Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-24
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.
(from the Portuguese OF Sergio Carlos

From the Portuguese of Sergio Cardoso,
There was quite a large house party as
sembled at the castle or Kerdall near
Vannes
Setting sail in their own yacht they Wis
tied America and Australia as others 20
to Switzerland and Italy. II was now a
few months since their return from their
trip. to celebrate which event, they had
invited all their relatives, together with
a few friends.
Among those not members of the family
was the aged DIR. Cornabuc, illustrous
member of the Academy of Metaphysical
Sciences. the most original. eccentric. odd
being that could be met with under a vel.
low wig.
1t must be said that. besides the ordi.
nary sports OF country life. no form OF
diversion was lacking at the castle. The
conversation OF host and hostess was most
entertaining They had seen SO many
things Then. too. the rooms Of the cas-
tie had been converted into real museum
full of the most rare and curious objects
from the two continents. Fnally.--this
was an idea of the Marquis'-a large part
of the grounds was transformed into a
mcnagerie, where. in perfect freedom. the
animals that the master of Kerdall had
brought back from his journey, and was
trying to acclimatize roamcd about; gaz-
Giles. antelopes, goats from Thibet, ibis
from the Nile. beavers. and even an Asia
tic ape, of the large mandril species as
gentle as a lamb but mischicvous like all
of his kind. They had built for him a
large cage with iron bars adjoining the
conservatory.
Evidentally the castle OF keMall was a
veritable Eden. but this did not prevent
little Mime. de I.artigucs when she thought
Of the loneliness Of the dwelling amid field
and forest. from exclaiming: mo mat
H.. tt,A
round at Kcrdall-I should be afraid"
Afraid of what. fair LADY,"
'Of thieves. They must spring up in
such n locality"
''1hicves in this castle entirely filed
with guests and servants!"
They all laughed at her, and one evening
after n very hot day, as they sat in the
cool air on the terrace Of the castle. the
old DIR. Corabuc told such improbable
stories of thieves and assassins that Nine.
de Lartigues ashamed of her imaginary
fears. was the first to laugh. Then too.
when the hour for retiring came. she went
to her room on the second floor. strongly
forearmed with courage few moments
later, everyone in the castle was sound
asleep.
How long had Nine. de Lartigues been
asleep? She could not say, when she was
awakened by noise from her window.
which she had left half-open, because OF
the heat. How great was her terror,
when, by the clear light Ut the stars. she
saw a man cautiously climbing the rail-
ing She wanted TO scream. but her
throat. paralyzed by fear remained silent
The man leaped into the room-then the
poor lady buried her head in the bed.
clothes. Almost dead with fright. she
heard the stealthy steps Of the sinister
person going through the room-surely
whoever he was. he had taken off his shoes
so nj not to make a noise.
In the greatest distress. her teeth chat
tering. she awaited the fatal blow.....
Nothing!
At the end of a quarter OF an hour she
ventured look. little reassured. she
re gained the use of her voice and uttered
cries which awoke the whole castle. They
ran to her room.
"Oh, what is it? What has happened?'
asked the Marquis. She related her hor
rible vision. No one believed her 1t GER
tainly must have been Il dream. Who
could enter there without the aid OF a
ladder? And besides. there wasn't tho
| slightest sign Of breaking in.
Did you see the man WELL Nine 2
asked the Marquis, a little doubtfully.
AS plainly as ! see you. And even.".
she added. hesitating.
And even?"
| to me that l recognized In that individual
DIR. Cornabuc. with his yellow wig ant
| his long overCoat."
They all burst out laughing.
my hat!" exclaimed Mme. de Larti
CUES. overcome with grief.
II think the trick has reached Its linn
| its!'' bawled Cornabuc. and after having
made last grimace. his shining head dis
| appeared In the folds OF the curtain lik,
a puppet OF the Guignol theatre at the enc
| OF a performance.
| Nobody knew what to think, the mys
| terry deepened. A thief had gained en-
trance to the castle. perhaps whole bant
OF highwaymen. Nine dc Lartigues CAV,
her opinion In favor OF the last supposi
| ton.
To puzzle them still MORE a strang.
noise came from the ground floor. It wal
the sound of the piano from the music
room, but one would say played by furi
Gus hands and at tho same time unskillec
ones.
THAT In too much!" exclaimed the Mar
quis. rushing downstairs. followed by thu
whole company. They hastily entered tn,
music room. II was empty. Tho invisible
person they were seeking had vanished
But ne could not be far on. The breakinl
OF "a pile OF plates made known his pres
epce In the dining yOOms Tia AayQull