St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-08-22
GHOST STORIES.
STRANGE HAPPENINGS WHICH SCI
ENCE CANNOT UNRAvEL.

The little book published in 1923
by T. M. Jarvis. and entitled "Ac-
credited Ghost Stories, . contains a
queer incident, vouched for by the
author, and describing the appear
ance of the Duchess of Mazarine,
after death, to Madame Boauclair.
'FThe Duchess, it must be prem
ised, was mistress to Charles IT,,
while Madame de Beauclair held a
similar position toward his brother
and successor James III. These
two women were said to have been
greatly attached to each other, q
somewhat singular circumstance
when their positions are taken into
account. After the burning Of
Whitehall these favorites Of royalty
were removed to ST. James Palace
where they were accorded very
handsome suites of apartments, but,
being neglected on account Of new
favorites, these women had a fellow
feeling for each other, and, as is not
unusual in such cases, began to
discuss matters Of graver nature
than had been their custom hitherto.
In one of their more serious consul
tations which they had on the i'm
mortality Of the soul, they discussed
the doctrine Of apparitions, and
made a solemn stipulation that
whichever one should die first she
should return, if there was a possi-
bility Of so doing, and give the 9TH
er an account of what position she
was in the next life.
A PROMISE GIVEN.
"This promise was often repeated,
and, the Duchess happening to fall
sick, and her life despaired Of by all
about her, Nine. de Beauclair re-
minded her of her solemn promise,
to which her Grace responded that
she might depend upon her perfor-
ance of it. These words passed
between them not an hour before
the dissolution Of the Duchess, and
were spoken before several persons
in the room, although they did not
comprehend the meaning Of what
they heard.
Some years after the Duchess
decease, in visit I made to Nine.
de Beauclair, to fall upon the topic
of futurity, she expressed her disbe-
lief Of it with a great deal Of warmth
which little surprised me, as, be-
ing Of quite different turn Of
thinking, myself, and had supposed,
by the religion size protested, that
she was also. In answer to her In
terlocutor's arguments, the lady
related her compact with her de-
ceased friend, and, in spite of all he
could urge, deemed the non-appear-
ance Of her friends apparition was
proofof the non-existence Of q
future state. Some months after
this conversation, its narrator states
that he was visiting at an acquain-
lance of Nine de Beauclair's.
80 We were just set down to
cards, about 8 in the evening, as
nearly as / can remember, when a
servant came hastily into the room
and acquainted the lady / was with
that Nine. de Beanclair had sent to
entreat that she would come that
moment to her, adding that if she
desired ever to see her moro in this
world, not to delay her visit"
''YoU WILL BE WITH ME Y"
The lady having a severe cold,
and hearing that Nine. de Beau
clair was, apparently, in good
health, declined to acceed to this
request, but on receiving a second
and still more urgent message, &C.
companied by bequest of a casket
containing a watch and chain and
other trinkets, FASTENED to go, &C
companied by the narrator. On
arrival at Mime de Beauclair's, be
sent up his name and was request.
ed to come up with his companion
at once.
SON entering the room where
she was, she informed him that she
would very soou pass from this
world into that other which she
had doubted, but was now assured