Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-31

the curved blade Of which was Of great
length. Then, dashing forward like
hurricane, I drew upon the captain, and
with both hands planted the blade in his
breast
There was q cracking Of bones and
s]ashing of flesh; but, maddened, delirious,
l did not even stop to find out whether my
victim still breathed. l dried the blade
upon the skirts of my tunic and ran to
hide the weapon in its place.
l had Just re-entered my room when the
sound of voices, coming from the room OF
my uncle and aunt, reached my ear.
81 tell you, some one is trying to get
into the house"
Il tell you, it is all nonsense. You are
having nightmareP'
'Listen!"
A long silence ensued. was more dead
than alive. Soon heard my uncle say to
my aunt: Everybody and everything is
locked in sleep. You see, it was but
whimn'
l hid myself under the bedclothes, de-
Gliding to feign sleep if the notion should
occur to my relatives to search my room,
but the nocturnal colloquy was not ended.
Il am certain that some one went
through the passages here Just nowl You
had better call the captain!" stammercd
my aunt in voice trembling with fear. l
could hear her rummaging about, and l
felt my hair standing on end.
Some minutes passed. The front door
was opened. My uncle was walking about
closely inspecting everything, l felt sure,
and ready to disappear without doubt in
case the danger was very imminent. In
one hand he held heavy bronze candle
stick, and in the other pistol which, in
his confusion, he had loaded with play
bills. His cotton nightcap, which he had
kept on in his haste to take arms, had
fallen over his forehead, and one of his
shoulder braces, hanging by his side, made
q clicking noise like sidcarms
My aunt came Immediately behind him,
carrying little gray bottle, which she
used every night to warm her bed with.
Urged by an irresistible curiosity, leaped
out of my bed and glued my eye to the
keyhole to review the body of the army as
it passed by.
Come, wake up the captainP' repeated
my aunt in passing by my chamber. At
upon my bed and for quarter of an hour
l had no further consciousness. My poor
brain was haunted with horrible hal
lucinations. 1 saw myself, very plainly,
protecting my head in a court of assizcs,
before fantastic tribunal of judges, who
brandished above me an innumerablc
number of Japanese sabers, while l as
cended rough scaffold upon which was
In loJ inf IF
orders to rip open my body:
When I recovered my senses, what was
my stupefaction to perceive near my key
hole the captain in person at the head Of
his company! He had just returned from
a reconnaissance of the entire dOmicilc.
do you know, mother inlaw," said
he, that our expedition much resembles
that of Don Quixote? 1 shall not carry
this campaign into my branch Of the serv-
Ice
Tho thieves have escaped by the sky
light and the cutters" replied my aunt.
"But cats alone are capable of such
featsp'
Cats! You can call them cats. AS for
me, am certain that heard tho noise Of
boots!"
HtH IL was DOobSu anu ioN'
with your permission, 1 shall go to bed
again.
Upon my word of honor, I asked myself
seriously if this were not the shade of the
assassinated captain, which had come back
to earth on purpose to torment me, like a
new shade of Banquo-always after Shake
speare! / called together all my courage
and ventured to go out in order to behold
my victim face to face.
There truly was my adversary, two steps
from me, in flesh and blood, an ordinary
master of arms, though quite elegant in
the white flannel robe, which in his haste
he had thrown upon his shoulders.
He had upon him not the least stain of
blood.
Feeling that my reason was wandering,
l walked toward the vestibule and again
took down the terrible japanese saber
AS seized it with both hands to act over
again the tragedy which had been enacted
at midnight perceived suddenly that
had only handle within my hands.
The blado had entirely disappeared in
the large handle.
o prestidigitation, behold one of thy
marvels! ..-....
remained open mouthed with SURPRISE
but greatly relieved. Iquitted the cottage
in few hours without saying adieu to
any one.
Since that memorable night have not
been tempted to cleave in two my cousin,
the captain TRANSLATED From the French
For Romance.
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