The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-13
AN XMAS REPENTANCE.
ny SARAH BERNHAKDr.
(CoprriOhLA

ny SARAH BERNHARDT.
(CoDpri0hEl
The chateau OF Ploerneuf was the terror
OF the breton people. The country folk
made the sign Of the cross as they passed by.
and murmured: There Is the Accused
ones castler'
About the walls that surrounded the
grounds was a brler hedge, which no one
dared 20 cross. The servants passed each
other by like shadows, afraid TO speak above
whisper. No one dared 10 address the
master. Only the young Count Robert
found favor in the eyes Of the lord Of the
manor, the old Duke dc KerberEoff, his
uncle.
At the time when this story begins,
Robert was seated at the old mans feet.
He was seated IN the great ducal chair; bis
face was livid, his eyes cleaning, and his
oountenance distorted with fear. He was
listening intently; one would have said that
he was this ghost Of terror.
Best lie him on a porphyry column burned
small golden lamp set with precious
stones. Behind 1t stood a tall negro. who,
as each minute passed, let fall a single drop
OF oil upon the flame. Close to the old
mans withered hand lay an OK, and tine
negro would have atouei with his life for a
single forgetfulness Of his duty.
The duke was even paler than usual: his
plea, aud from his Reconstruction eyes
great tears rolled down into his silver
beard
My dear Lord, is your suffering worsef'
asked Robert gently.
The duke shuddered; he was still listening
intently.
1t was Christmas night. "Noell NoelF
sang the peasants voice. "Noell NOEL"
rang out the chimes.
Then the old duke rose up like O specter
Listen, RobertI" he said, "Listenr The
old man bad not spoken for twenty years.
His seUulchraI voice echoed through the
great hall. and the ancient armor hanging
on the walls gave forth a metallic sound.
The young count was petrified with fright.
Twenty years ago had son; he was
handsome, brave and generous. de loved
young peasant girl and wished to marry
her, but refused my consent; could not
countenance such an outrage. My son
pleaded with me. but was inflexible; my
escutcheon would have been eternally dis
graced. | was wrong, my boy, | was
wrong 1t is a mortal sinr' Sobs choked
the old dukes utterauce, but he contIn-
ued:
"The maiden was beautiful and virtuous.
10 tfered her money; she refused 1t. Then
III ad her carried Off aud imprisoned In the
tower of the castle. Several months passed;
my son was faithful to his word; | to my
pride. decided to kill the maiden, so
sent word to her to escape at the first op-
portunity. A silken ladder was given her,
and she was carefully instructed as to its
use, and how to fasten 1t to the window.
Sue prepared for flight Then / arranged
an infamous trap for her. Listen, Robert
listen! had the stones of the window-sill
loosened, SO that it would give way beneath
her weight, carrying the unfortunate girl
with it as 10 fell, and she would be dashed
to pieces upon the marble floor of the court-
yard below
ut was Christmas! That night l fell
asleep In the fear of God. Then | was trans
ported to an immensely of clouds In
Vulnerable arches followed each other In
never-ending succession. Beneath these
arches small golden lamps were swinging
gently 10 and fro, so numerous that IL
would have taken years TO count them.
Some burst suddenly into fame, others were
suddenly extinguished. Some burned with
a fierce light, others hickered for long
time before they died out completely.
Each one Of these lamps were guarded
by an angel. All the new lamps were
tended by fair white angels with faces Of
unspeakable beauty; by others stood black
angels, ugly and evil looking, and those
seemed to wait with Impatiencs the moment
when the flame should be finally ex-
tinguished.
"Why' is all thisr l asked my guide.
"'These lamps are the souls Of men, he
replied. The ones which start suddenly
into flame are the souls of newborn in
fants, and spotless angels guard them. Here
are the souls of those who have reached the
time of life when they can think for them
selves, and the Spirit of Evil and the Spirit
Of Good dispute their possession. Those
lamps which are Pickering and fading out
are the souls Of the dying Seep he cried,
pointing out several flames which were on
the point of extinction; 'seel at the SUI
preme moment the soul almost always turns
to the Spirit Of GoodP
Then asked him to show me my own
lamp.
"'Comer said the strange being who con-
Quoted me.
Leading me on through innumerable
arches we went on and on for long time.
Then stopping suddenly, 'SeeP he saul,
behold thy soulr / was petrified with
terror One single drop OF oil remained in
my lamp. and over it lowered an angel
with coal black wings, who blew upon the
flame to make it burn out more quickly. /
was in mortal fear, and | was coward {;
yes, was a coward, said the duke, tremb-
ling violently.
"Listen, Robert, listen Beside my lamp
burned another with steady and brilliant
flame; white- winged angel watched over
the golden vessel. The Spirit Of Evil came
and whispered in my ear"
The old duke ceased. IL seemed as II he
heard the spirits voice at that moment.
His eyes were bloodshot. his hair stood on
end with fright, and his teeth chartered.
He continued In hoarse voice:
1.-THE white winged angel looked at me
sadly, but the black kept whispering in my
ear. saw nothing, l would see nothing.
From the black angels wing plucked a
feather, and dipping IL into ths brilliant
lamp, l took the oil out drop by drop and
let 1t fall 1uto my own. My fame became
brilliant and red as blood: the other grew
peer, but retained its starry brightness.
Only one drop Of oil remained the white
angel stretched forth his wing to stop me,
but another with wings cleaning like
mother-of pearl, and bearing a golden
sword came to us. LIST the man do his
will God will judge himp he said. The 4
took the last drop Of oil.
Then vas afraid. Whose lamp is this p
! asked, pointing to the flame which was
Just on the point Of going out. And the
voice replied, Tits the soul OF thy beloved
soa' At that moment the flame went OUT.
The white angel took the soul 10 its wings
and flew away with cry Of grief; bat the
Spirit of Evil responded with a loud cry OF
triumph.
II awoke frozen stiff with horror. Two
corpses were stretched out upon the floor of
my room, crushed almost out of human
shape. My son, notified by his betrothed,
had wished TO protect her In her flight. and
the dreadfrl tran which | had set for her