Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-09-08
A PICTURE
ON GLASS
By ALLAN c. CARLYLE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
Ciation 1911

The residence of the Count Van AIRS.
dale at Rotterdam. Holland, is very
old one. Indeed, it was standing when
the first Dutch settlers bought Man
haitian Island for 1924. In recent times
David. one of the Van Arsdale family,
came to New York to make home
there, but he did not remain long.
There were two reasons for his re-
turn to Holland. Firstly, he was in
love with member OF another branch
of the family, Anneke Van Arsdale.
the daughter Of the man who held the
title and the Van Arsdale manor house.
Secondly. there was tradition that
David Van Arsdale was the real count.
The title and estates had passed from
David's great-grandfather to an ances-
tor of Anneke's, and it had never been
clear how the transaction came about
David believed that Annekes father
knew something about it. but the count
would not admit that he did. When
David first came counting Anneke her
father favored the suit. but very
wealthy sutton having asked for her
hand. the count, feeling that money
was needed in the family, favored the
latter. Anneke would not wed him
and would not accept David without
her fathers consent.
There appearing to- be no hope that
the count would relent, David deter
mined to go back to America. He nei-
Their could nor would deprive the girl
he loved of his prospective possessions,
and since she must eventually pass to
another. he did not wish to be near
her. The night before he was to sail
he was sitting in the great square hall
which was once used by the Dutch
for living room. making his last visit
to Anneke preceding his departure.
The lovers We're very respondent.
81 believe" said David, 'that the
reason your father first favored our
union is that he believes me to be the
rightful heir to the title and estates he
is now enjoying"
"Why do you think that, David?"
asked the girl.
Because there are those who say
that am. There has always been
mystery connected with the death of
my great-grandfather, John Van Ars-
dale, and the assumption of the title
by Henry. 1t is well known that Hen
rvs mind was subsequently affected,
and it is rumored that this came from
remorse."
"But father has nothing to do with
that"
"No; but if there was fraud in the
change Of the title and estates from
his ancestor to mine am the real
Count Van Arsdale. If married you
the two branches of the family would
be united and the fraud, if any, would
not matter. That, believe, is the
reason for your fathers willingness at
first, because there is no other reason.
1 am poor, and you need rich hus-
band"
At this moment something singular
happened. Winding about the hall to
the upper story was staircase. Mid
way, where the staircase turned at
right angles with the lower and upper
parts, was a window. 1t was of curl
GUS construction. the glass being Of
different thicknesses in different parts.
It had been there no one knew how
long, and no one knew why an ordinary
window or one Of stained glass had not
been placed there in its stead.
At this time electricity was first
The searchlight had just been invent
ed. and some electricians We're expert
menting with one Of them on the roof
Of neighboring building. Suddenly
the window mentioned was brilliantly
Illuminated, David and Anneke look
ed at it in establishment. Instead Of
being ordinary white glass. it was a
picture-a picture in black and white
such as we now see hanging in win
dows that the light may bring out the
scene. And the subject, q man in the
Dutch costume of the olden time, lay
on his back bestridden by another
man who had plunged dagger into
his heart. Below were the words:
"The Murder of Henry. Count Van
Arsdale.''
A mystery was explained by mys.
terry. The window till that moment
had been q blank. The invention of
the searchlight had revealed what it
contained. But who many years be-
fore had learned to make picture on
glass? And what light did he use to
bring 1t out? For how could he have
made it without seeing It?
One fact of it's being there at all might
be explained by the fact that the MUIR
derer brooded over his crime until he
lost his reason and placed it there
while monomaniac.
While the lovers looked the picture
disappeared as simultaneously as it
had sprung into being. Then Anneke
covered her eyes with her hands.
81 am descended from q murderer"
she said. "All that father possesses is
yours" -
David did not sail for America the
next day. Workmen came in, took out
the glass in the window and replaced
it with a stained one. Then came a
wedding between David and Anneke,
and the count. having no male issue.
surrendered his title to his son-in-law
and his estates to his daughter. Hav-
ing done this. he sailed for America,
and Holland never saw him again.
He buried himself in the wilds Of Can
ada.
David and Anneke still live In the
] house in Rotterdam where the picture