The San Francisco call., 1907-03-17


himself aud from whom ne hoped to
receive supreme JUNCTION al the solemn
hour which, by all the signs could be
but few days distant at the best.
The family at Cote-du-Nord, being very
pious people. were delighted, and with
all possible haste they sent NJ. de Bazus'
valet TO bring the confessor who had
been designated TO the house. Quite
suddenly. however. the old monsieur
was in eztremis. They hastened for the
nearest priest. who lived at some dis
iance.
In the meantime a messenger was
sent to the convent. aud Mile De Bazus
hurried to her grandfather. when she
reached the house and entered the
death chamber the ominous rattle was
already sounding in the old mans
throat Recognizing that 81 was too
late now for them TO hope for the
blessed comfort Of the saeraments be
ing received by her grandfather. she
lay upon his breast a cTucihN 10 which
indulgencss were attached for good
death. and beseeohed him to dedicate
himself to st. Anne. A moment after
ward NJ de Basus breathed HIS last. and
when the priest arrived it was too late
10 do aught than try as best he could
to console the sorrowing family. The
funeral took place two days later, and
the last day OF the year saw NJ. de
Bazus. the last of the male lire to bear
that name. laid away under the chest
nut trees or the little parish burial
ground
The mourners returned 10 the coun-
try house al Cooe-du- Nord 10 take up
once more the even tenor Of the same
nnevcutfuI existence which had been
the characteristic charm of the old
piece ever since the close Of The Revo-
luton. Like most happy homes. that
Of Cote-du- Nord had little history. No
deed OF violence had ever desecrated
the serenity OF its quiet and peaceful
several OF the family had lost their
heads during the Reign OF Terror. but
that had happened in Paris. far re-
moved from any association with the
life and environment OF Cote-du-Nord.
And anyway the family Of De Bazus
were a singulariy matter OF fact. in
deed one might almost say totally
unimaginative, race of people, the sort
OF people in fact 10 whom nothing
strange or interesting ever happens or
is likely TO happen. Consequently they
did not for a moment anticipate any
OF the series OF strange happenings
which were soon TO follow the death of
monsieur.
The first OF these phenomena took
place precisely one week from the date
Of the funeral. A few minutes past
il o'clock at night clementine. an old
servant Of the family. came rushing
into the drawing room. screaming, her
face white with terror. She declared
that she had Just seen NJ. de Bazus. her
beloved old master. and that he had
spoken TO her. Clementine had for
many years occupied the bedroom next
10 that OF the deceased. so as TO be
ready 10 wait upon him should he need
her services in the night She had been
in the employ OF the family for more
esteemed not only as a conscientious
servant but as woman OF unusual in
telligence and unquestioaable veracity.
She was. moreover. very devout
woman. and had been personally known
TO Father Lfot for as many years as
Ehe had been in the service Of the De
Bazus family. The monsieur had been
her special charge for many years.
When he needed anything in the night
he was accustomed TO give several lit
tie rsps with a big gold snufbox
which he always kept on the reading
table beside him. Being accustomed to
these little raps. she never failed to
awaken and TO go to her masters bed
side.
On this particular night she was
awakened out OF a deep sleep by the
little raps OF the snunbox. so she de-
clared. At first she naturally thought
she was dreaming, and tried TO go 10
sleep again. But no sooner had sho
settled herself when the knocking be-
gan again. This time she sat up in bed
and listened intently. and it seemed TO
her that some one waa walking about
in the room OF the deceased, a room
which. since the death Of n de Bazus.
had thus far remained untenaated. AS
the sound continued. clemeqtine. being
now wide awake, said 20 herself aloud:
1T is one Of the servants who is trying
to. play joke on me ! viii SO IN
immediately and send her 10 bed" She
lit her candle. threw q shawl about her
shoulders and. stepping very softly to-
ward the room, opened the door
abruptly.
What did she see?
Her dead master. walking up and
down. dressed as in his life time. she