Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-02-11

"btses 6luggardl" he shouted.
"Kriegs Mobil. We are to mobilize for
a In a fortnight the cavalry of the
guard must be beyond the Rhine"
The Chateau Revenant in the neigh
borhood Of Nancy had been forsaken
by its aristocratic owners. When, in
spite Of their splendid bravery, Mac
mahon and his gallant troops had been
driven In headlong rout from the blood
stained field of Worth, the ancient
family fed westwards, too, leaving
behind only Gabriel Monod, the aged
butler, to whom it would have meant
death to go forth from the home of his
masters, where he had lived, man and
boy, till now so summers whitened his
head. He would guard and care for it
lovingly while they were away.
A patrol of Uhlans had ridden up to
the main entrance, and the officer an
nounced to the pale and astonished
Gabriel that the must prepare break
fast for Gen. Helm Won Grubsch and his
stah, who would arrive and take up
their quarters for the day, and pos
sibly the ensuing night.
That was a day never to be forgotten
by the aged servant Of the Revenants.
In and out Of the p~arquetted rooms
stamped the spurred and booted Ger
mans, and instead of deeorous still
ness there was the clank of sabers,
and the costly hangings Of the stately
dining and reception rooms showed
through wreaths and spirals of to-
bacco smoke. And the wine cellar
the pride Of the butler and the wonder
of the neighborhood for miles around
what gaps were made in It'll Was
there ever such thirst known2 At
last the day came to an end, and the of
hcers amused themselves with song
and Jest.
In q m Of the lofty drawing
room a card table was set out, and here
Helm Won Grubsch and three Of his
principal officers sat down to whist.
Every now and then they would ad-
jouFn to q massive s~ideboard in the
next apartment and quar- goblets Of
that wonderful champagne Of the
R~evenanta, which wal quite priceless.
Gabriel came and looked at them from
a nearer distance every now and then.
Should he tell them the story of the
Revenant ghost, and thrill the nerves
of those naughty, martial Teutons?
At last he plucked up courage, and
asked permission from the "Messieura
les officers Allemands." Helm Won
Grubsch laughed . consent, and to 9
hooking group Gabriel told his tale,
and this Is its substance.
Ayoung man had been cheated of his
lady love by a wealthy member of the
ReVenant family. He, in despair, but
Disgusting his grief, had come n
night and played cards with his rival.
Late, towards dawn, when the rosy
fingers of the coming day were caress-
ing the hill tops, the rich Revenant
trumped the ace of hearts with dia-
monds. At that moment D'Estreea
sprang from his seat and blew his
brains out with a pistol. His rival
died two days later, thrown from 3
horse. And since that date It was the
tradition that If anyone who had separ-
ated two loving hearts should play at
cards in the room, to him young D'Es-
trees would appear in the shape Of the
living lover and be a portent Of the
doom of the rich and ruthless Destroy
er of loves young dream.
The Germans heard the story
through, and then guffawed. Helm
Won Grubsch laughed less merrily
than the others. Indeed, he had
frowned once or twice during the mar
rative.
well" he said at last, "'we will play
till dawn and test your ghost, my a
The wine is good. Let tomorrow take
care of itself"
The next rubber opened with dia-
monds, but interest in hearts there
was none till Won Grubsch's partner,
! playing second, put down the ace OF
hearts. A look of perplexity passed
over the generals face as he gazed
at his cards.
lawfully sorry to trump your trick"
were the words whose German equiv
alent came to his lips. But no soon
er had he taken the card between two
of the fingers Of his right hand than
It was laid hold of. He looked up,
and there, standing in front of him,
was the tall figure of an officer of
the cavalry of the guard. The eyes
were fixed in a strangely absent man
ner on the distant downright. All
saw, but took what they saw for real
flesh and blood, till a moment later
the figure was gone. The general
played the ten of diamonds.
''The rest Of the tricks are mine.
gentlemen" said he, showing a hand
of all the court and higher cards of
diamonds.
"What a handl What luckl" ex-
claimed the others.
Helm Won Grubsch rose from the
chair. A cloud was on his brow.
"You saw a cuirassier2" he asked
suddenly.
Il thought so" hammered each in
turn.
"Perhapsit was that champagne" he
unused.
N 4a. ar