The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-07-04
The Three Friends OF Brus-
scfs.
A NARRATIVE FOUNDED or FACTS.


NARRATIVE FOUNDED on FACTS.
Some wears sgoihere resided At Isrrssels
three young men, named Charles Daran- I
court, Theodore dc Valmon', and Ernest
de 81. Mature. whose friendship for each
other was Of 50 ardent nature, that they
were generally known by The title OF
The Lhspara5ies. The first link WHICH
bound these youths together was The
femarkable circumstance 0f their having
been all three born on one day. and. being
al Of good families, they had been con-
slant playfellowsi in childhood. had studied
at the same academy as schoolboys. and
hsd become members Of the ssme uni
Sersiiy in thsif more advanced years.
Through slllhess stages Of Iheirexisiesce,
they had exhibited the same unvsrying
affection fnr one smother, and had display
cd great similarity in their tastes. feelings.
and pursufr. On reaching manhood,
however. circumstances led them. as night
have been expected. To adopt different
courses OF life. DaTsncouri, the son Of
an eminent physician. selected The pro-
fessiOn Of the Law as the road 10 eminence
and responsibility in The world. ST.
I Mature, whose lalher was a nnbleman Of
decayed fortunes. chose the army as
most suitable 10 his birth and preiensinns.
/ De Yslmont. on the other hand, preferred
The captivating study Of letters aud the
the arts TO The pursniI Of any positive
profession; and The circumstances Of his
father, . retired cOloael Of engineers.
enabled The young man, for the time al
least. TO indulge his lssles in this respect.
Ernest de 81. Maurp, al the period
whence this narrative takes il dale. had
not yet Joined the army, but The imperial
mandate (for Brussels was then within
the domialons Of Napoleon) was looked
for daily, aud Coun, dc ST. ManEe and
his lady were sadly preparing their minds
for parting with their only and beloved
SON. Al this time il was that Charlie,
Darancouri. Who had been recently admit
; ted a member of The masonic fraternity
took an opportunity ofsugeesiIng 10 young
J 81. Mature The prnprieiy Of entering III,
same society. Darsnc0url's counsel wa,
founded on certain stories told Of soldiers
having fallen into The hands Of lhs enemy
and having been saved BY discovering ;
/ bro,her.mason in some Of the captors
Il" Now. who knows" cried The youn.
' barrisier. with the ardour of friendship
/ Z" but YOU. 81. Mature, may be thrown
s into similar situation, and may escsp'
o by the like mesns!" Though dispose,
d 10 look upon The mysteries If masonry a
a useless mummery, 81. Maure alIowe'
himself 10 be persuaded by bis friend
4 aud promised 10 undergo initiation at a
i early Jsy. Al the same time he woul
!, consent only on condition uf Darancoul
. himself acting as sole inl,iator. whir)
:, The barrister, however irregular The pro
y cee,ilng might be, prolessed his willing
o ness 10 undertake. ....... ......
}. During the Sunday Immediately follow
ing the day on which this canyerss
lion took Place, Coun, de ST. Maure'
n house was observed 10 be shut mp BY lh
Y neighbours. None Of the inmates, 1
+ least, we're scen to issue from il. thong
u they had yer been remarkable for the
L punc,uaI.ty in attendance on The service
q Of The church. The neighbours, howerel
is merely concluded some Of them TO be IL
d But about eight o'clock in the esenin
ID Charles Darancourt and Theodore d
ID Valmonl called. in order TO spend soci;
II hour with the family. Their repeate
10 knockings al the door remaining VI
10 answered. they al length alarmed II
neighbourhood. The door was bur
, open, and. 10 The horror Of the spectator
Il four murdered bodies were found in Ii
various bedrooms. The corpses, who's
W threats were shockingly cut, were thos
Of The Count de 81. Mature, his lady. al
their two servants. II was also foun
that a desk had been broken open, AZ
II plundered Of valuable jewels. known !
have been there. On this appallir
u; discovery. paramount, whose friendsh
il for the family was well knnwn, appesrt
N. a, frs, paralysed with grief. When
no recovered from his trance-hke siupor.
Of rushed from the house, exclaimin
IL /. My friend. my dear Ernest! Whs
"a; is my poor friend" This exclamati,
is called The minds Of the spectators, Tor .
nj fret time. to The circumstance of YOU
mt ST. Maure's absence. The auihorili
in were speedily called 10 the spot, a
TO among other steps taken, search "
instituted for Ernest de ST. Mature.
w. Valmnnt, who retained much more ri
,s. sence Of mind Than Darancours had