Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-07-27
/. THE GOBLIN STORM.

lIl1 uODLlN DlOhMs
The sergeant was home from Tonquir
so said all the village-and was stay.
ing at the inn, ''too proud to speak tc
any one"-so added those who cnvied
him the attention excited by his gor-
geous uniform.
But Jules and CASTOR, Jean and Emil,
said bluntly that they knew better, and
to show their faith in their old comrade
invited him to take soup with them as
he used to do before he went into the
army.
Behold, then, the five friends around
the table. What have they to talk OF
after their long separation? We will
listen.
The sergeant is speaking:
Indeed, / hardly know how one lives
at all in those tropics. Without boast.
ing, myself bear things as well as most
of my neighbors, butt confess it, my
friends, have been frightened by the
tropics. Think of it, my boys, a French
officer afraid of the weather."
"Of the weather. asked Emil.
81 cannot see that" said Jules.
st is no more than the truth" re-
sumed the sergeant SIN Tonquin we
have thunder and lightning-for 1 can
not otherwise name them-but not such
as come to these villages little groans of
thunder here and sparks of lightning
there, but thunder storms to terrify a
bishopw m
Glow So" asked CASTOR, curiously.
The sergeant had enjoyed his soup, and
truly his tongue talked of itself.
I'm Tonquin," said he, rising to his
feet flor SO one gestures more easily,
''the lightest of our thunder cracks can
non balls in two, and one peal follows
another SO fast that there is never but
one, which, however, lasts as long as the
storm"
Strange enough" said Jules, with his
mouth open, his spoon in the air.
"And the lightning asked Jean,
quickly.
The lightning repeated the SER
geant, much the same sort. 1t is never
seen. All the world stays indoors and
puts on green spectacles-one or two
pairs"
"a curious custom!' remarked Emil,
looking sidewise at the veteran.
"As you say-curious indeed" replied
the sergeant, smiling "You would en-
joy the oddity of it, have little doubt.
But there is something more worthy of
notice. There is the rain. In Tonquin
the rain falls SO fast that it doesn't reach
the groundw
''But, sergeant" Grid CASTOR, rising to
protest, ''your last statement is hardly
crediblew
''Oh, you demand an explanation, +"
said the sergeant with some warmth,
and pounding the table with his stiff fin
ers, lit is because the raindrops fall SO
fast they are dried up by the friction of
the air-that is, of course, all but little.
l do not mean to say that none of the
water falls to the ground-that would be
unreasonable"
$50 thought" said CASTOR, nodding
his head wisely. tI&t
'You were right, CASTOR" said the SER
geant, grandly. always tell me if you
find my stories incredible. am little
irritable, but not proud. And / know
(since l, too, lived in this little village
once-so long agoD how seldom you hear
such adventures
my word, but have heard things as
stranger said CASTOR, dryly.
Then my stories do not surprise your
asked the soldier, with some disappoint-
ment
"Why should they?" replied CASTOR.
81 have never been in Tonquin. / have
heard of queerer things, however; yes,
and in this very town.
''Such as?'-- said the sergeant, look
ing hard at the other and twisting his
mustacho ends into two needle points.
''Some people would say your Tonquin
storms were not large" CASTOR said,
frankly. but l am not so foolish.
Freely admit that such storms are rare
in this village. But do contend that
we have here the smallest storms that
can well be-"
The sergeant moved uneasily on his
four legged stool, and gazed at CASTOR
with his eyelids half closed.
''Did you never hear of themP said
CASTOR, seeming to be much surprised.
Never" said the sergeant, in a pecu-
liar voice
sit is said that once at the inn, where
you are staying, man who had been a
sailor-I think it was sailor-came
home from Algeria and told of many
wonderful experiences. Sea serpents,
land slides, uniforms, rocs' eggs and mer-
maids-such was his stock in trade.
Well, one morning, that soldier
''Sailor!' said the sergeant, frowning.
Sailor, of course that sailor came to
breakfast telling of a terrible storm, a
thunder storm-a true Tonquin storm, if
you will permit me, sergeant" The SER
geant bowed, still frowning. but.
strangely enough" Castor went on, "no
one else had seen any signs of a storm
whatever. 1t had seemed to every one
else bright moonlight night! Now,
call that worthy of remarkI"
Truly so, said the sergent, uneasily.
tAnd, strangely enough" went on the
villager, "there is legend that such
storms are the work of COLLINS, who thus
punish tellers of big stories, as, it seems,
this sailor must have beenw
The sergeant made no comment, but
drummed quickstep upon the table,
whistling noiseless fife accompaniment.
Emil, Jules and Jean had been listen
ing open mouthed and ransacking their
brains to find some trace of this wonder
full legend. But no one Of them could
recall it, and, while they were collecting
their wits to question Castor, the ser
geant asked:
"Where was it you said this sailor
lodged?"
cat your Inn, In the front room on the
left-your room, by the way, sergeant,
is it mott"
"That is where they have put me, " re-
piled the veteran. Then rising, he shook
n = a 4