The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-05-14

80 ~ 0M1Ms NVIMIMlII
you a not 60 out In such q storm.
will not permit Il. My home Is large,
We have ample accommodations. Re.
main with US tonight
- hesitated q moment; the rain
beating on the window-pa seemed
dismal enough. Besides. was In q
part Of the city with which | was un.
familiar. might lose my wav and
wander about those narrow streets for
hours; and then blood-curdling tale.
came back to me Of strangers who had
been robbed and half murdered in those
dark thoronghfares. / had a valuable
watch and chain and quite a sum Of
money about me. which ! would not
care to lose. confess the idea OF
~vcnturing out into that pitiless storm,
ia the heart Of the high-walled. mystic
rious French town. unprotected by a
weapon Of any sort, rather dismayed
me. Yet l remembered that / had
made arrangements to leave the city ! n
the morning, and | minated as much
to Monsieur DE Chartrc.
"'That will not incommode us at ALL
he said. politely. Il will leave word
with one Of the servants L unlatch the
door and gate at live o'clock. You can
rise then and leave the house at your
pleasure. IL you desire a cup Of coffee
jacques will have it ready for YOU
II thanked him sincerely. I could
not feel grateful enough for such a
warm and cordial hospitality. 1t is
true indeed that these ~Southerners have
the kindest and most hospitable hearts
in the world. An old and valued friend
OF the family could scarcely have been
treated more kindly than l. a complete
stranger. save for the slight stamp Of
genninencss which .Tremoine a. Lee
man gave me in this most elegant and
beautiful home, every part Of which
betokened the wealth and position Of
the owner.
"A few moments later Jacques came
70 show me to my room. With a ling
ering glance / babe the young lady
1t seemed 10 me that her
beautiful eyes were filled with a shad-
of regret for our brief acquaintance.
Her father followed me 10 the court
without. after giving me several mes
for Mr.. Tremoinc and other
friends in Detroit. all Of which | prom
ised to carry faithfully. Then with a
courtly goodnight he intrustcd me to
the ARE Of the waiting African attend
ant.
MY apartment was handsomely fur
nished, in keeping with the rest of the
house. II was apparently a back room
connecting with n in front of the
house by heavy folding doors across
a rich crimson porticre fell.
Jacques brought me a pitcher Of
water and some clean towels. and
then. mumbling something in his unin-
telligible crude French. bowed himself
out.
II examined the room carefully,
locked all the doors except the folding
one. which ! found fastened on the
other side, and went 10 sleep thinking
a capital joke this was on Smith.
who was undoubtedly reposing bcauti-
in room los. at the st. Charles.
Of the strange escapade |
had gotten him into. l resolved to
TO the young lady as soon as |
the city. informing her Of my little
deception and Introducing the original
Smith. whom ] was quite sure would
fall head over ears ia love with her at
sight Poor Smith, l was just mapping
his future most beautifully. when
Morpheus seized me and carried me of
INTO dreamland.
about midnight / was awakened BY
! sight noise in the room. listened.
out all was as still as death. Appar-
the whole household had fallen
nto slumber. | attributed the sound
my own imagination. and was about
compose myself to slumbcr. when a
odd chill crcpt over me-. was scnsi-
Of n near presence. The room was
Intensely dark and | could see nothing.
Neither could my faculties. which were
thoroughly acute, perceive the
movement or sound Yet my
Hood ran cold with the premonition Of
vii. / could feel a cold sweat break
ne out all over mc-the chill crept 10
he very roots Of my hair.
with q sudden bound | leaped from |
he bed. The matches were on a table
Istruck one and looked around. |
lalf expecting 10 see some uncanny
hape leap out Of the gloom and attack
ne; but the room was empty. lit the
amp and examined the apartment
arefully, but all was rs secure As when
retired.
with IN impatient condemnation OF
nv weakness / went to bed again,
the lamp burning low. As
M no believer in haunted houses and
ly digestion Is unusually good, l soon
ank into a deep slumbcr.
about two hours later, however. /
as again awakened BY that mysterious
cnsation. Again the cold cnills. be-
some evil unknown presence,
over me. a terrible presentiment
,ok possession Of me. i dared not
for 4 second. MY knees trem-
led, the cold drops Of moisture stood
n my brow. What could il be-this
wful presence that seemed to lay cold
myers upon me in the darkness and
axe me from my sleep? lay there
as though chilled by some
ctual, icy touch for q moment, then
" healthy, vigorous physique rcas-
itself. was no coward even to
lysclf. 1 rose stcalthily and crcpt to
le light, turning the full blaze on sud-
emily.
"A change in the room startled me.
he heavy portierc was thrown aside,
folding-doors stood wide open.
esolvcd to penetrate this mystery, i
into the other room.