The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-10-11
GHOSTS AND SEITzER.

GHOSTS AND Sl1LTZER.
M. Majesty, manufacturer Of seltzer
water in the Maras, had been TO a little
supper given by some Of his friends Of
the Place Royale, and was ON his way
home shivering in the cold air ST.
Pauls clock struck .. How late it is.
muttered the good man, and he quick
ened his step; but the sidewalk was
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 horse1nen. All these
impede fast walking, particularly when
ones legs are a triie heavy and ones
sight confused by the toasts of a little
supper
AT last M. Majesty reached his desti-
nation. He paused before large orna-
mental gate, upon which glistened in the
moonlight a newly gilded shield contains
ing a restored ancient coat-of-auns,
which he had adopted as his trademark,
"Hotel Ci-Devant de Nesmond. Majesty
Jeune, Fabiicant DEau 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
iancy. At the extremity of the court
yard stood a vast building Of great an
tiquity, with embellished anl ornament
ed black walls, with balconies of round
ed iron and stone balconies with pilas-
ters, with very lofty and tremendous
windows, sunmounted 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 ali,
amid the slates, with the round ard
coquettish dormer windows Of the man
sards enframed with garlands like mir
rors Added to this were immense stone
steps, eaten and turned green by the
rain, a meager vine clinging to the walls
as black and twisted as the rope which
hung from the pulley away up toward
the garret, and a pronounced air of age
and sadness. Such was the former hotel
Of Nesinond.
In broad day the aspectof the mansion
was altogether different The words
"countpg house, 'warerooms.p zen
trance to the workshops" shone out
everywhere in gold letters upon the old
walls, filling them with life-rej
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 encumbered with boxes,
with baskets, with straw and with bag
ging. In short, the place had all the
look of mandatory But at night, in
the deep silence, beneath the winter
moon, which, amid the disorder of com
plicated roofs, cast and intermingled
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 fun Of cathedral like recesses, with
empty inches and dimisteps which re-
sembled altars.
The night Of which we are speaking,
especially M, Majesty, thought his estab-
lishlnent had singulaTly grand aspect
As he passed through the deserted court
yard the sound of his footsteps made q
deep impression ON him. The stairway
xeemed immense and terribly difficult t.
ascend It was the effect of his little
supper, doubtless Arrived at the first
landing he stopped to take breath and
approached a window. So much for liv-
ing in an historical mansionl NJ Majes
ty was not a poet, oh, no; but, neverthe
less, as he gazed ont at the beautiful
aristocratic court yard, over which ths
moon spread a sheet Of blue light, and
at tile noble old edifice. which had jusi
the air Of sleeping with its roofs stretch
ing away beneath their covering oil
snow, he began thinking Of the othei
world.
'NNhat if the Nesmonds should re
turng murmured he.
AT that moment the bell rang VIC
lently The gate was thrown open S,
quickly, so suddenly, that the lamp wa
extinguished, and for several minutes
in the shadow Of the gateway, there wa
a confused sound Of whispering and O
vestnents rubbing against each other
People disputed, and hastened to enter
. Theie were Wallets, plenty of Wallets
: coaches with glass windows refectin'
= the moonbeams, and sedan chairs bal
:; anoed between two torches, which flare,
!, IN Che draught at the gate. In no tim
) the court yard was jammed. But at tn
i foot Of the steps the confusion ceased
People descended from the vehicles
{ sdluted each other, and went in chatting
% as if they knew the house, Upon TIA
3 steps silks rustled and swords clattered
/. Nothing but white headdresses, heavil
= loaded with powder; nothing but small
shrill voices, some without melody, AM
: light footsteps AZ the people seeme'
tc be old, very old
There We're duh eyes, dim jewels ant
ancient brocaded silks shot with chang
ing hues which the light of the torohe
caused TO shine with sort luster, AM
"a above an foated q tiny cloud Of powder
"a which mounted from the curled head
Ic dresses at each courtly bow a triti
d pompous because of the swords am
great paniers Soon the whole hous
had the air Of being haunted. Tn
torches shone from window to window