Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-06-21

IOriginal.l

10 make way IOF business DOCKS. Oue
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
a 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 q
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 night-it was about
1S20-Anne van Genkin and Robert
Wryn, a young naval officer who had
seen service in the war of 1912, 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 it 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
hopeless cause. Anne was firm in her
determination to carry out the plan
laid down for her.
Il have used every argument" said
Wryn at last, "and have no more to
bring forward. We sail, if the wind is
fair, tomorrow for the Mediterranean,
and when l return-I hope l 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 a ira
dttion."
"What is it?'
''That Van Genkin shall not marry
a Van Genkin."
"And why?"
Il don't know. Two Van Genkin
brothers came to America a century
and a half ago. Something occurred
between them to give rise to this ira
dition."
There was pause in the conversa-
ton. The lieutenant was thinking
how he might use this information to
advantage, the girl brooding over hav-
Ing to act contrary to her wishes. A
storm was gathering without.
ooh, for a breath of airr Anne ex-
claimed, swinging her fan.
I'm going up the staircase to open
the window"
''You can't"
81 can try"
Wryn went up to the window and
began series of jerks to open it. He
failed to do SO, but the curtain that
covered it, old and rotten, suddenly
came tumbling down. Satisfying him
self that the window was screwed to
the casing, he gave up the attempt and
rejoined Miss Van Genkin.
The storm broke with great VIC
lence. The front door stood aiar, and
gust of wind blew it wide open at
the same time extinguishing every
candle in candelabra standing on q
table. There came a vivid flash of
lightning.
The lovers were facing the window
and saw a sight that froze the very
marrow in their bones. In the glass
was figure of man in the old Dutch
costume of two centuries before. He
was falling backward with a poniard
in his side, from the wound of which
spurted red stream. Before him
stood the man who had slain him.
The portraits of both men hung on the
walls in the Van Genkin manor house.
They were the two brothers who came
to America when Manhattan Island
was sold by the Indians to the white
men. The one who was slain was the
ancestor of Anna, the one who slew
him the ancestor of Herbert van Gen
kin. There was but an dnstant's IL
Elimination, then darkness. Anne
sprang into the arms Of Robert Wryn,
The next morning the sun shone
brightly. Wryn went to the manor
house to take leave before sailing OF
Anne van Genkin. The curtain had
not been put again over the stained
window, and he was surprised to see
nothing of the scene that had turned
the scales in his favor the night be-
fore. Instead were simply colored
panes giving no picture at all. He
was thinking that the revelation must
have been supernatural when Anne
came down the staircase and, seeing
the wonder on his face, said
Father has told me all. The son of
my murdered ancestor, his mind I'M
balanced by the crime, had the win
dow made in Holland with a picture
of the murder in the glass, requiring
a strong light to bring it out. Father
considers it all SO many generations
back not to be a bar between the two
branches Of the family. But now that
/ know it and could not bring myself,
to marry Van Genkin he will not
insist and has given his consent to our
union. ELISE B. HARRISON.
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