The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-12-27
STOPPED CLOCKS.

~ Il vi l. LII SAfJ N(1AkOs
There Is tradition in Marseilles that
on particular night many years ago all
the clocks in that city were put forward
one hour, tradition which is said to have
had its origin in the following story:
There lived in the vicinity of that city
M. Valette, q gentleman of ancient family
and of considerable fortune. He had mar
ried Marie Danville, daughter of the may
or of the city, and with their two sons and
two daughters dwelt in beautiful villa
near the city--a seat which had been the
favorite residence of his ancestors.
As his children grew up, however, he
was induced to move to Paris, which place
both he and Mime. Valette conceived to
be more suited to the education of their
family. The removal of M. Valette and
of his family was deplored by his tenantry,
to whom he had been as father, but par
ticularly as M. 10 Brun, whom he had left
factor on his estate, was, though u just
man, of harsh and accommodating tenn
per.
NJ Valette found it necessary IN Paris
to adopt mode of life which but ill &C.
corded with the moderation of his fortune.
He made frequent demands for renewed
remittances upon his factor, and the latter
was forced to use rigorous and oppressive
measures to procure for his master the nee
essary means. The scanty vintage of the
preceding year had made such demands
doubly hard to obey, and LIE Brun became
as odious to the tenantry as Valette had
been respected and beloved. These cir
cumstances were but little known to
Valette, or he would have revolted from
manner OF life which wrung from his
tenants almost all their hard earned sub
stance. One night as he slept in Paris the
form of his factor appeared to him covered
with blood, informing him that he had
been murdered by the tenantry on M. Va
lette's estate for rigor in collecting his rev.
enue, and that his body had been buried
under particular tree, which it infinitely
described. The ghost of lie Brun request
ed, moreover thatM. Valette would imme-
diately hasten to Marseilles and deposit
his remains In the grave of his ancestors.
To this request Valette assented, and the
apparition at once disappeared.
The morning came to dissipate the gloom
which the vision of the night had occa-
stoned, and, though he had been for some
time astonished at the unusual silence Of
lie Brun, yet he could not help consider
ing the whole as mere illusion. Stories
Of ghosts he had always considered ms fit
only for the nursery. To take SO long a
Journey on such an errand he knew would
be regarded as the height OF superstition,
and SO he made no mention of the incl
dent.
"You are more thoughtful than usual,
father" said one Of his daughters to him
next morning ut breakfast.
~ am thinking, my dear" said M. Va.
lette, "why have been so long in hearing
from lie Brun. l need money, aud 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 coun-
tenance, and he inquired of Valette why
he had delayed in fulfilling his request.
Valette again promised immediate obedi-
ence and was no longer disturbed by the
unwelcome intruder. Morning came again.
ut must still be a dream" said he to
himself, "though remarkable one GER
tainly. Today will probably bring me the
expected letters from lie Brun."
The third night the vision appeared
with terrible frown on its countenance.
1t reproached Valette for his want of
friendship to the man whose blood had
been spilled IN his cause and for disregard
ing the peace OF his soul.
"If you will grant me my request, " said
the phantom, II promise to give you "a
hours warning of the time of your own
death, to arrange your affairs and TO make
your peace with God"
M. Valette promised In the most solemn
4. -. n on
ing for Marseilles to execute the commits
sion, and the apparition of lie Brun disap-
peared.
Valette rose early next day, and alleging
TO his family that business of the most
urgent necessity called him Immediately
to Marseilles departed for the seat of his
ancestors, after an absence of 10 years.
There he found that the narration of the
murder of lie Brun was but too true.
Under the tree that had been so infinitely
described to him he found the mangled
remains, which he caused to be decently
inferred in the family vault. In vain,
however, he made search for the murder
ers. The same causes which occasioned
the death of the unfortunate lie Brun led
the tenants to the most obstinate conceal
ment of the manner of it, and yalette saw,
WibA 1cfAoA gnu AckhCtt bio AlAiocAJ ehty
had suffered that he might be furnished
with the means Of extravaganza.
''Had I imagined, he exclaimed, "that
my unsatisfactory pleasures would have
cost SO dear, would long since have re-
turned from Paris shall return to my
estate Immediately, that my children may
learn TO relish its tranquil pleasures"
M. Valette no sooner returned to Paris
than he communicated his resolution TO
his wife. Nine. valette, having accom-
plished the principal object OF her resi-
dence In Paris the education OF her fam
ily-asssnted with pleasure TO a return,
andfn little more than a year they found
themselves again ia the chateau OF their
ancestors.
About eight years after their return from
Paris, the family mansion demanding re-
pairs, they found it necessary to remove
for some time to Marseilles, where they
resided in the house Of M. Danville. the
father Of Nine. Vaiette.
Time had effaced the impression OF his
dream from the mind OF Valette. Sitting
one night after supper in the midst Of bis
family, d loud and sudden knocking was
heard at the gate, but when the servant
went to open it he found nobody without.