The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-18
GHOSTS AND SELIZER.

p
the Place Royale, and was ON his wal
home shivering in the cold air. st
Paul's clock struck q "How late it is,
muttered the good man, and he quick
ened his step; but the sidewalk wa:
slippery, the streets dark, and, besides
in that ancient quarter of Paris, which
dates from the time when carriages were
rare, there are numerous turns, angles
and hitching posts before the doors for the
accommodation of horsemen. All these
impede fast walking, particularly when
ones legs are a trife heavy and ones
sight confused by the toasts of little
supper.
At last n. Majesty reached his desti-
nation. He paused before large orna-
mental gate, upon which glistened in the
moonlight a newly gilded shield contain
ing a restored ancient coat-of-arms,
which he had adopted as his trademark,
"Hotel Ci-Devant de Nesmond. Majesty
Jeune, Fabricant D'Eau de Seltz" On
all the siphons Of the establishment, on
all the note blanks and on letter heads
the venerable arms of the Nesmonds
/ thus spread out and shone.
Within the gate was the court yard
an immense court yard, airy and light
which, when thrown open during the
day, flooded the whole street with brill
fancy. At the extremity of the court
yard stood vast building of great an.
tiQuity, with embellished and ornament
ed black walls, with balconies of round
Ell iron and stone balconies with pilas-
tiers, with very lofty and tremendous
windows, surmounted by pediments and
capitals, which arose in the topmost sto-
ries like so many little roofs in the roof,
and lastly, upon the summit of all,
amid the states, with the round and
coquettish dormer windows of the man.
sards Unframed with garlands like mir
rors. Added TO this were immense stone
steps, eaten and turned green by the
rain, meager vine clinging to the walls
as black and twisted as the rope which
hung from the pulley away up toward
the garnet, and pronounced air Of age
and sadness Such was the former hotel
of Nesmond.
In broad day the aspect of the mansion
was altogether different. The words
counting house" ''warerooms." zen
trance to the workshops" shone out
everywhere in gold letters upon the old
walls, filling them with life-reiuvenat-
ing them. The trucks from the railroads
shook the portals, and the clerks came
to the steps with their pens behind their
ears to receive the merchandise. The
court yard was encountered with boxes,
with baskets, with straw and with bag
ging. In short, the place had all the
look of a mandatory. But at night, in
the deep silence, beneath the winter
moon, which, amid the disorder of COM
picated roofs, cast and ;ntermingled
shadows, the ancient residence of the
Nesmonds resumed its lordly appear
ance. The balconies were covered with
lace, the court of honor grew larger and
the irregularly lighted old stairway be-
came full of cathedral like recesses, with
empty inches and dimisteps which re-
sembled affairs.
The night of which we are speaking,
NJ. Majesty, thought his estab-
lishment had singularly grand aspect.
AS he passed through the deserted court
yard the sound of his footsteps made a
deep impression on him. The stairway
seemed immense and terribly difficult to
ascend. 1t was the effect of his little
supper, doubtless. Arrived at the first
landing he stopped to take breath and
a window. So much for liv-
ing in an historical mansionl NJ. Males
ty was not a poet, oh, no; but, neverthe-
less, as he gazed out at the beautiful
court yard, over which the
moon spread a sheet of blue light, and
at the noble old ediice. which had Just
the air of sleeping, with its roofs stretch
ing away beneath their covering of
snow, he began thinking Of the other
world.
What if the Nesmonds should re-
turn" murmured he.
At that moment the bell rang vio-
lently. The gate was thrown open so
quickly, so suddenly, that the lamp was
and for several minutes,
in the shadow of the gateway, there was
a confused sound of whispering and of
vestments rubbing against each other.
People disputed, and fastened to enter.
There were Wallets, plenty of Wallets;
coaches with glass windows rejecting
the moonbeams, and sedan chairs bal
anced between two torches, W hich fared |
in the draught at the gate. In no time |
the court yard WAS jammed. But at the |
foot Of the steps the confusion ceased. !
People descended from the vehicles, !
saluted each other, and went in chatting |
rs if they knew the house. Upon the |
steps silks rustled and swords clattered. |
Nothing but white headdreSses, heavily |
loaded with powder; nothing but small, |
shrill voices, some without melody, and |
light footsteps. All the people seemed |
to he old. very old.
There were dull eyes, dim jewels and |
ancient brocaded silks shot with chang /
ing hues, which the light of the torches
caused to shine with soft luster, and |
above all floated a tiny cloud of powder,
which mounted from the curled head |
dresses at each courtly bow, a trife
pompous because of the swords and |
great paniers Soon the whole house
had the air Of being haunted. The
torches Shone from window ~ window
and descending the winding
until even the dormer windows
If the mansards had their sparks of fete
md life. The entire Hotel OF Nesmond
vas illuminated as if the setting sun
lad flooded 1t with its brilliancy.
Great Jove! they'll burn the house
Town" cried NJ. Majesty. And, recov-