Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-23

something caught her eye on the lower
stair.
By her own movements or the move
| ments of something else, as Miss Lillian
still believes-the insecure board forming
! the stair had been moved from its place.
In the box ike space thas disclosed, lay
what proved to be an ancient and folded
piece of paper.
/ Miss Lillian seized il eagerly, exclaim-
ing: 1T may be something!" and made
her sister examine the place from which
she took it.
Rats nest," sail her sister laconicalIy.
and, though Miss Lillian objected, she
would let her explain neither her position
on the stairs, nor her ambiguous remark
about the paper, until she had been help
ed up and then down stairs, and received
a treatment TO prevent an Influenza.
At last estoned in an easy chair before
the fire, her sister beside her, she told her
story.
Nov then, know. of course, that you
think l dreamed this. But please go and
see where those shoes are" said Miss
Lillian lowering her tone, as she spoke the
last words. Miss G. Anne made no re-
mark and did as requested. Returning
presently she said, but quite calmly
They are, my dear, on the cellar bot
| tom. Yet, it is quite possible that 7 put
them too near the foot Of the stair"
"And they fell off," interrupted her
sister; "and as TO the spur, you forgot
after ali TO bring il down-isn't that
it?''
Miss G, Anua smiled. 'iWell, truth to
| tell, il is up stairs. SEM Maria TO see,"
she said; adding: "but anyway, my dear,
! the 10y of ghostly experience is in the
| telling, and yoR can tell this thrillingIy."
Miss Lillian sh;vereo and made no furth er
remark till they had studied some time
over the old document, when, during her
sisters last words she had spread out on
her lap. The parchment was yellow, the
ink faded with age. But they were able
TO read the following
| To all Christian People to whoom these Pre-
SentS shall Come Know ye that stephen Ashley
/ (prsn0 of Gienfesd, in the County of Hamshire,
In His MaJestieS Domaine of alass'ttS Bay in New
| England and Rebecca, his wife, for Divers Good
| Causes and Considerations them Moving but es-
! pecialy for and in Consideration of Twenty Pound
| of Money in hand paid to him by Jean j. Dubeau
vaisseau.
When they had made out bat the first
part of this last name, Miss Lillian grasp
ed her companion by the arm. for mo
uent too excited to speak, then pouring
out the following stream Of words to her
a5tonished sister, who was studying the
deed with quiet INTEREST,"
ooh, don't you see? Dubeau, Dabeau
| oh, that Was what IL Yves all for-oh, it
ali seems like story, only more wonder
full! oh, Nan dou't look so stupid! Don't
you know how Halleck's ancestors was
| Comte de Beauvissaeu, exiled forever
from French soil penalty of death
because he had offended Madame DC
| Pom pRdour!
Poor Miss G. Annals brain did not ar
rive a conclusions with the electric
quickness Of Miss Lillian BIS. But to-
gether they read the rest of the docu-
nent relating to how Stephen Ashley
and his wife, quit claim I'd forever, TO a
infinitely described house lot, and did all
things that could make it entirely and
absolutely the property OF the said Jean
j. Beauvaisseau. Signed anu sealed
Ammo Dommipa 1874. Is did, indeed.
seem evident that this house lot was that
on which their house stood. Miss Lilian's
excitement increased and it was useless
FOR the sister to urge not visiting the.
antiquary, Mr.. Hidden, till another day
She must go at once, SO go at once they
both did.
That good gentleman was somewhat
disconnected at being expected TO answer
about 90 questions at once. But with a
joyful CLEAN in his eye, and satisfied
smile on his lips, as he read, did he admit
this ancient deed to be the missing link,
long sought, to clearly prove who had
built this house. Undoubtedly the builder
had been Ills exilad French count, who
had made the secret stairs for the public
good, in those tToublous times, and elso.
according 10 town legend, as d safeguard
against 2 bitter personal enemy-a man
devoted to the Pompadour.
In fair fight Or otherwise this enemy
had vowed to kill the count, and soon
after the counts exile, had chanced to be
sent to occupy high official position in
New France. This meant danger for Jean
Dubeauvaisseau, as he was now called, who
could have no desire 10 Gle, in fair fig ht
or otherwise, thus leaving a young wife
and child unprotected in the world
Yet, the legends said, he at length be-
came careiess-time passing without his
being disjUrbed-and often hunted on
the possessions OF that king who had
robbed him OF his own. His enemy was
only waiting, hoping to take him on the
forbidden soil in order to put him 20
death by law. Failing in this plan, he at
length, accom- panied by two Indians sur
| prised the c0unt in his house, when wife
| and child were absent on q visit. Hear
i ing suddenly stealthy steps and the tinkie
| Of spurs Zone of Which may havs been
| lost ca the Occasionl, the count attem pit
| ed csc 4pe by means OF the secret stairs.
But the ladder was not IN its place, and,
returning on the morrow, the young wife
mad fouGd her husband lying dead on the
cellar bottom. The history Of the wild ow
and her little son was not known. Till,
the date of the deed, and other points,
conceded with the few known of HaIeck
| Dubeaux's ancestor. The name had nat
urally suffered change during the years.
The only living descendant of NJ. lie
Come de Beauyaisseau, when he first
learned these facts relating TO his ances
tors life and death in America, was sit
ting in his studio in New York. They
came TO him IL an astonishing letter
from young lady who always astonished
| him. Like her, when he first read a
| ghcstly experience. tLen a historical ex
made seem probable, he thought il like
strange tale from book, only he apos-
ophiz d is as sounding like yarn.
Still, whats Hecuba to me, or I to
Hecuba:' might have ex pressed his per-
picked state of mind. For no personal
| observations did the writer make till
near the end.
The final sheet said
| So here we are pretending to own the house of
| your ancestor. But all these romantic associa-
tons make the house more yours than ours.
| cannot bear 10 III nix ofsyour coming and carry
ing the associations off for I have so wished for