Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-07-13

itself easily 10 the functionaries of the
state, the count prepared TO investi-
gate the mystery. He accordingly re-
paired 10 the chateau with the agents
of the law, and a priest we'll known
in the neighborhood, 10 whom the
story had been told.
On arriving at the house the care
taker endeavored 10 withstand the
intrusion. but yielding 10 force, the
gate was opened and the count and
the priest proceeded straight 10 the
room where the incident had occurred.
Il think. said the priest, this af-
fair at present belongs more 10 me
than the law Allow me To spend the
night here alone. All | require is a
lantern and a pistol. There will be
force within hearing bat believe the
mystery will be better solved by one
man than by man.. The brave
mans offer was accepted. The count
and his attendants posted themselves
in other parts of the house, taking
the caretaker with them. \ fire was
lighted in the large room, and the
priest was left there alone with his
prayer book.
He had not remained long when
the figure appeared beckoning him
L.. sA
passed through the door, always look
ing from time 10 time to see If the
priest was behind. lt led the way
through long corridor, then into u
room which still contained all the APP
pearance of a lady's. In the corner
was a staircase, down which the
priest descended, in obedience TO the
summons of the aparition. lt led TO
small vestibule which led into IA
chapel. The figure walked slowly up
the aisle, ascended the steps of the
altar, then suddenly disappeared.
The priest following with his Ian
tern, perceived, after some search, II
brass ring on the very spot where the
figure had vanished. 1t was evidently
the handle of ii trap door, which,
however. resisted all the attempts OF
the priest to raise it, He fired the
pistol, and soon the count and his at
tendants came 10 his help.
The door raised, step ladder stair
ease led into the vault. At the bot
tom of the ladder lay human skele-
ton dressed in clothes similar TO those
worn by the aparition and with n
beard still hanging to the chin. y
ring was on his finger.
The caretaker made little difficulty
in confessing the real facts. The mar
auis. who was man of the kindest
disposition. and had treated his
brother with unwonted indulgence,
had discovered that too intimate re-
lations existed between him and his
wife. Frightened at his orders To
them to leave the house, the two had
murdered him as he slept in the large
room and conveyed his body along
the passage through which the fig
ure had led the priest. The caretaker
was taken into confidence, and left
to look after the 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 caretaker, from the resources Of
the property, to which the half brother
was the natural heir. He and the
woman were brought back to France
tried and executed.
This story was told me nearly forty
years ago, at Jersey during the year
OF the first exhibition. Though in
simple language, it is related with
great dramatic force and undoubted
good faith The lady declared to me
that she fully believed the story had
been officially recorded IN the archives
OF municipal or provincial department
in France. She was by birth Of con
siderable rank, and members Of her
family had been in close friendship
with many emigres. She promised TO
let me know if she ever heard Of il
again. but | saw little Of her after
ward and she is now dead. 1t would
be interesting TO know whether her
narrative had any foundation. Some
one who may have heard this tale
may supply the information; ] have
never heard it from any other source
nor read of it in any book. The mar
rator told me that those who had first
related the story were evidently be-
levers in struth. AUTdy's AogdziHe.