Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-01-04
They are so damp at this

81
trees too late. They are so damp at this
season."
Then Louise ran, with her hair slightly
rumplCd, and delightedly hanging on the
arm of her captain-for he was a cap
tain and soon to be "a major-who was
magniliccntly decorated with cpaulCts, in
a tunic jauntily worn which well exhibit
ed his tail figure. His long mustachcs
We're supcrbly black. Howas truly Il hand
some boy. found him frightful.
Through all the day l could not OK
change word with Louise. The captain
absorbed her. l resolved, however, to have
an explanation, at any price, from the
pCrfidiuus girl. Had not come for that
unly1
The night, l thought, is propitious for
that suIt Of conversation. Will await the
night. l will whisper into the ear Of
Louise when no one observes US, when no
one VIII interrupt us. That evening
said to her, "PlCase TO leave your window
partly open"
The captain was also to pass the night
at the cottage. My uncle had persuaded
him to remain till the next day, with the
unspokcn thought Of giving him a private
exhibition. To have for public only his
wife and daughter, who knew by hcmt
his rcportory was dull. 1t was refreshing
TO have fresh spectator for his marycl5
In order not to let him escape, my uncle
had shut up his military friend with triple
locks in Gne Of the chambers which was
little used.
4 X
when all the world had retired, and
when the mouse appeared sufficiently 81
Rent, l opened very gently the window Of
my room, which was near that of Louise.
Full of the spirit of Shakespeare, whose
works l had been reading for the first
time during my vacation, | pulled aside
my curtain and went at the risk of break
ing my neck, like Romeo, to suspend my
self from the balcony Of my dearly beloved.
Very poetic that position, o Shakespeare,
hut absolutely devoid Of substantially!
For the rest, the circumstances and sur
roundinSs were perfectly appropriate 10
the situation \ magnificent moon shed
delicate azure light over the whole garden
and upon the sand and reflected the shad-
ows of the great trees, like phantoms,
which seemed TO be gathering to assist i'll
the drama which was preparing.
Unhappily the heroine of the play was
wanting. l had drummed well on the
window and called "Louisc!" in II low
voice. All was in vain No one made the
least sign; no ono responded.
Outraged and disappointed, | rcgained
my chamber, when, on casting my eyes
below me, | distinctly perceived the styl-
ash silhouette and mustachc of my rival,
who awaited evidently q signal from
Louise to come to join him. l flushed
scarlet. was ridiculed to the end!
L descended, step by step, as far as the
vestibule. l detached from the panoply Of
my uncle an enormous japanese sword,
the curved blade of which was of great
length. Then, dashng forward like a
hurricane, drew upon the captain, and
with both hands planted the blade in his
breast.
There was a cracking of bones and
slashing of flesh; but, maddencd, deIirious,
l did not even stop to find out whether my
victim still brcathed. l dried the blade
upon the skirts of my tunto and ran to
hide the weapon in its place,
i had just re.entcrcd my room when the
sound Of voices, coming from the room of
my uncle and aunt, reached my ear.
Il tell you, some one is trying to get
into the houSel'
Il tell you it is all nonsense. You are
having a nightmare!'
''Listenl"
A long silence cnsucd. l was moro dead
than alive. Soon heard my uncle say to
my aunt: "Every body and everything is
locked in sleep You see, it was but a
whiml''
l hid myself under the bedclothes, de-
Gliding to fCign 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 ono went
through the passages here just now! You
had better call the captain'' stammered
my aunt in "A voice trembling with fear
could hear her rummaging about, and
felt my hair standing on end.
Some minutes passed. The front door
was opened My uncle was wallSing about
closely inspecting everything ] felt sure,
and ready to disappear without doubt in
Vase IllC NdllStI was very imminent. III
one hand he held n 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
a clicking noise like sdcarms.
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, leapcd
out of my bed and glued my eye to the
keyhole to review the body of the army as
1t passed by.
Come, wake up the captainl' repeated
my aunt in passing by my chamber. AT
these words ] threw myself in swoon
upon my bed and for a quarter of an hour
] had no further consciousness. My poor
brain was haunted with horrible hal
lucinations. / saw myself, very plainly,
protecting my head in a court of assizes,
before a fantastic tribunal of judges, who
branhshcd above me an innumcrahle
number of japanese sabers, while as
cCnded a rough scaffold upon which was
installed in front of me the captain, with
orders to rip open my body.
When recovered my senses, what was
my stupcfaction to perceive near my key
hole the captain in person at the head of
his cOmDanVl He had inst rptnrnpd fro,n