The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-07-27

such agitating grief and horror. Besides,
De Valmont, it now appeared, had been met
and recognised near the scene of guilt on
the night of the murders. When asked to
explain where he had been, De Vamont
showed manifest confusion, and said he ladn
been visiting a friend ,and positively refused
to name that friend And moreover,a "a respec-
bic female came forward, who averred that,
on the third or fourth day after the tragedy,
she had washed a shirt for the prisoner, the
right sleeve of which was cloled with
blood. The explanation which De Val
mont gave Of this circumstance was lame,
confused ,and improbable, On these grounds
of supicion, Theodore de Vaimont was ap-
pointed to take his trial for the murder of
the st. Maures, though no one could even
imagine reason for his having included
the parents in that revenge which Ernest a
lone seemed TO have merited at his hands.
Charles Darancourt was unremittng in
his attempts to sustain his imprisoned friend
under the heavy aiiliction of such a charge
as this. To Darancourt, Theodore confded
the task of communicating the intelligence
of this accusation 10 Emily Duplesss. The
young lady was so dreadfully affected as to
sink into a violent fever, during the rawlings
Of which she revealed to her parents the
fact of her having not only loved De Val
mont, but of her having been recently united
TO him by private marriage. This infor-
nation, which she did not gainsay on recov-
ering partially from her illness, had the ef-
feet of widening the circle implicated in
these dark transactions, since the parents of
Emily had the grief Of seeing her fate bound
up with that of one on whom charge res
ted of the most atrocious kind. Their pre-
vious hostility to the De Valmonts the pa
rents might perhaps have readily got over;
but there was now deep disgrace attending
any connection with the very name of De
Valmonts. The discovery of the marriage
was therefore concealed.
The morning allotted for De Valmont's
trial arrived. The officers went TO tie cell
TO remove him, but 10 the place was emp
| ty. Tue- prisoner rad undermined his cell,
and escaped by scaling the prison walls
On the table lay letter addressed 10 Mad
amoiseIe Duplessis, which was opened by
the authorities, and found to contain an ami
mated and solemn assertion of the writer's
innocence. But, seeing circumstances to
bear against him, he resolved (the letter
said) to take the only visible mode of saw
ing his life, in the hope Of one day proving
his innocence; and until this was establish
ed, he never would return he said to Brus.
sells. An energetic search was made fol
Theodore De Valmont, but it proved fruit.
less.
Thus was justice again baflled, at a time
when it had fixed in its own belief on the
true criminal. But Theodore's letter
which was long and eloquetly pathetic
made deep impression IN his favor on ma
ny persons, and, amcng others, on the pa
rents of his wife, Emily Duplesss, or rath
er De Valmont. On conversing with theil
daughter, they moreover learned that The
odore had been visiting Emily on the nigh
of the murders, and had hurt his right arm
in crossing the garden wall of her father:
house. Not knowing that Emily in hel
illness had revealed the marriage, De Val
mont would not betray the secret, and hence
his confused answers were questioned, al
already mentioned. Knowing these things
Emily's parents longed for Theodore's re
turn which might have now been compare
lively safe. But he could not be heard 0
anywhere. The parents now consented Il
an open acknowledgement of their daugh
ter's marriage with the absent Theodore
which consent Emily had strong reasons
for entrealng from them. When Theodor,
!. had been absent seven months hIs wife gavt
birth to a son, for whom Charles Darancour
stood sponsor at the font. Darancourt, OF
this occasion, after pledging the mother an,
child, called on the guests present to JON
him in drinking "tO the happy return o
the absent father, and may his innocenct
soon be established ~ Strange to say, th
wish seemed in some measure fulfilled, no
many days after its utlerance, in manne
that deeply affected him who uttered it. 4
cart was stopped one night at the city bar
rier by one of the collectors of the imposts
No contraband goods were found in the cart
but, in the act of search, a small box lel
off, and was crushed by one of the wheels
; The collector assisted in gathering up tn,
contents, and while doing so, picked up
brilliant diamond brooch. The colecto
had been once in the service of the COun
, de St. Maure, and instantly recognized th
brooch, which was of great value, as hav
ing belonged to that nobleman. The car