The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-09-11

her 4 monstrous black bear fast asleep
before the fire. snoring loudly, with its
head on the table and its snout ar. in
the air, its hind paws upon the fender,
q silk pocket-handkerchief over one
knee, and q book on its lap. No
wonder that she dropped her candle
and screamed.
But the shrek which testified to her
fear frightened NJ. QUITE out of the few
senses he did possess. He sprang up.
bewildered with his dreams, confused
with the fumes of wine, and alarmed at
the suddenness of his rcrieI. Opposite
him was mirror. He forgot entirely
all the circumstances connected with the
assumption of the bear-skin, and with
the last impression produced by Bodin
and by his dream stamped upon his
brain, he jumped to the conclusion that
he was bewitched, and that he had
been transformed into q were-woif.
Full of this idea, he dashed past the
terror-stricken maid; and his wife, who
| had rushed to the landing. saw fright
full monster bounding downstairs,
utteripg howls sufficiently loud to awake
the dead, heard it unlock the front
door and burst into the street. There
upon she tainted away.
M. Oufle. impelled by terror, ran
along the street yelling for assistance.
i He was naturally provided with deep
but sonorous bass voice, but his voice
sounded hollow andfearful through his
hideous visor. A few terrified people
appeared in their night-caps at the
windows, only to run back to their beds
and bury themselves beneath the
clothes.
| A Waterman, who had started on his
rounds, came upon him suddenly as he
turned the corner. and, dropping his
lantern, beat precipitate retreat.
In the adjoining street lived fair
damsel of considerable personal, but
superior pecuniary, attraction, who
was loved to distraction by q grocer's
apprentice. The young man had made
the lady's acquaintance as he served in
the shop, and had breathed his love
over the cheeses he sold. His addresses
had been countenanced by the be-
loved one. but were discouraged by the
parents, who had not permitted the
devoted youth to set foot within their
, doors. The apprentice had no other
J means open to testifying his devotion,
than by hiring band OF street
musicians to perform at the rate OF two
: francs an hour during the silent
, watches of the night. below the window
of the adored. On the present occasion
the band was performing the Descent
of Mars" when discordant
howl in their ears produced q
sudden pause in their music not noted
in their score, and the apparition OF q
, monstrous bear running into the
/ midst Of them upon its hind legs, with
ears and stumpy tail cooked up. pro.
r duced such a panic among the sons Of
Orpheus, that they cast their instru.
! ments from them and took to theil
heels. Not so the grocer's apprentice.
, True love knows no fear. He flew to
| the door of his beloved, and cast him.
self before it, determined to perish in
her defence. But the monster, with.
} its dolorous bowls.
81 A party Of students from the Univer'
! sity were that evening going thei'
4 rounds, performing feats of heroism
: of which they might boast among theil
Z companions. These feats were not 1T
! tended with much danger, and yet thu
: achievement of them was an object o
8 considerable ambition. They consisted
0 simply in breaking lamps, and wrench
. ing the knockers of doors. SOM
: people might think that the smashing
Of . street lamp was an operation
+ within the scope of the most infantin
; abilities; that the wrenching of ,
{ knocker from door was neither
D hazardous, nor q very heroic, act. Blu
these people are entirely mistaken
The police occasionally interfere an
i capture one of those engaged in thes
acts; and if captured, t costs tn
4 student several francs to bride tn
4 officer to let him escape. Consequent
4 ly, the ringing of q street bell q
; midnight is regarded by Universit
4 men as an achievement equal to tn
brayest deed of tried General, and tn
i breaking off of knocker is supposed t
r rankvery much on the leve with tn
v proudest trophy Of blood-staine
Z field.
Is On the night in question four valian
Y collegians were engaged on the hazard
t Gus undertaking of screwing up tn
it door of a worthy citizen, an act o
q consummate ingenuity and sublim
d originality. Suddenly q wild and un
earthly yell ringing through the hushe
d night, broke upon their ears. In
2 stantly the four students paused an
d turned pale. In another moment the
le saw a diabolical object moving rapid
s. down the street towards them. III
l. young men shrank against the wal
O. each endeavoring to get behind th
ID other, and reversing the proverb Of th
ID weakest going to the wall, for in the
is struggle the ablest-bodied secured tn,
a. position, whilst the feeblest was tn