The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-21


is not pleasant position. so you can i'm
agine how disagreeable the surprise was.
The one who spoke was Father Grim
bot, the guardian of the place, an old
original, well known to all the surround
ing wineshops. He approached NJ. Math-
las. looking at him with a pleasant
smile.
How! is that you, NJ. Matthias, al
rcady?"
NJ. Matthias, very much embarrassed,
tried to distort his features. thinking
sinister appearance would rid him of this
troublesome fellow. But no, Grimbot
gave him benevolent pat on the shoul-
der, dexterously arranging his shroud.
Il have just come from my tomb"
eaid NJ. Matthias in sepulchral voice.
"Ah, that is plainly to be seen, :" inter-
rupted Grimbot; "but you are in a greater
hurry than the others.
NJ. Matthias never stopped to listen, but
walked off with long strides on the tips
Of his toes, like phantom. Grimbot,
marching by his side, continued: "Yes,
the Others never came out so soon-al-
ways WdIttu u IuOutfi VI TWO.
NJ. Matthias turned suddenly upon him,
waving his winding sheet in the 'air.
"Go, he cried in hollow voice; "leave
me; this is sacrilege.
"There now, said Grimbot. becoming
fatherly, II won't worry you; you only
want to take little promenade, like the
others"
NJ. Matthias, very much annoyed went
straight on, disdaining to reply. Hesaw
the entrance to the cemetery just in front
of him. Being man Of precautions. he
had some louis in his pocket. "Say no
more, said he, holding out the pieces Of
gold. "Give me the key
Grimbot drew back step. "The key
you want the key. Well, that is fancy"
-Four guineas, groaned NJ Matthias,
extending more gold.
Grimbot pushed aside the proffered
handful, and said:
You know, now that you are out Of
the chapel, will not oppose your taking
q little walk like the Others"
"The others? What others?"
Grimbot made a sweeping gesture.
"The dead"
"The dead! What dead are you talk
ing Of I am living, don't you see?"
BLESS my soul. this is good Joke.
but I am jolly fellow. Come and take
a glass with me-" His hand fell like
pinchers on the wrist Of NJ. Matthias He
dragged him to the little building where
he lodged, and pushed him into a room
on the ground floor
N. Matthias was actually dumfounded.
Grimbot closed the door, took a bottle
from the table, filed two glasses. and
holding one up said, your health, NJ.
Matthias"
Listen to me, my good man. You
love joke; that's all right. Only there's
a time for all things. For personal
reasons allowed myself to be inferred,
but now want to go out. 1t is seri-
ous affair. I will pay you well; you
shall not lose by it."
Whilst he spoke, Grimbot turned away
from the table and placed his back
against the door.
"You talk WELL" he sneered. @Ah,
you are not the first one. I have heard
them talk like that before, you see.
love my people. Every night one or two
Of them come and take glass with me.
Yesterday it was the notary Randall
you know him well, he is your neighbor;
the one with the broken column on his
grave. Day before yesterday it was
Nine. Claudine, beautiful woman. All!
am good fellow. allow them all to
como out and take the air.
NJ. Matthias turned pale. Grimbot spoke
with such perfect sang froid, the firm
responsibility Of a functionary not to be in
fluenced. He was broad shouldered.
thick set fellow, with the hands Of a
guerrilla, his eyes burning with smold-
ering fire. M. Matthias shuddered. This
man was evidently mad, filed with
strange hsllucinations. He believed his
cemetery was peopled with returned
spirits, and held high carnival with those
phantom beings every night. He lived
in fantastic world created by his
drunken imagination, and actually con-
founded the living with the dead.
NJ. Matthias begged, prayed, protested,
finally became coaxing How could the
ihteulSeut ETlnDOC mistake nm Tor q
dead man? 1t was absurd.
"Come, said Gambot in decided tone.
Enough Of this. Be reasonable and re.
turn"
Return where?"
ITO your place in the angle of the third
division"
what; to my tomb? Never!"
@You will not? Well, we will see.n
NJ Matthias looked at those enormous
hands and shook with fright. He glanced
around, seeking some way of escape;
only one, the door, and before it stood
Grimbot like a buttress. No matter, he
must pass it, at any price. He made a
rush.
Grimbot coolly stretched out his open
hand and seized the throat of his ag-
gressor. M. Matthias, gasping and strug-
Cling to be free, hung from the end of
those sinewy arms, his legs dangling, his
body writhing in convulsions. The clutch
Of those enormous hands tightened-
a gurgling, sinister sound-then all was
still.