Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-26
yet It is quite possible that put them too

Yet It is quite possible that T put them too
near the edge Of the Stair
"And they fell Off" interrupted her sister;
land as to the spur, you forgot, after all, to
| TO bring It down-isnt that itf'
| Miss c. Anna smiled. 'Weu, truth to tell,
| It is up stairs sent Maria to see," she said,
adding: "But, any way, my dear, the joy Of
ghostly experience is in the telling, and
you can tell this thrilhngly." Miss Lillian
/ shivered and made no further remark till
they had studied some time over the old ooc-
ument, which during her sisters last words
she had spread out on her lap. The parch-
ment was yellow, the ink faded with age.
! But they were able to read the following:
To all Christian People to whom these Presents
Shall Come Know ye that Stephen Ashley (prsn't)
j of Gienfeld, In the County Of Hampshire, In His
Matesties Donmaine of Mass'tts Bay In New Eng
land and Rebecca bis wife, for Divers Good
| Causes and Considerations them Moving, but
peciaily for and In consideration of Twenty
| Pounds of Money In hand paid TO him BY Jean J.
| Dubeauvaisseau
When they had made out but the first part
| of this Last name Miss Lillian grasped her sis
ter by the arm, for q moment seeming too
! cACltc4 W Spc1A. tucu Poui GU Oue VIC AOAOV-
ing stream Of words to her astonished sister,
who was studying the deed with quiet inter
est:
"Oh, don't you sect Dubeau, Dubeau-oh,
that was what it was all for-oh, it all seems
like a story, only more wonderful! Oh, Nan,
don't look so stupid Don't you know how
HaIleck's ancestor was Comte de Beauvais-
seau, e1,Ied forever from French soil-on
d L. L>I 1<r1 Ill
Nine. de Pompadour"
Poor Miss c. Annals brain evidently did
not arrive at conclusions with the electric
ouickness Of Miss Lillian BIS But together
they read the rest Of the document, relating
to how Stephen Ashley and his wife ''Guit
claimed" forever to infinitely described
house lot, and did all things that could make
it entirely and absolutely" the property Of
''said Jean j. Dubeauvaisseau. "Signed
and sealed Ammo Douini 1884" It did in
deed seem evident that this house lot was that
on which their house stood. Miss Lilians
excitement increased and it was useless for
tho 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 discon-
certed at being expected to answer about
twenty questions at once. But with joyful
CLEAN in his eye. and satisfied smile on his
lips, as be read, did he admit this ancient
deed to be the missing link, long sought, to
clearly prove who had built this house. I'm
doubtedly the builder had been this exiled
French count, who had made the secret stairs
for the public good In those troublous times,
and also according to town legend, as safe
guard against a 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 CHANGED 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 had no
desire to die, in fair fight or otherwise, thus
leaving a young wife and child unprotected
in the world.
Yet, the legends said he at length became
careess-time passing without his being dis
turbed-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
TO death by law. Failing in this plan, he at
length, accompanied by two Indians, sur
prised the count in his house, when wife and
I child were absent on visit. Hearing sud
denly stealthy steps and the tinkle of spurs
tone of which may have been lost on the oc-
casionl, the count attempted escape by means
of the secret stairs. But the ladder was not
in its place, and, returning on the NOR
row, the young wife had found her husband
] lying dead on the cellar bottom The history
/ of the widow and her little son was not
! known. Still the date Of the deed and other
points conceded with the few known of Hal
leck Dubeaux's ancestor. The name had
naturally suffered change during the years
This only living defendant of N. lie Comte
de Beauenisseau, when he first learned these
facts relating to his ancestors life and death
| in America, was sitting in his studio IN New
York They came to him in an astonishing
letter from young lady who was always
astonishing him. Like her, as he read first a
ghostly experience, then historical ex-
planasion, which an inclosed document made
seem probable-he thought it like strange
tale from book, only he apostrophi1ed it as
sounding like yarn.
Still, whats Hecuba to me, or I to
Hecubsr might have expressed his perplexed
state of mind. For no personal observations
did the writer make till near the end
| The final sheet read:
! So here we are pretending to own the house of
your ancestor. But all these romantic associa-
! lions make the house more yours than ours
cannot bear to think Of your coming and carry
ing the associations off. for / have SO wished
for them since we came. Yet it was you
! who should have inherited the house, not l. after
all But am very deep, and have IN my mind
dark scheme. L offer you hriba promise to
give you something you have said you should
like, and then, perhaps you will let share
your romance with you II you Will accept the
bride, como. Lillian.
A friend Of Dubeeuxs coming in just then
found'him in the highest spirits, and asked
thereupon If the big landscape called "Gler-
field Meadows" bad sold NO the young
artist replied, al have Just received re-
markable and unexpected Inheritance from
o French ancestor" The friend stared, but
though questioned Dubeaux gave no further
Information on the subject.
This bit OF news was repeated about town,
and none except favored few ever learned
that the actual inheritance was only pair
! of pointed shoes These curious objects had
! the place of tonor IN the studio g year later,
when Mr. ard Mrs. Halieck Dubeaux were in
their winter quarters.-H. S, Williams in
! Springfield Republican
/ President Lincoln was assuredly believer
in frss rrsde His characterization rroolar,a