Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-05-20

Chartre stopped me.
My dear sir, he said, cordially,
you can not 60 out in such a storm. /
will not permit it. My home is large.
We have ample accommodations. Re-
main with us tonight.
Il hesitated a moment; the rain
beating on the window-pane seemed
dismal enough. Besides, 1 was in a
part Of the city with which I was I'M
familiar. 1 might lose my way and
wander about those narrow streets for
hours; and then blood-curdling tales
came back to me of strangers who had
been robbed and half murdered in those
dark thoroughfares. l had valuable
watch and chain and quite sum OF
money about me, which / would not
care to lose. / confess the idea OF
venturing out into that pitiless storm,
in the heart of the high-walled, mystic
rious French town, unprotected by a
weapon of any sort, rather dismayed
me. Yet I remembered that l had
made arrangements to leave the city in
the morning, and l intimated as much
to Monsieur De Chartre.
"'That will not incommode us at all.
he said, politely. L will leave word
with one of the servants to unlatch the
door and gate at five o'clock. You can
rise then and leave the house at your
pleasure. If you desire cup of coffee
Jacques will have it ready for YOU
Il thanked him sincerely. 1 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
genuineness which 'Tremoine & 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
to show me to my room. With ling
ering glance l babe the young lady
good-nig ht. 1t seemed TO me that her
beautiful eyes were filled with a shad-
ow of regret for our brief acquaintance.
Her father followed me to the court
without, after giving me several mes
sages for Mr.. TremOine and other
friends in Detroit, all of which l prom
iscd to carry faithfully. Then with a
courtly goodnight he intrusted me to
the care of the waiting African attend
ant.
my apartment was handsomely fur
nished, in keeping with the rest OF the
house. 1t was apparently back room
connecting with one in front of the
house by heavy folding doors across
which rich crimson pOrtiere fell.
Jacques brought me a pitcher of
fresh water and some clean towels, and
then, mumbling something in his unin-
telligible crude French, bowed himself
out.
Il examined the room carefully,
locked all the doors except the folding
one, which l found fastened on the
other side, and went to sleep thinking
what a capital joke this was on Smith,
who was undoubtedly reposing beauti-
fully in room 105, at the st. Charles,
unconscious of the strange escapade l
had gotten him into. l resolved to
write to the young lady as soon as l
left the city, informing her of my little
deception and introducing the original
Smith, whom | was quite sure would
fall head over ears in love with her at
sight. Poor Smith, was just mapping
out his future most beautifully, when
Morpheus seized me and carried me of
into dreamland.
"About midnight was awakened by
a slight noise in the room. listened,
4
emily the whole household had fallen
into slumber attributed the sound
to my own Imagination, and was about
to compose myself to slumber, when Il
cold chill crept over me. / was sensi-
bic of near presence. The room was
intensely dark and could see nothing.
Neither could my faculties. which were
now thoroughly acute, perceive the
slightest movement OF sound. Yet my
blood ran cold with the premonitiOn OF
evil. could feel cold sweat break
ing out all over me-the chill crept to
the very roots of my hair.
with a sudden bound | leaped from
the bed. The matches were on Il table
near Istruck one and looked around,
half expecting to see some uncanny
shape leap out OF the gloom ana attack
me; but the room was empty. l lit the
lamp and examined the apartment
carefully, but all was rs secure as when
l retired.
with an impatient condemnation of
my weakness l went to bed again.
leaving the lamp burning low. As |
am no believer in haunted houses and
my digestion is unusually good, soon
sank into deep slumber.
''About two hours later. however, l
was again awakened by thatmysterious
sensation. Again the cold chills, be-
tokening some evil unknown presence.
crept over me. A terrible presentiment
took possession of me. l dared not
move for a second. My knees trem-
bled, the cold drops of moisture stood
on my brow. What could it be-this
awful presence that seemed to lay cold
fingers upon me in the darkness and
wake me from my sleep? l lay there
shivering as though chilled by some
actual, icy touch for a moment, then
my healthy, vigorous physique reas-
serted itself. l was no coward even to
myself. rose stealthily and crept to