Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-17
PE SION GHOST.

We were on our way from northern Ger
many to Paris, my wife and 1.
The days journey had proved 80 fati-
guing that the thought OF Its continuance
through the night was unbearable TO Us
both, 30 we decided 10 stop at the next
town, seek better conveniences for repose
than our railway coach afforded and again
pursue our journey in the morning.
"But where shall we stopi" asked my
wife, for our travelled friends In bequeath-
Ing us the legacy Of their European expe
rienoe had left us the addresses Of olodg-
Ing In this little town.
"Perhaps the guidebook will help rs
out" ] suggested.
Somewhat TO my surprise the guidebook
mentioned our out Of the way town and
named its dozen Of hotels and pensions.
One Of the latter we chose.
1t was still light when we reached the
border of France and drew into our station.
Here there were several liveried men,
with the names Of their respective hotels
lettered across the fronts Of their caps,
and throwing open the doors OF their con-
veyances with great flourish Of hospitality.
There were more unliveried men who
thronged about US, each manifesting the
utmost eagerness 70 relieve US OF our lug
gage.
To one Of these surrendered our bags
and gave him the address TO which he
should take them.
We had not far to follow him. He took
us through turn In the road and soon
deposited our bags upon the threshold Of
our lodging.
Here we were beamingly received by the
proprietor Of the pension, much indeed as
II we were long looked for guests.
Madame wore an old black silk dress,
which still bore the stamp Of its Partisan
origin. She carried n bunch OF keys which
she Jingled as she talked.
Yes, madame had rooms, two OF them
there was large one, with a smaller one
adjoining. She would show them to US.
Very modest appearing apartments they
were that we were shown into, yet upon
the subject OF their faded paperings and
unstable upholstery madame was eloquent,
/ managed to understand the drift OF her
discourse, madame's expressive gestures
explaining much Of her fluent French, but
| what was this about"les cheveux blonde,
| 10 clair do la lune" and "le parfum des
| feursi"
| "What does she sayi" asked my wife.
ooh, something about yellow hair and
moonlight and flowers" somewhat con-
| fusedly interpreted.
What could madame meani But that
lady was now bowling herself away before
| her admiring audience, and a small boy
| bearing our baggage entered and left IL on
the floor
looked at my wife.
"Evidently they mean us to have these
rooms" / said
My wife did not answer. Suddenly she
began:
"Long ago beautiful maiden occupied
this chamber, and here her lover was In
the habit of visiting her, bringing with
him bouquets Of heliotrope, the maiden's
favorite flower. One day as she rested
upon couch awaiting his arrival her low
er stole in and presented her with bou-
quet. As the maiden bent her head TO in
hale the fragrance her false lover thrust a
dagger in her neck and fed pulling down
her long hair over the wound.
"The room Is said to be still the scene
Of the maiden's visitation"
In the course Of our travels had be-
come used 10 my wifes random readings
from the guidebook.
She now looked up from the book.
"This room |" she exclaimed, with en-
thusiasm.
"She must have been a young woman
Of uncommonly bad taste to have occupied
this room," remarked. ~ should judge
IL TO have been the cause OF her Death but
for the contrary evidence Of history"
But the romantic tale In connection
with our chamber must have excited my
| wifes imagination, for she sat upon the
| little lounge and gazed ont on the gather
| ing dusk until the moonlight began TO cast
faint shadows upon the lawn below.
"How delightful it would be TO meet a
| ghostp' unused my wife.
did not want TO seem unsympathetic,
80 / sti1ed yawn, and with all the inter
est could summon responded:
"Yesn
"If you should display such animation
on meeting one, I'm sure the ghost would
cut you Immediately after the introduc-
tion."
With this rejoinder my wife took one OF
the candles | had lit and carried IL TO her
| room.
was soon asleep.
In the night awoke and found my room
flooded with moonlight. A ray from tn,
moon had probably fallen upon my fac'
and wakened me--that or something else
Whatf
turned uneasily in my bed. My min,
seemed possessed with a strange idea
Some one was In the room.
,, Ivas conscious Of a subtle fragranc
permeating the air. 1t was the odor o
heliotrope. / recalled the story OF tn
: guidebook, and instinctively turned m
s eyes TO the couch by the window.
IL was womanl
d, A woman resting on the couch, th
!, moonlight falling upon her white dres
j and ON her long light hair that hung o
the floor.
n tried 10 take my eyes from the stranu
G sight, half believing that IL | did 30
/. would fade away, and by an effort mar
? aged TO turn from IL 20 the wall.-Ne'
: York World.