The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-17
4 Thrilling Tale of Love and SeIf-Sacrif1ce in Old
 Kentucky
SPIRITS OF HE ACTORS
 NOW HAUNT THE PLACE
Insane Dog Hearkens to the Voice of Unseen Master and a Priest Who Loved in Vain Faces
 Chapel Yard.
BY LILY RYAN.


 Rich in romance, fable and legend, the abode of a French king while in exile, the scene of the nightly wanderings or the spirits of an old mission priest and his sweetheart, a fair French maiden whom the mandates of the church kept from the arms of her priestly lover, and the dwelling place of an insane dog that obeys unheard commands and walks each night by the side of his spirit master-such is Fondavera, the oldest residence on the historic Bardstown pike, two miles distant from Louisville, Ky. The house is indeed a travesty on it's name, for the Spanish word "Fonda, meaning place of rest" and Vera the Russian word, meaning ''In all truth, were never more msapplied than to this quaint old building around which spirits of it's former occupants roam at mid nights holy hour and re-enact the pain ful, turbulent scenes of their lives.
 WIthstood Time's Ravages.
 The "place of unrest, in truth" as 1t might more appropriately be called, IS built of large slabs of rough-hewn white stone, now colored rich Ivory by the years which have sifted down their ton ing compound of winter snows, summer showers and golden floods of sunshine over the sloping roof and long, narrow French windows set deep in their mas sive frames. Many of the stones are ten feet in length. and all are from two to three feet thick. A new roof and frame porch have been added by the present occupants, who use all the rooms except one. and that they dare not enter, for 1t was the boudoir of the frehcn maiden whose spirit returns thither each night Over the suntanned face ot the stone at the rear of the building the slow creeping ivy has placed an ever green veil through which the glass or the quaint French windows gleams like erys- tai eyes resentful of concealment.
 Close by. as was the custom of the de- yout French, stands little chapel, ike a sentinel keeping watch over those who dwelt in the chateau Well set, deep creviced and boldly outlined In the huge blocks of stone is Latin cross, emblem atic of the religion taught within when those sturdy first settlers hewed tnelr way through the wilderness to rest upon the fertile lands of Kentucky. In the yellowed leaves of an old history known as "The French Missions Tn Kentucky, Fondavora is mentioned as the home or A wealthy French family who built the place prior to 179S. Close by the enapel. and almost under the great cross carved deep in the massive stone Is a weeping willow tree, beneath whose dropping branches is buried the body of one of the French priests who long years ago foi- lowed the call of Christ Into the Ken lucky wilds.
 The place Is shrouded in mystery and the negroes living near by give 1t wide berth when the shades of night nave fallen.
 The Mysterious Dog.
 At the present time, at Fondavora, there is a red Irish setter that IS living proof of the presence of those restless spirits who refuse to lie quiet under the sod of their burial mounds
 The dog is insane!
 His attenuated frame, shifting eyes, auivering unrest and strange, cratic ac- tions give ample proof of that fact. The animal will suddenly dart aside as though lodging blow from an unseen hand, and rush madly forward as though in obedience to a sharp command heard only by his ears. Then, in an instant, and for no apparent reason, he stops suddenly, rises on his hind feet and walks several yards. Again he's off tear ing along at full speed around the place, swerving crazily to the right and left and again coming to a sudden halt and rising on his hind legs. He often repeats these actions for twenty minutes at time and then stands rigid and immov- able staring blankly ahead. He has never been seen lying down anywhere except under the old willow tree. The dog Is fortunately harmless; indeed, one cannot come within five feet of him, for he's off In an instant at anyone's approach. His food Is placed In tin pan on the south side of the chapel and if bone ia thrown to him in any other place he always carries 1t to his pan before eat ing.
 But it Is at night that the dogs ac- tons are strangest. He walks up and down and up and down the path leading from the mission chapel to the bay-win- dow in the house of Fondavora. He has often been seen to keep this up contin- uously for an hour, whining all the time in a low, terror-stricken voice. Then, after final run to the window, he goes to the willow tree, crawls into an old empty box there, curls up and goes to sleep. would any sane, healthy dog. He has never been able to stand ire and hence is of no value in the hunting field As a pet he is worthless. for he avoids everyone, but as a watchdog he is extremely valuable.
 His Lonely Vigil.
 From the double portals of the chapel, down the path leading to the bay win dow in the room of the French girl, the feet of the restless padre take their ghostly way each night in the winters rain and snow in the golden glow of a summers moon. At midnight his tall figure in it's brown cowl has been seen to emerge with stately, measured tread, as 1t did when the warm blood coursed through it's frame. From his hands a rosary sways as the long. nervous fing- CTS tell each Ave Maria" and 'Pater