Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-26

only inn of the little city of ROthenberg
But owing To the fact that the yearly
fair began the next day, every room in
the house, from garret to cellar, was
crowded with guests. The innkeeper,
bowling to the earth with humility, for
he took the finanCier with his retinue OF
followers TO be at least an ambassador OF
the king of France, cheerfully declared
that he would give up his own room to
his eNcellency, but that he hadn't even a
much as pallet for the secretary" At
this Lemierre, with the usual French
vivacity, flew all to pieces, but the inn
keeper was firm, and, with Bavarian
phlegm, adhered to his statement.
at is as | have told you, mien herr, -
he persisted: there isn't even a corner
in the pigs pen. | am very sorry, but
you will have To resign yourself to a
chair before the kitchen fire"
But LemieTre was not in the least re
signed. What a prospect for a nervous
and delicate man who had already passed
four nights tossing about in a carriage
He began to fiud the journey much less
agreeable than he had anticipated. What
would he not have given, this poor, tired
little poet, TO have found himself once
more in the chateau Of the Nalois, in his
comfortable canupied bed! He positively
looked with envy upon the lackeys of
NJ. le General, stretched upon the floor
rolled up in their mantles, and snoring
loudly
Midnight sounded, and everybody in the
house had gone to bed, at least all those
who had the luck TO possess bed. The
servant on watch for the night, a robust
Bavarianese with the figure of grena-
dier, slept no more than Lemierre him
self, however, and from time to time
threw compassionate glances upon the
handsome boy who seemed so worried by
his miSadventure. All at once she ap-
preached him softly, and, leaning over
him, she whispered in a mysterious tone:
What would you say, monsieur-what
would yOu say if, after all, one could
find you a bed for the night" "What
would say" cried Lemierre. astonished
"Morbleu, it is simple enough. I'd 40
cept it with enthusiasm, and give any
one Louis dor who would take pity on
my martyrdOm."
I'm that place have little patience
Give me time To make some necessary
preparations. | will return for you in five
minutes"
s-Ilt hlNlpptd'tNls anu I-tlllltlIt -pt W
stretching his half lfbenumbcd limbs.
Excellent creature he murmured
to himself; thanks to her, shall be
able to attend tomorrow the dinner giver
by the margrave in honor of our arrival
But where can she he going to put ME, ]
wonder All, well, it does not matter
the poor child has n face sufficiently in
nOcent to make me cOntide i'll her with
out uneaSiness.
At this moment the BavariGn appeared
at the door of the kitchen, lantern in
her hand.
Come" said she; land as quietly as
possible, if you please. l should be sent
away without mercy if they found out
what am about 10 do to ohliGc you"
Leaving the house, she piloted the poet
down a flight Of steps and across damp
and gloomy garden, laid out in the
French style, with clipped yew trees and
rectangular squares. There was also
beneath a clump of larch trees a tiny
grass plot, where in summer were placed
the tables for the accommodation of the
drinkers
Blinded by the fog, and stumbling
along the slippery turf, Lemierre docilely
followed mis- COnductress. Once she turned
and said To him quickly:
Take care, mein herr, take carel
there is a well hidden under those leaves;
but turn to the left, we are there"
Lifting his eyes, the secretary saw be
fore him, looming out of the fog the out
lines of pavilion raised some Ave or six
steps above the level of the ground The
servant knocked the door. and they en-
tered a room which certainly was not often
given to guests, SO musty was the odOr
and so icy the damppess that escaped
from it.
I'D have lighted fire, said the girl
apolOgetically, but you seemed in such
u hurry hadn't time"
"Never mind: it doesn't matter" the
secretary responded: in five minutes
| shall feel nothing, but don't forget to
come and waEen me, we must start very
early, and il my present state of fatigue
| am capable OF sleeping until dooGs-
day"
Rest easy, mein herr, rest easy, to
morrow at peep of day, long before 7
o'clock, | will come to release YOU
"Release me. Well, that is a Joke I
hope it isn't your intention 10 lock ms
up?"
Instead of replying the servant quickly
shut the door and turned the key II tie
lock.
open that door," shoyed Lemierre,
wrathfully. "Opeu it this instant, com
mand your
But the compassionate damsel seemed
neither to hear nor to heed and the
sound of her footsteps rapidly retreating
TO the house could be plainly heard. lr-
ritatal api Sprnayyhnf ot the OIL :
extraordinary conduct, the young man
took the light and examined the place to
which she had consigned him.
at isn't very attractive lodging
room" he said 10 himself. but at all
events, there is bed, which is the prin-
cipal consideration. | will occupy it as
soon as possible
And he began to relieve himself of his
cloak, his jacket and his vest; there he
stopped. and turned back his cuffs; for
this fasridious youth-this future acade-
mician-had a singular mania, no matter
where he was or how fatigucd he might
be, he never got into a bed without first
remaking it.
Beginning with the pillows. when they
were arranged TO suit his fancy, he pro.
Leeded to beat up the feathers Of the bed.
Suddenly, between the bed and tie lpwer
mattress he felt something strangely
hard and stiff. Without knowing why
he shivered with dread, and his heart
ieaped in,o his throat. Seizing light,
he again approached the bed and drew
aside the feathers. What was it that he
saw
Paralyzed with fright, his arm dropped,
and the light, falling upon the floor,
was eNtinguished. Behold, for the rest
of the night, he had plunged himself
into Clmmerian darkness! But he was
not alOne-nO, not alOne-fOr Il body, a
dead body, was lying over there. stretched
between the feathers and the mattress!
Struggling against the terror which pos
scssed him. Lemierre CROPPED about the
chamber searching for the table which he
remembered TO have seen a while ago
when he entered the room, and climbing
upon it, tried TO reach the window, which
certainly had seemed very narrow; never
theless, he would tear every limb from
his body but what he would pass it. Any
thing was better than this lugubrious
tete a-tete with that unknown dead!