The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-30
THE GHOST OF SAINT=GERY.
The Last Story Written by Guy de Maupassant.

tate fell in with solitary rider whom
from something he let drop in the con-
verSatlon | recognized to be Roger, the
man In charge OF the place. and without
making myself or my errand known to
MN stroye 10 draw him into converse
ton concerning Saint-GeTy's remarkable
abandonment of such a fine old chateau.
out the man was so polite servltor and
so guarded in his replies that had only
my trouble for my pans.
1t WAS now 10 O'clock. and my long ride
had sharpened my appetite tremendously.
AT my invitation Roger consented TO Join
me with glass of wine at the roadside
inn. although he excused himself from eat
ing anything. The table had beeu set on the
veranda, and the night was so beautiful Sha
we sat there smoking and chatting until
| after IL. Suddenly. as l drew Saint
! Gery's letter out of my pocket, to my
amazement l noticed that he had sealed it.
| was so surprised and irritated that was
half inclined to mount my horse and re-
turn 10 RUuen without tue letters. but II
occurred 10 me that such course would
not be in the best OF taste. Then again,
perhaps Saint-Gery might have sealed the
letter in moment OF absent-mi ndedneSs.
made an excuse to walk toward the park,
and as we came in sight OF The old chateau
it was quite light enough to see that the
place was sadly run down, the paths over
grown, the hedges neglected, the garden
tilled with weeds. Turning to Roger
placed Saint-Gery's letter in his hand. He
gave sudden start, but as quickly recov-
cred himself, and withdrew into the gar
deners lodge TO read 1t.
well, sir, what do you wish ?" he stam-
mered out, as he appeared at the door
moment later.
You ought TO know" said I, rather
sharply. 81 suppose You have read your
masters orders. l desire to 60 inside the
chateau; get me lamp at once"
He caught his breath and his lips fell
apart. Into the chateau" he repeated,
into his room"
Well" l called out angrily, for was
now thoroughly out of patience. do you
presume to question me?"
"Oh. mono. sir" he almost gasped,
only 1t Is Impossible. The place is locked,
doubly locked and barred; Pm powerless
TO act: monsieur has the keys"
You are wrong. have tbem," said i,
calmly but firmly. Get me lamp at once
and lead the way TO the door,"
The man seemed to be laboring under
little note Of his manner. | was we'll
armed, and kept my eye on him. AS |
advanced TO set the key in the door he
plucked up courage to make a last at
tempt 10 stay my progress, but this imp per-
tlnent opposition on his part now riled
mo to such an extent that. taking the
lamp out of the mans hands. l pushed
utterly limp and helpless, his face.
as | imagined. blanched with anger.
| discovered that | had entered
the house by the kitchen, which l now
trayersed, then two small living-apart-
mems in the nhture of a servants hall.
This brought me into the main hallway.
and, as rapidly as / could, for the lamp
made my way UP the grand staircase OF
the chateau, and had no difficulty in recog-
niZins the door which Saint Gerry had de-
scribed 10 me. | unlocked it as calmly as
if it were the door Of my quarters at
Rouen, pushed 1t open, walked In and set
AS l did so the clock in the neghboring
chapel struck the hour Of midnight; but
| scarcely noted 1t, save to enjoy the mys-
FERROUS sweetness CT the tones as they
broke the midnight stiffness Of the place.
The room was large and square and had
about it that close and musty Odor Of an
unused apartment-an odor strangely like
that you so often notice in death cham
Der. In one corner stood huge ma
hogany bedssead richly carved and sur
mounted W it'll a canopy. The heavy silk
curtains were drawn aside, disclosing
mattress and pillows, but no sheets. There
was an evident impress of human figure
see that the room was more or less In dis
o.der and that there was one door, open
ing as imagined into a closet.
My first thought was to throw open
window and let the cool, fresh night air
into the place to chase out its smell of
mold and mist. bnt so rusted were the
fastenings that, although l made use of
my .aber as lever, l couldn't start them.
After several attempts / gave it up and
az a N N q yp ri inc
desk. with the Intention of hurrying
through the task assigned me and Of max
ing my escape. Everything was as Saint
Gerry had described it TO me, aud in a mo-
ment or so had found all but the last of
the three packages indicated. when |
thought l heard, or rather felt, the rustic
of woman's skirts behind me. but | was
too busy TO pay any attention to 1t. In
fact, it half occurred to ne that the breeze
had blown in from the hallway and stirred
a bit Of paper on the floor, or caused the
hangngs to give forth rustIing sound.
But in moment the same sound again
caught my ear, and this time it sent
dsagreeable, crawling feeling over my
skin. 1t seemed so silly to me to take
any notice of such thing that my self
respect would not allow me to look
around.
had now come upon the third Of the
packages which Saint-Gery had commits
Sl00ed me TO OBTAIN Tor MIN, ana mad Just
thrust 1t into my pocket when a deep,
long-drawn sigh. which naught but human
lips could have sent forth, escaped almost
against my cheek. With one wild spring
landed several feet away. and almost in
stinctively my hand clutched my saber-
belt Had / not done so L should have
dashed like a coward out OF the dimly
lighted room.
A tall woman. wearing travelling gown
OF white gossamer, with angel sleeves,
her face whittier than her raiment, was
standing behind the sofa with eyes that
seemed lighted with uncarthly glow fixed
sadly and tenderly upon me. Over her
shoulders, reaching almost TO her feet,
hung wonderful growth of hair, cover
ing her, enveloping her like living veil.
BY the lamps light, as she raised her
hand and put back these glorious tresses,
| could see that they had golden sheen,
which gave her the appearance of being
literally wrapped in a mysterious fire that
glowed without consuming. She was
wonderfully but fearfully beautiful and
uneartbly. l was stricken with such a
tremor that my body swayed, and only by
the greatest effort could save myself from
pitching over backward.
Nobody, unless he has BEN stricken by
it, can have any idea Of this awful and
senseless terror. You feel your soul slip
ping away like escaping vapor; your heart
comes tn dead stand9tiii. your wholo