The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-05-04

and some months later all three
! disappeared from the country TO-
gether, without leaving any ad-
dress, the chateau being placed un-
der the care of the father of the
Marquise, an old gamekeeper. The
rapid succession of incidents in the
Revolution, by absorbing public
interest, had prevented inquiry.
The caretaker led a gloomy solitary
life at the chateau. He was little
seen accept when he went out TO
make purchases but he always
appeared TO be we'll provided with
| money.
Aiming himself with the neces-
sary legal authority, which proba-
bly, lent itself easily to the func-
tionaries of the State, the Count
prepared to investigate the myste-
ry. He accordingly repaired to the
chateau with the agents of the law,
and a priest well known in the
neighborhood, to whom the story
had been told.
On arriving at the house the
caretaker endeavored to Withstand
the intrusion, but yielding to force.
the gate opened, and the Count and
the priest proceeded straight to the
room where the incident had oc-
Cured.
II think" said the priest, this
affair at present belongs more to
me than to the law. Allow me to
spend the night here alone. All |
require is lantern and a pistol.
There will be force within hearing,
but l believe the mystery can be
solved more easily by one than by
many" The brave old mans offer
was accepted. The Count and his
attendants posted themselves in
other parts of the house, keeping
The caretaker with them. A fire
was lighted in the large room, and
the priest was left there alone with
his prayer book.
lie had not remained long when
the figure appeared beckOning to
him, and he at once rose 10 follow.
1t passed through the door, always
looking from time to time 10 see
that the priest was behind. 1t led
The way through a long corridor,
then into a room which still con-
tanned all the appearances of a la
dy's. In the corner was a small
staircase down which the priest de-
scended in obedience to the sum
mons of the appariation. 1t led 10
small vestibule which opened in
to a chapel. The figure walked |
slowly up the aisle, ascended the |
steps OF the altar, then suddenly |
disappeared.
The priest, following with his
lantern, perceived after some
search a brass ring on the very spot
where the figure had vanished. 1t
was evidently the handle of trap
door, which, however, resisted all |
the attempts of the priest to raise
it. He fired his pistol, and soon
the count and his attendants came |
to his help.
The door raised, a steep ladder
staircase led into a vault. AT the
bottom OF this ladder lay a human
skeleton, dressed in clothes similar
to those worn by the apparition,
and with a beard still hanging OH
the chin. A ring was on the finger
The caretaker made little diff
Guilty in cOntessing the real facts.
The Marquis, who. was a man of
The kindest disposition, and had
treated his half-brother with I'M
indulgence, had discovered
hat too intimate relations existed
between him and his orders TO
Ieave the house, the two had mur-
1ered him as he slept in the large
room, and conveyed his body along
he passage through which the fig
ire had led the priest. The care !
aker was taken into confidence
md lett to look after the house and
while the criminal cou.
lie han left the country and were
living in Belgium under an as
umed name, supplied with money ,
" the women's father, the care
aker, from the resources of the
TO which the half brother ,
vas the natural heir. He and the
Woman were brought back to
france tried and executed.
This story was told me nearly
ortv years ago, at Jersey, during
he year of the Exhibition. Though
n simple language, 1t was related
With great dramatic force and un-
Ioubted good faith. The lady de-
Jared 10 me that she fully believed
he story had been officially re-
orded in the archives Of some I
lunicipal or provincial depart
lent in France. She was by birth
{ considerable rank, and her lam
" had been In close friendship /
nth many emigres. She promised I
o let me know if she eyer heard
f it again but saw little Of her
fterward, and she is now dead.
{ would be interesting to know
whether her narrative had any
Oundation. Some one who may
ave heard this tale may supply
he information. | have never
Ieard 1t from any other source nor
cad it in any book. The narrator
old me that those who had first re-
ated the story were evidently be-
Iorroro - sfe fw.,fh