Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-20
IT WAS FIT FOR A QUEEN.
The House That Daniel Pike Built
for His intended Bride.
BUT sHssbEseRTEo HIN
And the Costly Mansions and Elab-
crate furnishings Went
TO Ruins-A Romantic
~ Tale. HYE5

l
The inhabitants OF New Providence,
N. j., were recently startled by sound {,
as OF an earthquake. Instantly every
one rushed TO the street only to discover
that the noise was caused by the falling
of the tower on the old Pike mansion,
utterly destroying the whole structure,
When the cloud of dust had passed away
it was found that heap of ruins was all
that was left Of one OF the handsomest
residences ever built on the Upper Pas
sale. Tho beautiful Corinthan col
umns we're thrown outward and crushed
into pieces, and several children who
were playing in the neighborhood were
| injured.
A ROMANTIC TALE.
This ends one stage OF one Of the most
| romantic tales that ever hinged on n
| faithless woman's love. The story reads
like fiction, but it is nevertheless true
| one, although few are now living who
can remember all the incidents con-
| nected with it.
Seventy years ago Daniel Pike was
handsome New Yorker, the only son of
wealthy parents, and remarkably sue
cesstul business man. He was q great
social favorite. In spite of the traps set
for him by the mammas of fair daugh-
ters ne re mained q bachelor. He finally
became attached to young French girl
whose family had recently arrived in
America, and whose father had engaged
in business near young Pixies store on
RrnndwnV Tho 1a1u Niyi-
enDe de Cerne. Her family was con-
nected with the royal family OF France,
but had left that country for political
reasons Miss de Cerne was great
favorite in New York society. She was
an exquisite beauty. She was perfect
blonde. She possessed form such as
sculptors rave about, eyes shaded by
gracefully dropping lids and long silken
lashes; a mouth forming perfect
Cupid's bow, and classic features, en-
livened with modern humanity.
BATTLING FOR A MAIDEN,
Bitter was the contest for the young
prize after a long siege. He was then
interested in real estate speculation at
New Providence, ,.on the line of the Nor
ris g. Essex railroad, then just COM
pleted. The couple decided that after
marriage they would spend most of each
year at New Providence, which being
but fifteen miles from New York would
be convenient to- Pixies place of busi-
ness. That his bride might have
home wholly in keeping with her
beauty, birth and culture, young Pike
selected a commanding site with charm
ing surroundings for. as fine u mansion
as money could build.
With the aid of the most skillful arch
itects and artisans in the city he erected
veritable palace. The extensive
grounds around the growing structure
were laid out by the most skillful land
scape gardeners! Beautiful groves of
maple, pine and horse-chestnuts bor-
dered the property. Finally, at a cost
Of million dollars, all was completed.
The editice was stately and imposing.
A graceful tower, 100 feet high, over
looked the larger part of the upper
Passaic Valley. Massive Corinthian
columns added classic beauty to the
front view. Costly statues, fountains,
rare plants and flowers dotted the lawn
and filed the conservatory. The inter-
ior of the mansion was sumptuous in its
appointments. Grand Railways with
marble floors and sides carved with plate
glass mirrors, abounded everywhere.
All that fertile brain, melted by love
and aided with wealth, could plan for
the perfection Of an earthly paradise
was done.
MARRIED TO RIVAL.
While young Pike was thus absorbed
| in his labor of love, Miss Vivienne's
| other admirers and suitors continued
| their attentions. Before the marriage
| day her affections become alienated
| from her affianced, and her sudden Sc
cret marriage with John Durand, the
leading fop:of the day, took place. The
agony Of the Tilted lover was indescrib-
able. His life was hopelessfy blasted.
life and death. When he re-
| covered he resolved that the
| handsome residence at New Providence
| should be n monument to the memory of
the tickle girl. 1t was closed up just as
| it stood, furniture, bric-a-brac and all,
and has never been inhabited. In ac-
cordance with his previous plans, young
| Pike removed to New Providence, and
since has lived in a remote portion of
| he may still be met, an aged and broken
hearted man.
| Soon strange stories were told about
| ghostly visitors at the mansion. Lights
| at midnight were seen, groans and the
| rattling of chains were heard. Horses
could not be driven in the vicinity at
certain hours of the night, and but few
people cared 10 venture very near at
any time of the day. So the neglected
| villa and its valuable furnishings were
| unmolested.
Last winter, on cold night, tramp
failing to find shelter, walked up to the
mansion and ruthlessly battered in
window, and on entering was astonished
to find the house completely furnished.
He entered ono Of the chambers, and his
cold, aching body sank into the softest
down and was covered by the finest
blankets and silk spreads. Over his
resting place hung a canopy
of silk and lace. His torn
and dirty clothing covered
chairs whose dainty upholstering caused
an ejaculation OF surprise even from the
hardened tramp. His hat covered the
top of statue Of Mercury. This was the
room prepared for the bride. No un-
earthly visitant marred his dreams.
When the tramp departed he evidently
thought it no sin to possess himself of
sundry articles as mementos OF his
escape from freezing to death.
| DEsPoILING THE MANSION.
| Coon affair this hraakinp Of the ice as