Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-10-31
GHOSTS AND SELTZER.

ccOmmONl6IAOu u uOI66lu00. Au tholf
npede fast walking, particularly when
hes legs are q trifle heavy and one,
|ght confused by the toasts Of . little
upper.
ii last NJ. Majesty reached his desti.
btion. he paused before y large orna,
entail gate. upon which glistened in the
|oonlght newly gilded shield contain.
q a restored ancient coat-of-arms,
bich he had adopted rs his trademark.
Hotel Ci-Devant de Nesmond. Majesty
une, Fabricant D'Eau de Seltz." On
the siphons Of the establishment. on
the note blanks and on letter head,
venerable arms of the Nesmonds
rs spread out and shone.
Within the gate was the court yard
immense court yard, airy and light
ich, when thrown open during tho
flooded the whole street with brill
ICY. At the extremity Of the court
ID stood q vast building Of great an
uity, with embellished and ornament
black walls, with balconies of round
ron and stone balconies with pilas-
with very lofty and tremendous
lows. surmounted by pediments and
tals, which arose in the topmost sto-
like SO many little roofs in the roof,
lastly, upon the summit of all,
the slates, with the round and
uettish dormer windows of the man
3 Unframed with garlands like mir
Added to this were immense stone
s. eaten and turned green by the
a meager vine clinging to the walls
lack and twisted as the rope which
from the pulley away up toward
garrett, and q pronounced air Of age
sadness. Such was the former hotel
esmond.
broad day the aspecto Of the mansion
altogether different. Tho words
nung house" ''warerooms," Ten
be to the workshops" shone out
where in gold letters upon the old
filing them with ife-rejuvenat-
hem. Tho trucks from the railroads
the portals, and the clerks came
esteps with their pens behind their
to receive the merchandise. The
yard was encountered with boxes,
baskets. with straw and with bag
In short. the place had all the
pf IL mandatory. Butat night. in
deep silence, beneath the winter
which. amid the disorder of COM
ted roofs, cast and intermingled
WIS, the ancient residence Of the
onds resumed its lordly appear
The balconies were covered with
the court of honor grew larger and
regularly lighted old stairway be-
full of cathedral like recesses, with
inches and dimisteps which re-
ed affairs.
night of which we are speaking,
ally M. Majesty, thought his estab-
ent had a singularly grand aspect.
passed through the deserted court
he sound Of his footsteps made a
Impression on him. The stairway
= immense and terribly difficult to
1t was the effect of his little
doubtless. Arrived at the first
CHE stopped to take breath and
aehed a window. So much for liv-
an historical mansion! M. Males
not poet, oh, no: but, neverthe-
he gazed out at the beautiful
ratio court yard, over which tho
spread sheet Of blue light, and
noble old edi6ce. which had just
OF sleeping, with its roofs stretch
way beneath their covering of
No began thinking Of the other
as ii the Nesmonds should re-
nurmured he.
nat moment the bell rang vie
The gate was thrown open %
50 suddenly, that the lamp wa
,Saed. and for several minutes,
faadow of the gateway, there wa
SEQ sound Of whispering and Of
a, e, rubbing against each other.
usputed, and fastened to enter.
were Wallets, plenty Of Wallets;
With glass windows rejecting
VA'eams, and sedan chairs bal.
sI'"een two torches, which fared
s.ausht at the gate. In no time
yard was damned. But at the
l's steps the confusion ceased
'sscended from the vehicles
sacl other, and went in chatting
Knew the house. Upon thu
- - fustled and swords clattered
I ,;91 white headdresses, heavily
;aa powder; nothing but small
t otss some without melody, ane
steps. All the people seemed
Very old.
ire dull eyes, dim jewels anl
AIDED silks shot wig chang
Z tn'9; 1 the light of the torches
!, a. shine with q soft luster, ani
so waited a tiny cloud Of powder
, ;, from the curled head
! each courtly bow, q tria.
o; oecause of the swords and
>. ~: Soon the whole hous'
,S @s Of being haunted. Thu
'S0ae from window to window