The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-25

quis, an old gamekeopcr The rapid sue
cession OF incidents In the revelation by
absorbing public interest, had prevented
inquiry. The caretakcr led a gloomy,
solitary life ut the chateau. lie was little
seen except when no went out 10 make
purchases; but he always appeared TO be
well provided with money.
Aiming himself with the necessary legal
authority, which probably lent itselioasily
10 the functionarics OF tho Stale, the count
prepared TO investigate the mystery lie
accordingly repaired 20 the chateau with
the agents OF the law, and priest, we'll
known in the neighborhood, 10 whom the
story had been told.
On arriving at the house tho carttaker
endeavored 20 Withstand the intrusion,
but yielded TO force, the gate was opened,
and the count and the priest proceeded
straight TO the room where the incident
had occurred.
81 think" said the priest, ''this affair at
present belongs more TO me than 10 the
law. Allow me TO spend the night here
alone. All | require Is n lantern and n
pistol. There viii lie iove within hear
ing, but i believe the mystery can be
solved more easily by one man than by
many" The brave old mans offer was
accepted. The oornt and his attendants
posted themselves In other paris OF the
house, keeping the oareiakcr with them.
fire wa lighted in the large NON, and
the priest was left there alone with his
praycrlOok.
lie had not remainei long. when the
figure appeared Reckoning 10 him, and he
al onoc rUse 10 follow. ID passed. through
the door, always looking from time o.
time 10 see thai the pries; was behind. IL
led the way through = long corridor. then
into a room which SILL contained an the
appearance Of lady's In the corner Vac
a small siairc.se. down which the prics,
descended in Obedience 20 the summons OF
the sppariiion. Ii lt-i 10 a small yesiibule
which opened into n chapel The fgun,
walked slowly up % the aisle, assembled
the steps OF the altar, then suddenly dis
The priest, following with his lantern.
perceived after some search n has Ting |
0n the very spot where The figune had |
vanished. II was evidently the handle OF /
4 tTap-door, which, however. resisted al
The attempts u the prizes, 90 raise II. lie
bred his pistol, and soon the count and
bis attendants came 20 his help.
The door raised, steep lai1er-staircase
led into vault. Al the bottom Of the
ladder lay human skeleton, dressed In
clothes similar 70 thosc worn by the appar.
iiion, and with beard still hanging 20
the chin. A ring was on the finger
The carciakOr made little difficulty In
confcssing the real facts. The marquis.
who was a man Of the kindcst disposition,
and had treated his half.broihcr with un.
wonted indulgence, had discovered that
too intimate relations existed between him
and hiswite. Frightened NJ hs orders 10
them 10 leave the house, the two had muir.
dcrcd him IN he slept In the large room, aud |
his body along the passage |
through which the figure had led the |
priest. The carclakcr was taken into con. |
fidence, and left 10 look after tho house |
and property, while the criminal couple |
had left the country and were living In |
Belgium under an assumed name, supplied |
with money by the woman's father, the |
carctaker, from the resources III the prop
crty, to which the half.brother was the
natural heir. lie and the woman were
brought back 10 France, tried and CA.
ecutcd.
This story was told me nearly forty
years ago, At Jersey, during tho year Of
tho first exhibition. Though In simple
language II was related with great dramat.
ic force and undoubicd good faith The
laly declared 10 me that she fully believed
the story had been officially recorded In
the arvhivcs Of some municipal or pro.
ylncial department h France. She was
by birth u considerable mnk, and mem.
bcrs Of her family had been In close friend.
ship With many cmigTcs. She promised
30 LET me know u she ever hearl Of Il
again; but saw little Of her afierwan,l.
and she Is nov dead. II would be inter.
csting 10 know whether her narrative had
any foundation. Some one who may have
heard this tale may supply the inlorma.
ton. have never heard u from amy
source nor mad Of II IN any book. The
narrator told me that those who had hrst
related the story were evidently believers
In iis truth. H. Dammond HSlg N Nur.
rdy's Magazine.