The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-03
THE CLOCKS
OF NARSEILES.
From the New or. ans Ttmes-Democrat.

ward one EQQf-d lEdulllOu WAltu Is Sd4A
TO have had its origin in the following
story:
There lived in the vicinity Of that city
n NJ. Valette, a gentleman of ancient
family and Of considerable fortune. He
had married Marie Danville, daughter Of
the mayor Of the city, and, with their
two sons and two daughters dwelt IN a
beautiful villa near the city-a seat which
had been the favorite residence of his an
Cestors.
AS his children grew up, however, he
was induced to move TO Paris. which
place both he and Nine. Valette conceived
10 be more suited to the education of
their family. The removal of NJ. Nalette
and of his family was deplored by his
tenantry, 10 whom he had been as a father,
but particularly as NJ. lie Brun, whom he
had left factor on his estate, was, though
4 just man, of harsh and unaCcOmmOdat-
ing temper
VI. Valette found it nccess ary in Paris
70 adopt d mode Of life which but i'll aC-
corded with the moderation Of his tor
tune. He made frequent demands for
renewed remitJances upon his factor: and
the latter was forced TO use rigorous and
oppressive measures 10 procure for his
master the necessary means. The scanty
y
such demands dOubly hard 20 obey, and
Lc Brun became as odious 10 the tenantry
as Ndictte had neen respected and beloved.
These circumstances were but little
known 70 N2IClte. or he would have re
VOTED from a manner of life which wrung
from his tenants almost all their hard
earned substance. One night as he slept
in Paris, the form Of his factor appeared
TO him. covered with blood. informing him
that be had been murdered by the
tCnantry on VI. Naiette's estate for rigUr
in collecting his revenue, and that his
body had been buried under Il particular
tree which it minutely described. The
ghost of lie Brun requested, moreover,
that VI. Nalette would hasten 10 Marseilles
and deposit his remains in the grave of
his ancestors. To this request Valette
assented. and the apparition at once dis
appeared.
The morning came to dissipate the
gloom which the vision of the night had
ocCaSiOned; and though he had been for
some time astOnished at the unusual
silence Of lie Brun, yet he could not help
considering the whole as a mere illusion.
Stories of ghosts he had always consid-
cred as 1T only for the nursery To take
so long Journey on such an errand he
knew would be reg arded as the hight of
superstition: and 50 he made no mention
OF the incident.
/.
father, said one Of his daughters to him
next morning At breakfast.
II am thinking. my dear said NJ
Nalette, why l have been so long in
hearing from lie Brun. i need money, !
and my demands have not been met"
Night came again, and about the hour
of midnight lie Brun again appeared
There was an evident frown on his
counteuance. and he inquired Of Nalette
why he had delayed in fulfilling his re-
quest. Nalette again promised immediate |
obedience. and was no longer disturbed |
by the unwelcome intruder. Morning |
came again.
1t must have been a dream" said he
TO himself, though a remarkable one
certainly To-day will probably bring me
the expected letter from lie Brun.n
The third night the vision appeared
with terrible frOwn on its cOunteuauce.
u reprCached Nalette for his want of
friendship to the man whose blood had
been split III his cause, and for disregard
ing the peace Of his soul
III you viii grant me my request. =" said |
the phantom, Il promise to give you |
twenty-four hours warning of the time Of !
your own death, to arrange your affairs |
and to make your peace with God"
Mr.. rNalette promised in the most |
solemn manner that he would set off next |
morning for Marseilles. to execute the |
commission; and the apparition of lie |
Brun disappeared.
Nalette rose early next day, and, al
Ieglng TO his family that business of the |
most urgent neces sity called him imme |
dlately 10 Marseiles departed for the |
seat OF his ancestors, after an absence of |
ten years. There he found that the mar |
ration Of the murder of lie Brun was but |
too true. Under the tree that had been |
so minutely described to him. he found |
m Cd nom inc. d, 3 L., 1
De CecentIy inferred in the family vault |
In vain, however, he made search for the |
murderels. The same causes which oc- |
CasloneC the death of tho unfortunate |
lie Brun led the tenants TO the most OBJ |
stlnate concealmeut Of il. and Valette |
saw, with horror and regret. the misery
they had suffered that he might be flu- |
nlSGed with the means of extravaganza,
Had imagined. 80 he exclaimed that
my unsatisfactory pleasures would have
cost SO dear. / would long since have re |
urea from Paris. ! shall return to nv
estate Immediately, that my children NAV
learn to relish its tranquil pleasures"
Mr.. NaIette no sooner returned to Paris !
than be communicated his resolution to
his wife. Mime. Nalette, having accom-
pilsned the principal object OF her resi- |
dence IN Paris-tho education of her fam
hY-assented with pleasure to a return
ana IN Ilttle more than year they found !
themselves again in the chateau of their
ancestors.
About eight years after their return
from Paris, the family mansion demand |
ing repairs they found it necessary to re-
move tor some time to Marseilles. where
they resided In the house of NJ. Danville.
the father of NJ Nalette.
Time had etfaced the impression of his
dream from the mind Of Nalette Sitting
one night after supper in the midst of his
FAMILY LOUD and sudden knocking was
heard at tle gate; but when the servant
went TO open it, he found nobody without |
After short interval the same loud
knocking was again heard. and one of
alette' 5 sons accompanied the servant to |
tne gate to see who demanded admittance
at so unreasonable an hour To their as
Constituent no one was TO be seen there.
A third time the knocking was repeatcd
sun Louder and louder, aun a sudden
thought darted across the mind of Val
cite.
Il win 20 to the gate myself" said
he; ~ believe l know who it is that
knocks.
his presentimcnt was too truly realized
his ne opened the gate LC Bruu appeared
and whispered to him that next night Al
the same time-for IL was now the twelfth
hpur-he must prepare himself TO leave
tne world. Then. waving his hand. AS if
70 bld adteU, lie Brliu disa rr,97 rod