Evening star., 1928-11-08

Mrs: Bluebearc's house, after her hus-
bands lmtifnely death at the hands Of
her brothers fyogt viii remember the
old story, looked into the <churchyArd
where the monument OF the late Blue
beard was placed over the family vault
Here Mrs. Bluebeard lived alone with
her sister Anne, seeing only. the parson
Of the parish, whoHwas 10 and past the
age Tor scandal
Several officers, however, tried to win
the Widow Bluebeard's attention. among
them one Capt. Blackboard. His rever-
ence the parson highly applauded her
Spurning all the officers, but at the same
time. the parson urged that the widow
should iendeavor to divert her grief by
a little respectable society. DR.. Sly, as
he was called, introduced her to several
people of his acquaintance, all married,
however, and not dangerous.
1t happened that the doctor had
nephew, who was lawyer in London,
the long vacation to pay visit to his
reverend uncle. The widow consented
to receive Mr.. Sly for his uncle'S sake,
who well recommended him. He was
not a handsome man, certainly, but he
was good, and that Is something.
Mr.. Sly came there to dinner and
he came to tea, and he drove out with
the widow in the carriage, and at
church he handed the psalm book; and,
in short, he paid her every attention
which could be expected from so polite
q young gentleman. At this the town
began to talk, and people In towns WILL
Anne heard these rumors, and urged
the widow to diSpel them by letting
others come to see her. Widow Blue
beard finally gave in, dressed herself in
charming half mourning and at last
even Capt. Blackboard was introduced.
But DR.. Sly and his nephew never could
abide the captain. Soon after this the
place was haunted with Bluebeard'S
ghost
John Thomas, the footman. happened
to leave his cane in Bluebeard'S vault
overnight. The next morning the cof1n
had been turned around and the cane
was broken. Seeing portrait Of Blue
beard, the footMan Swore 1t was like
ness of the man he had seen walking
around in the vault. The apparition was
seen at midnight, and that night Fatima,
Bluebeard's widow, had also heard a
voice as though of her dead husband
speaking to her.
The next night it happened again.
and Fatima saw Bluebeard himself
standing in the door of the tomb, his
great blue beard curling over his chest.
Sister Anne saw the vision as well as
Fatima. But the footman could not see
it. What could the ghost want by ap-
pearing in this way?
Fatima consulted q wizard for advice.
This necromancer agreed to e'1 up the
ghost so that Fatima could ask her hus-
bands shade what she should do about
a second marriage; whom she should
marry If she did.
At midnight three figures were seen
60. 9f,,~1 At~ lA.%1
and pass through the churchyard turn
stile and so away among the graves
There was no moon; the night was
pitch dark.
Here's the gate. Kneel down." said
the wizard. The women knelt down.
viii you see your first husband OF
your second huSband?"
Il will see Bluebeard first" said the
widow. II shall know whether this be
a mockery or you have the power you
pretend to-"
At this the wizard uttered an mean
tation, so frightful and Of such incom-
prehensible words that 1t is impossible
for mortal man to repeat them. Al
the end he called Bluebeard. There was
no sound. He called again. The cock
began to crow, dog began to howl, ar
owl toowhooed, and there came from
within the vault dreadful voice:
Who wants me?"
Kneeling in front of the tomb, the
necromancer went on with his ineanta.
tions. AS he spoke the sounds we're re.
peated. AS he continued a number o!
ghosts rose from their grave and ad.
vanced around the kneeling figures ir
q circle. AS he concluded, with louc
bang, the door OF the vault few open
and there in blue light stood Bluebearc
in his blue uniform, waving his blut
sword and flashing his blue eyes around
about