Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-01
4 GHOST STORY.

Inc 1blIDNlDl, SUI illC ~ a
lady. She was the wife OF a rich squire in
the east Of England, after whose death
she married a well known Italian. She
was a woman of remarkable ability and
of great information, though somewhat
eccentric She had heard the story, with
dates and names of persons. These she
had forgotten, and had never been able to
supply them.
She declared, however, that she was
positively assured that all the details had
been verified by the French public author
titles where the events narrated had oc-
CURED, and that the records still existed
somewhere, if the place could only be
found.
During the first French revolution, two
Frenchmen of high birth, Count A. and
Viscount b.. were es,,atched by the Roy
aliSt party on a mission to England.
During their journey on horseback TO @
northern port of France, where 4 vessel
awaited them, they were on one occasion
benighted in the middle Of wide heath.
Riding slowly forward they perceived a
light from what turned out to be q large
and solitary chateau. After some knock
ing, steps were heard slowly coming in
the yard within, and at last the door was
uIIOthtt "a JOl LtL VI SIA Z
taker 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, - 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:
d. f1--
lodging and supper, but We cannot go fur
Their tonight"
The caretaker paused for q moment as
though rejecting, and at last he said;
az 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 viii in
duce you to leave the room l give you,
and that tomorrow at daybreak you wiz
go 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 stair
case and through a long corridor hung
with tapestry, at length turning into q
IDOIbl, nIoAttN dS q III LIZ
room, and evidently belonging TO the
dwelling OF q wealthy noble.
Near the door was a large fireplace. IN
which a fire soon blaZed. Candies were
lighted, and the travellers saw two large
and luxurious beds, with rich hangings,
one nearer to the entrance than the other
A table was placed near the fire, and be-
fore long substantial supper was
lnro,acrf,r he
meal, and all the belongings of the house
showing considerable luxury.
After eating their supper the two tray
elers went TO rest. The elder took the
bed nearest the door, leaving the other,
Mt 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 Tic
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 remarkable signs
met him. A man of striking appearance,
with e gray beard, but dressed i'll a blouse,
had approached within a few feet he
teckoned three times to the count, as
though wanting him to follow.
The count gaZed at him without rloY-
ing, when the figure, bowling courteously.
turned round and walked slowly away.
stopping from time 10 time and looking
back, repeating his reckoning gesture
with an imploring gaze till he reached the
door when no 1iSonDpara1 Not
startled at this unusual appearance. Count
A. rose from his bed and walked to the
door to see if it had been tempered with,
but it was still locked. Very weary. he
returned to 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 follow, and, moving toward the door,
turned with great eagerness. and stiH
pftener than before, to repeat the same
motion with his hand. The hand was
that of a gentleman, small and white, ard
with a ring or one of the fingers.
Frightened at this extraordinary ap-
partition, Count \. this time woke his
companion and narrated what had passed.
Nonsense, replied the latter, you ate
too much supper and have been awakened
by nightmare. l am really too tired to
talk about it
The nervous earnestness with which the
elder Traveller repeated the story. however.
impressed the younger, until he proposed
that the curtains of she counts bed
should be tied TO the bcdclothes of his. so
that in the case Of a third visit he could
be .swakeneds without noise. After Sc
curely fastening the curtains of one bed
TO the coverings of the other, each re-
turned 10 his own couch.
A third time the count was awakened
IN the same startling manner The ijc-lre
stood close to his bed and the face OF tho
visitor looked down on that Of the ayvak-
ened sleeper. The features OF the an
partition were plainly marked They ex-
hiblted great pain and sadness. The
count grasped the hangings. The apnari
ton held up his hand. The count jerked
at his curtains, but they fell back without
resistance, for the knot had become un-
tied Once again the figure retreated sor-
rowfully, turning bat seldom 10 beckon.
rs though the attempt had been given ND
in despair
1t was now near dayhreak. The count
awoke his companion, and they sat up to-
gether TIL morning.
Shortly after dawn the csretaker. ac-
cording to previous agreement. Knocked
at the door which the count unlocked
without difficulty, and the morning meal
was brought in. The careraker looked
curiously at the two visitors as though in
cilned TO ask questions. He, however.
did not Carry out his intention.
The travellers, mindful Of their promise.
made no remark The horses. well
Eroomed and refreshed. were ready for
their JournH, and the two ,ou,nanio,s