The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-30

piece of documentary paper, bordered in
black.
SHE WAS NOT THE AUNT.
The paper contained a confession. 1t
stated that she was not the aunt of the
man she had SO long claimed as her
nephew, but that she was merely his
nurse. His mother 1t went on to say.
Frenchman. She fell in love with the
young nobleman who visited the Ameri-
cas- with Lafayette. Her father was
against the union, but, in spite of the
parental objection, the couple were mar
ried in secret Shortly before the birth
of their boy the young nobleman went
with La Fayette to America. The
girls parents were not aware of the
marriage, and the girl hid the child
from them. She placed it in the hands
OF the old nurse and, after swearing
ker never to reveal it's identity unless
claimed by her, she placed a large sum
Of money at the disposal of the nurse,
to be used in rearing and educating
the child The mother visited her child
frequently until it became a year old.
Then she was compelled to marry a man
selected by her father. Both soon after
ward died, leaving the secret of the
young woman's marriage to two men
and the birth of her child with the old
nurse only. This bore constantly on her
mind, the confession stated, and she
finally wrote it, and decided that the
son of her mistress child should open
the box and learn the secret of his ances-
try thirty years after her DEATH
The reading of the old woman's con-
fession was difficult matter, but it set
Mr.. Ribou's brain to work. With the
knowledge that he was a descendant of
a family of the bluest blood of France,
he hurried the same week to Paris to
IN he dc
names of the young nobleman's relatives
GRANDFATHER WAS WEALTHY.
Mr. De Ribou learned that the young
nobleman his grandfather, had been i'm
mensey wealthy. He also learned that
when the news of his death had met
with no denial, the estate, in the alb
sence of wife, was transferred to his
brother, as stated above. Among the
records Mr.. De Ribou learned that the
news of his grandfather's death came
from Cahokia, and also that he had been
buried there.
Mr. De Ribou consulted with several
French lawyers, and on their advice he
made the journey to Cahokia, visiting
the graveyard and searching for record
of the death of his grandfather
The fact that his grandfather had or
mad not died in Cahokia and whether
he had remained and left descendants
was " Uc uSeu III the legal HRnt, which
Will be started for the possession of
the estate now held by descendants of
his grandfathers brother
Mr.. De Ribou thinks that he will win
the case and become the possessor of
the large estate. He says that, according
! to the law In existence at the time of
| his 2randfather's death all of his prom
erty would go to his wife. He SAYS that
the secret marriage will be proven bv
several documents, and also the birth
OF his father as the result of the union.
Mr De Ribou would not divulge the
name of any of the parties in the case.
He said he refused this information on
the advice of his attorneys, who had not
yet entered proceedings in the courts
Tor the possession of the property.
There is much speculation in Cahokia
as to the result of Mr.. De Ribou's visit.
Several are inclined to think that his
grandfather left descendants else he
would not have copied portions of the
records and taken photographs of tomb
! stones.