my story. At length l led the
way to the bed-chamber where pictured
to myself the object of my solicitud,
lying upon his bed, or perhaps upon tn,
floor, dying, if not already dead. Thu
door was locked, but the landlord, b,
some process known to himself, opened i
quite easily. There was a bed, as hat
conjectured, near the door which commu
nicated with my room, and on the pillow
l could see from the distance gray hea,
and pale face lying perfectly still ant
quiet. The whole party entered the room
in single file, forming procession whicl
reached from the door to the bedside
while /, beginning to feel uneasy on m
own account at having raised and intro
duced into another mans room such
spectral array as this, kept in'the bach
ground, or, to be plain with you, in tn
corridor, accommodating over the shoulder
of the rest. The old gentleman, for sue
he evidently was, though was not nea
enough to see his features, remained 70
some time unconscious of the intrusion
till the landlord, finding that he could nc
rouse him with his voice, laid his han
upon him and shook him. He then wok
up with start and sob, and appeare
for minute or two to be in great tel
ror he spoke English, and began to pre-
test that he could explain everything, an
that he was the victim of circumstance
with other such expressions; and it was
long time before the landlord could satisf
him (for he was rather deaf that n
other motive had brought him to hi
room but fear that he was i'll.
"No," said the old gentleman, appa
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