News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-04-19

anu Vi OI6t
information, though somewhat eccentric
She had heard the story, with dates ano
names of persons. These she had for
gotten, and had never been able to sup
ply them.
She declared, however, that she wa
positively assured that all the detail
had been verified by the French publi,
authorities where the events related haC
occurred, and that the records still ex
listed somewhere, if the place could only
be found.
During the first French Revolution
two Frenchmen of high birth, Count A
and Viscount B., were despatched by
the Royalist party on mission to Eng
land.
During their journey on horseback t.
a northern port of France, where q yes
sci awaited them, they were on one oc
casion benighted in the middle of a wide
heath Riding slowly forward, they
perceived light from what turned out
to be large and solitary chateau. After
some knocking, steps were heard slowly
coming in the yard within, and at last
the door was cautiously unlocked. A
porter or caretaker peered through the
narrow opening and asked the reason OF
the knocking
'We have lost our way and are tired
and hungry. We require shelter and
food for ourselves and our horses"
Impossible I" was the churlish reply,
and the door was about to be closed when
one of the travellers intercepted it with
his foot, and, producing pistol, said:
eve are quite ready to pay for our
lodging and supper, but we cannot go
further to night"
The caretaker paused for a moment
as though rejecting, and at last he said
81 will give you shelter for the night,
and food for yourselves and your beasts,
on one condition, viz, that you give me
your word of honor as gentlemen, which
/ am sure you are, that nothing will i'll.
duce you to leave the room / give you,
and that tomorrow at daybreak you &c
on your journey without asking any
questions.
The promise given, the door was
opened, and the horses taken to the
stables, which were within the court.
The porter then led the two travellers
up splendid staircase and through q
long corridor hung with tapestry, al
length turning into large empty room
furnished as q drawing-room, and evi
IDENTIFY belonging to the dwelling of 6
wealthy noble.
Near the door was large fireplace in
which fire soon blaZed Candles were
lighted, and the travellers saw two large
and luxurious beds, with rich hangings,
one nearer to the door than the other.
A table was placed near the fire, and be
fore long q substantial supper was
brought, the utensils supplied for the
meal, and all the belongings of the house
showing considerable luxury.
After eating their supper the two ira,
vellers went to rest. The elder took the
bed nearest the door, leaving the other,
some feet off, to his companion. Logs
had been placed on the fire sufficient
for the night, the door was locked, and
the wayfarers gladly betOok themselves
to sleep.
About an hour after going to sleep the
elder suddenly woke, starting in his bed.
He could not account for this sudden
waking. The room was strongly lighted
by the fire, there was no noise, and
Count A. was about to lay himself once
again on the pillow, when a remarkable
sight met him. A man of striking ap,
pearance, with gray beard but dressed
in blouse, walked slowly toward the
bed. When he had approached within
few feet, he beckoned three times to
the Count, as though wanting him to
follow.
The Count gazed at him without mov-
ing, when the figure, bowling courteous
ly, turned round and walked slowly
away, stopping from time to time and
looking back, repeating his beckoning
gesture with an imploring gaze till he
reached thea adoor, when he disappeared.
Naturally startled at this unusual APP
pearance, Count A. rose from his bed
and walked to the door to see if it had
been tampered with. but it was still
locked. Very weary, he turned in his
bed and once more fell asleep. About
an hour later he again started In the
same sudden manner. Again he saw
the same figure, this time nearer the
bed. Again did it beckon him to fol-
low, and, moving toward the door,
turned with great eagerness, and still
oftener than before, to repeat the same
motion with his hand. The hand was
that of a gentleman, small and white,
and with a ring on one of the fingers.
Frightened at this extraordinary ap-
partition, Count A. this time woke his
companion and narrated what had
passed. Nonsense" replied the lat
ter, "you ate too much supper and hav} }
been awoke by nightmare. am really
too tired to talk about it."
The nervous earnestness with which
the elder traveller repeated the story,
impressed the younger, until he pro
posed that the curtains of the. Count s
bed should be tied to the bedclothes of
his, so that in the case of a third visit he
could be awakened without noise. At
ter securely fastening the curtains of
one bed to the coverings of the other,
each returned to his own couch.
A third time the Connt was awakened
in the same startling manner. The
figure stood close to his bed, and the
face of the visitor looked down on that
of the awakened sleeper. The features
of the apparition were plainly marked.
They exhibited great pain and sadness.
The Count grasped the hangingsl The