The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-01

Continued from our last issue.)
Just then Williams overlook
them.
A little darkey appeared
around the house, saw the carri-
age. and quickly bolted out of
sight.
Our approach Is heralded!"
Singleton ghed-and as they
drew up before the house, a troop
of children came running to meet
them, while their elders gathered
at the edge of the woods and
! stared.
Lands End had been just
plain house-and SO much of 1t as
was left was just plain ruin. 1t
was built of stone; the wood work
was cypress, the windows were
paneless-some of them sashless
and the doors were fallen from
their hinges, save only at the
front and rear. There they we're
in place, as tho to wave back the
intruder who would presume to
enter.
THE roof seems solid!" Ven
dome marveled.
Cypress withstands the ele-
ments almost better than iron,'
Singleton explained. "Did you
rehang the outer doors, Will
iams?"
II did. SIR
"Who built this house-the
marquis?" Vendome asked.
II have not the remotest idea;
1t has been here as long as | can
remember. The character of the
construction shows that it must
have been built early in the last
century, If not before. What do
you think about 1t, Williams?"
MY father told me, and he had
1t from his father, l think-least-
wise ii is legend in the family,
sir-that the house was built by a
Frenchman. shortly after the rev.
olutionary war. have still in
my possession a gold piece,a louis
dor, think you call it. which is
said to have come from him."
1T couldn't have been the mar
quis." Betty exclaimed.
Il never heard of a marquis"
said Williams.
THE Marquis de Chavenis was
the original patentee," Singleton
explained. HE died in Paris
was suillotined during the French
revolution. 1t was not he who
built the house.
1 1T must have been some one
whom he sent" said Natalie.
Likely. Go on with your leg
end, Williams-we are much in
terested."
'The story runs. SIR" the man
resumed. that the Frenchman,
with his servant, who was also
French, having built this house,
lived here practically alone for
some years. He rather Stunned
companionship, and the location
of the farm didn't make for
neighbors unless one sought them.
Then one day there came another,
also an aristocrat, inquiring for
the first Frenchman. The tale
has 1t that he sought him at
Springberry. and was directed to
Lands End. He rode away to-
ward the river-and neither he
nor the original settler, nor his
servant, was ever seen again.
And when at length their absence
was noted in the neighborhood-
which wasn't for long time, con-
sidering the location and the
period-the house was deserted,
and not a trace OF them could be
found.
That is the legend as we have
1t In the family, sir. l give 1t to
you just as / got 1t, and for what
1t is worth. The only proof, If
proof 1t be, is the gold piece; and
maybe 1t didn't come from the
Frenchman, after all, SIR. One
moment, Mr.. Singleton, I'll see
how the house is, II you want to
look 1t over"
What /. do you think of the
legend?" said Singleton, facing
around.
ut is queer how the legend fits
In with the Scotswoman's story"
Vendome remarked.
The quickest way to ascertain
IL It does fit is to test it," said
Natalie. Lets us go and look
for the chestnut tree, and the de-
preston. You men are so DELHI
crate"
i Yes" said Betty. they are"
1, I'VE will do 1t, my dears!"
laughed Singleton, and drove
I slowly around to the rear OF the
house.
|! There is your chestnut tree!'
cried he, pointing with his whip
to giant. whose towering height
and great. spreading arms evil
denced its age. How far north
of the hall door is it,"
II Ninety feet!" said Natalie.
Someone else is recollecting
with astonishing accuracy" ven-
dome remarked.
n Certainly" springing out.
"Pm believer and Interested;
where is the tapeIine. Carter
thank you" as Singleton brought
II from his pocket. "Mr. Ven
dome. will you help me measure
the distance from the house t
4 the treef"