Connecticut western news., 1891-03-18
GHOSTS AND SELTZER.

NJ. Majesty, manufacturer of seltzer water in the Marais. had been to little supper given by some of his friends of the Place Royale. and was on his way home shivering in the cold air. St. Paurs clock struck 9 How late it is," muttered the good man. and he quick ened bis 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 horsemen. All these impede fast walking. particularly when ones legs are trifle heavy and ones sight confused by the toasts of little supper
 At last M. Majesty reached his desti- mental gate. upon which glstened in the moonlight 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 a vast building of great an tiQuity, with embellished and ornament ed black walls. with balconies of round ed iron and stone balconies with pilas- ters, 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 enframed with garlands like mir TOTS 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 Nesmond.
 In broad day the aspect of the mansion was altogether different. The words counting house." ''warerooms, "en- trance to the workshops" shone out everywhere in gold letters upon the old walls, filling them with Efe-rejuvenat- 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 manufactory 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 it's 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 niches and dimisteps which re- sembled altars
 The night of which we are speaking, especially M. Majesty. thought his estab- ishment had a singularly grand aspect. As he passed through the deserted court yard the sound of his footsteps made 8 deep impression on him. The stairway seemed immense and terribly difficult to ascend It was the effect of his little supper. doubtless Arrived at the first landing he stopped to take breath and approached window So much for iv ing in an historical mansionl NJ. Majes ty was not poet, oh. no; but, neverthe less, as be gazed out at the beautiful aristocratic court yard, over which the moon spread sheet of blue light. anG at the noble old edifce. which had jus the air of sleeping. with it's roofs stretch ing away beneath their covering o snow, he began thinking of the othe, world
 What if the Nesmonds should re turnY murmured he.
 At that moment the bell rang vio 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 confused sound of whispering and o vestments rubbing against each other People disputed. and hastened to enter There were valets, plenty of valets coaches with glass windows rehectin
 the moonbeams, and sedan chairs bal anced between two torches, which flare in the draught at the gate. In no tim the court yard was jammed- But at tn foot of the steps the confusion ceased People descended from the vehicle: saIuted each other. and went in chattin as if they knew the house. Upon th steps silks rustled and swords clatteret
 Nothing but white headdresses, heavil
 loaded with powder: nothing but small
 shrill voices. some without melody, an
 light footsteps. All the people scene
 to be old. very old
 There were dull eyes. dim jewels an
 ancient brocaded silks shot with chan!
 ing hues, which the light of the torch'
 caused to shine with soft luster, an
 above all foated tiny cloud of powde
 winch mounted from the curled heat
 dresses at each courtly bow, a trif pompous because of the swords an
 great paniers- Soon the whole houi
 had the air of being haunted. IT
 torches shone from window to window
 mounting and descending the windini
 stairways until even the dormer window
 of the mansards had their sparks of fet :. and life The entire Hotel of Nesmon E was Illuminated as if the setting SUI
 had flooded it with it's hriliancy.
 ..Great Jovet they'll burn the hous
 downr' cried NJ. Majesty. And, reco, ering from his stupor, he strove to shak , the heaviness out of his legs and dt
 scended quickly to the court yard. whe1
 the servants had just kindled rousin
 fire. N Majesty approached and r
 nooatratsd with them The servan, a1c&s no reuly. and continued to talk