Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-12
DAILY STORY
A STORY OF OLD NEW YORK.
TOriginal.l


ants once lived. now being torn down
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. Il
In the early part of the nineteenth 4
century this house was already more
than 100 years old. Passing the door
way, with windows at each side and l
IN arched one above-a universal con
structiOn during the seventeenth and |
eighteenth centurieS-one would enter |
4 large square apartment from which |
n staircase. turning at right angles. led |
to the second story. Directly opposite |
the door, between the first and second |
angle, was 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 night-it was about
1S20-Anne van Genkin and Robert
Wryn, n young inawal 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 twas 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 Il farm on the northern end
of Manhattan Island, already promis-
| ing to be of considerable value In
I deed, today it is worth millions. But
Anne's heaGt 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 10 obey her parents in
| such matters, as girls We're in those
| days. she hadiuo thought of refusing
them in this instance. Besides, she
realized the Importance of doubling
the family weaEh and knew that Wryn
had nothing but his pay in the navy.
| One evening Wryn was pleading n
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, land have no more to
bring forward. We sail. if the wind is
fair. tomorrow for the Mediterranean.
and when 1 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 Il ira
dition."
what is it?'
THAT a Van Genkin shall not merry
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 a 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. \
storm was gathering without.
"Oh. for n breath Of air." 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 n series of jerks to open It, lie
. 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
e the casing. he gave up the attempt and
: rejoined Miss Van Genkin.
| The storm broke with great VIC
lence. The front door stood ajar. and
a gust of wind blew it wide open. at
e the same time extinguishing every
candle in candelabra standing on q
table. There came n vivid flash OF
lightning.
u The lovers were facing the window
and saw Il sight that froze the very
marrow in their bones. In the glass
e was figure of q man i'll the old Dutch
e costume of two centuries before. He
was falling backward with pOniard
in his side. from the wound of which
spurted n red stream. Before him
II stood the man who had slain him
y The portraits of both men hung on the
y 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
T. ancestor of Anna, the one who slew
Il him the ancestor of Herbert van Gen
D. kin. There was but an instant's il
l9 Elimination, then darkness. Ann,
Up sprang into the arms of Robert Wryn.
> The next morning the sun shon,
Fl brightly. Wryn went TO the mano
IL house to take leave before sailing o
C. Anne van Genkin. The curtain hat
IL not been put again over the stained
Ia window, and he was surprised to SCI
IT, nothing Of the scene that had turne,
Is the scales in his favor the night be
n. fore. Instead were simply colore,
panes giving no picture at all. H
- was thinking that the revelation mus