Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-06-23
GHOSTS AND SELTZER

u. -ldlr>tNs HafititCtuitf VI rcit1ct
| water ia tho Marais. had been % little
supper given by sore Of bis friends Of
the Place Royale, and was On his way
homo shiyerins Ia the cold air 81.
| Pauls clock struck ,. How late IL II, T"
muttered tho good man, aud he quick
ened his step; bat 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 hiscaing posts before the doors for the
accommodation ii horsemen. All these
impede fast walking. particularly when
ones legs are tritie heavy aud ones
sight confused by the toasts Of little
supper.
At last 81. Majesty reached hts desti-
nation. lie paused before large orna-
mental gate. npon which glistened in the
moonlight a newly gilded shield contain
ing a restored ancient coat-of-arms,
which ho bad adopted rs his trademark,
"Hotel Ci-Devant dc Nesmond- Majesty
Joune. Fabricant DEau do Seltz." On
all the siphons of the establishment, on
all tho note blanks and on letter heads
the venerable arms Of the Eesinonds
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 vast building Of great an
tiQuity, with ernbellished and ornament
cd black walls, with balconies Of round
I'd iron and stone balconies with pilas-
sers. 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.
cards Unframed with garlands like mir
rors. Added to this were immense stone
steps, eaten ard turned green by the
rain, meager vine clinging to the walls
rs black and twisted Us the rope which
hung from tho pulley away up toward
tho garnet, and pronounced air Of age
and sadness. such was tho former hotel
Of Nesmond.
In brood 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 life-reiuvenat-
Ing them. Tho trucks from the railroads
shook the portals, and the clerks came
10 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
ying. In short. the place had MI the
look of mandatory. But at night. in
the deep silence, beneath tho 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 affairs.
The night of which we are speaking.
especially NJ. Majesty, thought his estab-
lishment had singularly grand aspect.
AS he passed through the deserted court
yard the sound Of his footsteps made
deep impression on him. The stairway
seemed immense and terribly difficult to
ascend. It was tho effect of his little
supper, doubtless. Arrived at the first
landing he stopped to take breath and
approached a window. So much for iv-
ing in an historical mansion! NJ Mnjes-
~ was not a poet, oh, no; but, never.he-
Iess, as he gazed out at the beautiful
sristocratic court yard, over which the
moon spread sheet of blue light, and
at the noble old edifice. which had just
Inc air Of sleeping, with its roofs stretch
ing away beneath their covering Of
vnow, he began thinking Of the other
world.
What if the Nesmonds should 70
turn murmured he.
At that moment the ben rang VIC
emily. The gate was thrown open 10
quickly. so suddenly. that the lamp was
sxtiuguished, and for several minutes,
In the shadow Of the gateway. there was
, confused sound Of whispering and Of
vestrnents rubbing against each other.
People disputed. and FASTENED TO eptcr.
There were Wallets, plenty Of Wallets;
coaches with glass windows rejecting
the moonbeams, and sedan chairs bal
.nced between two torches, which aared
in the draught at the gate. In no time
the court yard was damned. But at the
loot Of the steps the confusion ceased.
People descended from tho. vehicles,
.aluted each other, and went in chatting
Is II they knew the house. Upon the
steps silks rustled and swords clattered-
Nothing but white headdresses, heavily
loaded with powder; nothing but small.
shrill voices. some without melody, and
light footsteps. All the people seemed
~ be old, very old.
There were dull eyes, dim jewels and
ancient brocaded silks shot with chang
ing hues. which the light OF tie torches
caused 10 shine with q soft laster, and
above all fsoased tiny cloud Of powder,
which mounted from the curled head
dresses at each courtiv bow. . tTtfe
pornpons because Of the swords and
great paniers soon the whole hcuse
bad the air q being ha11ted The
torches shope from window 20 window,
mounting and eeeceniing The winding
stasrways until even the dor1ner windows
Of the tnansards had th~ir sparks of fete
And life. The entire Hotel Il EesrBood
we illuminated ~ II the setting sun
hal fiooied IL with it, hriiliancy.
"9rpst JgSei they'll burn the house
sownr Grief NJ MAJESTY. Ard. recov-
evfng frosn hsa stup,r, be strive ~ sbake