Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-05-05

their journey, and the two companions
left the chateau, the caretaker refusing to
accept any payment or gratuity. The
two men rode away, reached their port Of
embarkation, and arrived safely In Eng
land.
Not many years later the elder Of the
two returned to France, and accepted the
new state OF things. The Bonaparte
government offered him an administrative
post In the north. This the count ac-
cepted, and among the other inducements
which led to his acceptance was the chance
Of calculating the mystery which con.
stantly recurrcd to his memory. A very
short time elapsed after assuming his
duties when he made inquiries as TO the
chateau and It's owners.
The story told him was that the chateau
belonged 10 the Marquis de -, a gentle
man OF great wealth and Of retired habits.
When somewhat advanced In life he had
married o girl Of low extraction but Of
great beauty-the daughter Of q peasant
who now took care Of the chateau. A
year or two after their marriage half
brother Of the marquis had left the army
and come 70 reside with his brother, aud
some months later all three disappeared
from the country together, without leav-
ing any address, the chateau being placed
under the care Of the father Of the mar
quise, an old gamekeeper. The rapid
succession Of incidents In the revolution,
by absorbing public interest, had pre-
vented inquiry. The caretaker led q
gloomy, solitary life at the chateau. He
was little seen except when he went out
TO make purchases; but he always ap-
peared to be well provided with money.
Arming himself with the necessary legal
authority, which probably lent itself easily
to the functionarics Of the statc. the count
prepared to investigate tiyomystery. He
accordingly repaired to the chateau with
the agents Of the law and priest well
known In the neighborhood, to whom the
story had been told.
On arriving at the house the caretaker
en,leavored to withstand the intrusion,
but, yielding TO force, the gate was opened,
and the count and the priest proceeded
straight to the room where the incident
had occurred.
~ think" said the priest, "thls affair
at present belongs more to me than to
the law. Allow me to spend the night
here alone. All require Is n lantern and
pistol. There will be force within hear
ing. but I believe the mystery will he
solved more easily by one man than by
many" The brave old mans offer was
accepted. The count and his attendants
pasted themselves In other parts Of the
house, keeping the caretaker with them.
a fire was lighted In tin, large room, and
the priest was left there alone with his
prayer book.
lie had not remained long when the
figure appeared bcckoning him. and he M
I'll 10
the door, always looking from time TO
Il led the way through long corridor,
then into rom which still contained NIL
the appearance Of lady's. In the corner
was q small staircase, down which the
priest descended in obedience to the
small vcs:ibulc which led into chapel
The figure walked slowly up the aisle,
asccnded the steps Of the altar, then sud-
yodisappcar.
The priest, following with his lantern,
perceived after some search brass ring
on the very spot where the figure had
vanished. II was evidently the handle Of
gap door, which. however, resisted all the
attempts of the priest to raise II. lie fred
his pistol, AMI sOon the cuunt and his at
ten,iants came TO his help.
The door raised, u steep ladder stair
case le,l into the vault. At the bottom Of
the ladder lay human skeleton, dressed
in clothes similar TO those worn by the
apparition and with beard still hanging
TO the chin. \ ring was on the finger.
The caretakcr made little difficulty In
conicssing the real facts. The marquis,
who was man II the kindest disposition,
and lad treated his brother with I'M
wonic,l indulgence, had discovered that
too intimate relations 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 aud conveyed his body along the
passage through which the figure had led
the priest. The carctaker was taken into
confidence, AMI left 10 look after the
house and property, while the criminal
couple had left the country and were liv-
ing in Belgium under an assumed name.
supplied with money by the wOman's
father, the carctlkcr, from the resources
Of the property, To which the half brother
was the natural heir. lie 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 was related with great dra-
matte force aud un,loubtcd good faith.
The lady declared TO me that she fully be-
lievcd the story had been officially re-
corded In the archives Of some municipal
or provincial department In France. She
was 10y birth Of considerable rank, and
meml'crs Of her family had been in close
friendship with many emigrcs. She prom
ised 10 let me know II she ever heard Of Il
again. but saw little Of her afterward,
aud she Is now dead. II would be inter
eSting 90 kn,w whether her narrative had
any foundation. Soinc one who may have
heard this tale may supply the informa.
tion. have never heard II from any
other source nor Rad of II In any book.
The narrator told me that those who
had first related the story were evidently
believers IN It's truth.-H. Drummond
Wolf In Mnrray's Magazine.
Miserable uomea On India.