The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-26
ST. GABELLE'S INN.

little city of Mirepoix, but in n grand
chateau, with crimson roof and shutters,
in the environs of Folk A lawyer by
profession and pressed with business, he
never let II fortnight pass without COM
ing to- sec our mother, and there were
many of us to greet him, for Uncle Baylo
was the eldest of l3 children, all of them,
with one or two exceptions, living with
their own or their childrcn's children in
the neighborhood of the family home,
my sister and myself in the homestead
itself, with our infirm but pious and
courageous mother, whom as told you
awhile ago, Uncle Baylo came to see.
Uncle" said Dorothy one evening,
the prettiest as well as tho bravest Of all
our cousins, tell usa ghost story, please.
We have heard all tho Others"
Zone cold autumn evening"" said hc
'some 40 years ago, l was returning
from Toulouse, where | had been called
on business. | was travelling fast and
had already passed Auterive, where
some friends had urged me to stay the
night, but | was III Il hurry to reach
Saverdun, three leagues farther on, and
continued my route Just in front of the
monastery of Bolbonnc, in the forest of
Secouricn, one of those furious tempests
which spring up in the heart of the
mountains without moments warning
fell upon me. In less than no time 1t
was as black rs midnight and the road
invisible. There was nothing for it but
to turn about and ask for shelter ut
BolbOnne. In little while my horse
stopped, and saw that we were before
the door of an inn. l entered. The COM
pany was numerous and composed Of
merchants, Spanish students and the
sportsmen of the neghborhood, sur
prised like myself by the storm.
"'Truly,' said one of the hunters, the
weathcr'S deviliSh-a regular witches
sab5at.'
"'Pardon me- cried Il voice in a dis
tant corner, witches and COLLINS hold
sabbats on moonlight nights and not in
storms"
I'VE all turned to see who had spoken
and saw that it was n Spanish mer-
chant. None of us seemed disposed at
first to answer a remark made with such
solemn gravity. In fact, we were as ST.
lent as owls until suddenly my neighbor
on the right, a young man of frank and
pleasing appearance, burst into fit of
laughter.
Really said he, indicating the mer-
chant who had spoken last, 1T seems as
if the gentleman understood the habits
of COLLINS. Perhaps they've told YOU
turning to him scornfully, how much
they dislike to be wet and muddy!
1.-THE Spaniard gave him a terrible
look.
lyon speak too lightly. young man.
said he, far too lightly of things you
know nothing about
"'And you would have me believe that
ghosts exist
"'Pcrhaps,' said the other If you arc
brave enough to look and see. Here's
purse he continued, rising and APP
preaching the table, containing 30 gold
EN- quadruples. wager them all that
in an hours time call before you the
face of any one of your friends, even if
he has been dead dozen years, whom
you may name to me. Moreover, when
you have recognized him, he shall ap-
proach, embrace and salute you with IL
kiss. Do you agrecY And as he asked
the question the manner of the man was
SO impressive and stern that we invol-
uitftlH tiClilDlCls Ih Oul)
remained unmovcd.
And you can do all that he cried.
Eyes answered the Spaniard, and
willingly part with my 80 quadruples
beside, if l do not, provided you will lose
similar amount if hold to my promise
and force you to believe The offer was
at once accepted.
"To guard against trickery and decep-
ton, we decided to use little pavilion
situated in the outer garden, perfectly
isolated and bare of everything but
chair and table. After assuring our
selves that there were no other issues
than door and q window, the student
entered and, we left him to his fate, not,
however, without placing beside him all
the necessary writing materials and ex-
tinguishing the lights.
when everything was ready and we
had arranged ourselves in circle around
the door, the Spaniard, who had waited
in absolute silence till all was done, be-
gan to sing in a low, sweet voice, a verse,
as near as / can remember, running
thus:
With cracking noise the coffin bursts
In the tomb, deep, dark and profound,
And the phantom whltc places his foot
On the soil of tho cold, damp groundl
"Then, elevating his voice, he called
to the student shut up within the pavil-
Ion:
"'You have told me- said he, that you
desire to have visit from the spirit of
your friend, Francis Vialat, drowned
three years ago while crossing the ferry
Of Pensagnoles. Now, what do you
seer