Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-02-01

You would have been very fortu-
nate, my children, if you had known
my Uncle Bayle, because he alone
knew more stories than you have
ever read. My uncle did not live i'll
our little city of Mirepeix-he lived
at Folk; and almost every Saturday
we would see him coming on his horse,
and our joyous cries hailed him at a
distance. The servant, my old Jean
nette, came imm ediately to salute our
Uncle Bayle, who carefully informed
himself as to the supper. Then after
having added or changed something
in the bill of fare, he seated himself
in large chair Of carved wood, which
we dragged up to the fire; and without
delay we all began to cry, "a storyl
a story" On this evening the cry
was less boisterous, because we had
formed little conspiracy, and no one
dared to speak first. Finally, my
pretty cousin, Dorothee, the most
talkative little girl of the house, and
now the grave superior of convent OF
the Sisters of Charity, ventured cry,
ga ghost storyn' aud We replied, ali
together, "Yes, a ghost story!
My uncle frowned, and looked tow
ard Jeanette, who was very much
confused and wished to appear alb
sorbed IN peppering her chicken pot
pie. 1t was she, in fact, who had
urged us to make this demand.
There are only fools or rogues who
believe, OF pretend to believe, in
ghosts" said my uncle, in severe
tone We all waited in silence, SO
much authority was there in his
words; but moment OF reflection
seemed to calm him. We saw him
smile, as if to himself, and he added,
in tone full of sweetness: 'You
want ghost story, my children? Very
well; I will relat one to you which
happened to me, so that it cannot be
doubted"
We gathered around him closer
than usual; the lamp hung by chain
attached to the mantel- piece, and there
our uncle told his story.
One autumn evening-it must have
been forty years ago, because ! was
scarcely 20 years old at the time
was returning from Toulouse. j ha6
arrived almost in front of the Boil
bonne monastery, beyond the beauti
full woods of Lecourien, when a sud
den and frightful storm, like those
that come down from our mountains
broke forth My horse, frightened a
the flashes of lightning aud noise o
thunder, darted into little by-path
and carried me with him, in spite o
NIL my efforts to the contrary. Not
withstanding his rapidity, 1 soon rec
ognized that lie had taken the road t.
Saint Gabelle and that he was leading
me there all right; and he galloped,t
until he stopped of his own accord, a
he had started, and l perceived that
was at the door of an inn. l entered
The guests we're nun merous-a mixet
crowd of Spanish merchants and youns
sportsmen of the vicinity overtaken, lik
myself, by the storm. 4 fter dryin.
ourselves at the fire-composed of
dozen vine branches which had beel
thrown in the freplace-supper wa
announced, and we all sat down to TIL
table. At first the conversation turned
on the frightful weather. One hat
been thrown from his horse; anothe
had been detained an hour in gettin,
himself and cart out of pool of mud
Finally someone exclaimed: cit i
an Internal night, just the time for
meeting of witches" This remark
which was very simple, gave place t.
a singular observation, made in ton
still more singular.
'Sorcerers and ghosts prefer fo
their meeting beautiful moonligh
night to night so unpleasant Us this.
We all gazed at the man who sal
this, and saw that it was one of til
Spanish merchants. You have ofte
seen them, my children, with thei
leggings and short breeches open a
the knee and showing their max cd, hair
legs. Yon know what mingled air c
pride and misery they have. He VIII
had spoken had, more than any yo
have seen, that savage bearing which
characteristic of them all. None {
us had thought of replying, when m
neighbor, young man with fran
and open manner, burst out laughin
as he said
cit appears that this gentlema
knows the habits OF ghosts, and tb,
they have told him that they do nt
like to get wet or dirty"
He had not finished his sentent
when the Spaniard threw on him
terrible look as he seid:
young man, do not speak so ligh
In of THINGS Won know notbinC abnnt