Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-01-17

could two meet, tor the road was
lust tie width for one sleigh, aud
the people all knew this, { nd they
waited at the plateau on the top,
and each took his turn.
alt was my great uncle's pleas
ure to take his y0ang wife aud 90
out on these steep hills and dive
her like the wind with a swift fly
ing horse, and she loved the sport
and wrapped ia furs, with her
curlS floating in the wind, a fine
picture the country folk thought
her; and that Gaspard was much
admired, too, for so the story has
come to us, and their pic.nres ale
in the salon, though some think
us not Of the night u'ind to k ep
them thcye.
Il comes soon now, petite, the
tragedy of those two. One night,
just such a night as this, they
went riding in the SO gay spirits,
and going up hill for the second or
third time what shOald they see
but another sleigh coming down!
1t Was coming fast and my great
uncle knew it was death for cue
side or the other, since pass they
could not. Aud he shouted to the
other driver to haiti
"Ah, it was too sad. o., on,
came the other sleigh, fast like the
wind, and my great uncle GIsplrd
saw that it wOlld run into him
crash, and he quickly drew Ws'ol
and fired to kill the O rse, before
WAS too late. And his own horse, he
got slch fright h. plunged over
the side, throwing bin our, bat
taking bis bride down to death.
II lived, bnt like a man in
dream, till some one tod him the
truth that on that night tn, ,Te was
no other Slelgl bat his own, an
hat the shadOg he saw was Of his
own, in some way 1 know not the
exact, the moonlight made that
effect by what YOU call projecting
the shadow, and when be knew
that, he took again the plstO and
with it eudei bis misery aud his
iIfv.n
y long silence succ, eded this
weird tale and thep CioIlde asked
in a broken voice:
"Islt then that the sleigh is
ghosll'
Yes, petite, a-Nhat you call
phantomp
Il am not afraid. l accept, and
will pray to give the poor ghOosts
peace
1t was not like the Loup. Glron,
not to the mind OF Clotilde half as
dreadful, but she was not really
afraid OF these because her Old
uncle had much sense, and he did
not believe one Ct the stories, al
though tell them he aid, and most
graphically.
Again on tie following evening
came the sound of bells, and this
time ClOlilde went not near the
door, but sat moving her sweet
lips in pray er. Then the door was
flung violently open and bIusque,
CHEEKY voice called:
"Hello, there, Victor, Alphonse,
you vdrlets, where ale yOu hiding"
Certainly this was no ghost, and
the three women who clung about
his neck gave frantic evidence of
Joy at his coming. CIotilde was
not one OF the three. A big old
man in a fox skin coat had taken
her in his arms, and was talking to
Ler in gentle wOtd', the old uncl-
who told her the dreadful stores,
and tLen she slipped one small
hand iuto her lovers and looked
at him with shy, happy eyes.
st was so good of y OH to come
instead of the ghosts" she said,
when later they sat cooling in a
corner. while the uncle, who was a
great fayOrite with the Young
Gaspard, was making himself
agreeable to the ladies'.
Then you Know. dear little
ontY SAID the young man. "And
You are not afraid to make your
home IN the Chateau Frontense"
"Not with my Gaspard," came
the soft answer, "bnt l like it
better if the ghosts came not, and
your sisters. they are sorry, too.
But afrald-nOtp
"What of the this so much being
afraidY' asked a gruff voice, and
the old unclo OF Clotilde bObbed
over to the corner where snatches
of .heir conversation located the
two lovers.
Then he was told the story of