Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-05-13
A Story of Old
New York.
IOriginal.l

to make way for business blocks. One
of the last to be demolished was the |
Van Genkin house, originally built in |
what was then the country.
In the early part of the nineteenth |
century this house was already more
than 100 years old. Passing the door
way, with windows at each side and |
an arched one above-a universal con !
struction during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries-one would enter
q large square apartment from which
staircase, turning at right angles, led
to the second story. Directly opposite
the door, between the first and second
angle, was a window of stained glass.
Only the family occupying the house
knew that it was stained, because a
curtain was always kept over it. Why
this was done no one seemed to know.
1t was a tradition of the family that
the window must be kept covered.
One hot summer nlght-it was about
1S20-Anne van Genkin and Robert
Wryn, young naval officer who had
seen service in the war Of 1872, were
sitting In this apartment, which was
the living room of the family. Miss
van Genkin was the sole prospective
heir to her parents estate. and they
had set their hearts on her marrying
Hubert van Genkin, a descendant of
another branch OF the family, who
possessed a farm on the northern end
| of Manhattan Island, already promis-
ing to be Of considerable value. In
deed, today 1t is worth millions But
| Anne's heart had been exchanged for
| that of young Lieutenant Wryn, and
the match with her relative was re-
pulsive to her. Nevertheless, having
been brought up to obey her parents In
such matters, as girls were in those
days, she had no thought Of refusing
them in this instance. Besides, she
realized the Importance Of doubling
the family wealth and knew that Wryn
had nothing but his pay in the navy.
One evening Wryn was pleading a
hopeless cause. Anne was firm in her
determination to carry out the plan
laid down for her.
81 have used every argument" said
Wryn at last land have no more to
bring forward. We sail. IL the wind is
| lulLy IOAuOALOW AOA tIC
and when I return-I hope never
shall return-you will belong to an
other"
"You have not used every argu-
ment," said the girl. '"There is one
that is known only to the members Of
this family. and that Is only ira
dition."
"What ia itT'
''That Van Genlxin shall not marry
a Van Genkin."
.And whyT'
ct don't know. Two Van Genkir
brothers came to America a century
and a half ago. Something occurred
between them to give rise to this ira
dition."
There was a pause in the converse
ton. The lieutenant was thinking
how he might use this information {,
advantage, the girl brooding over hav
Ing to act contrary to her wishes. i
storm was gathering without
ooh, for a breath of ARR Anne ex
claimed, swinging her fan.
I'm going up the staircase to opel
the window"
"You can't" ea
IT can try"
Wryn went up to the window an
began series Of jerks to open It. Fl
failed to do so, but the curtain ths
covered It, old and rotten, suddenl
came tumbling down. Satisfying hin
: self that the window was screwed
. the casing, he gave up the attempt an
rejoined Miss Van Genkin.
: The storm broke with great VII
8 lence. The front door stood ajar, an
- gust OF wind blew II wide open, |
. the same time extinguishing evel
a candle In candelabra standing on
- table. There came a vivid fash ,
~ lightning.
- The lovers were facing the windo
= and saw a sight that froze the vel
= marrow In their bones. In the gla
- was figure OF man In the old Dutt
- costume of two centuries before. T
was falling backward with poniai
In his side, from the wound OF viii,
spurted a red stream. Before hi
stood the man who had slain hi
The portraits of both men hung on {
In walls In the Van Genkin manor hous
They Were the two brothers VINO car
ne to America when Manhattan Islai
as was sold by the Indians to the VIII
N. men. The one who was slain was I
- ancestor OF Anna, the one who sie
him the ancestor Of Herbert van CT
kin. There was but an instant's
Elimination, then darkness An
sprang into the arms OF Robert Wryl
The next morning the sun sho
brightly. Wryn went to the mar
81 house to take leave before sailing
Anne van GenkIn. The curtain b
not been put again over the stair
window. ana be was surprised to
nothing of the scene that had turr
the scales in his favor the night
fore. Instead were simply colo
panes giving no picture at ALL
was thinking that the revelation N