Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-02


day, walking on the quays Of that city, this gen
tlcman saw q very miserable, dirty, starving lad
who had just made pounce upon some bone
and turnp. peelings, that had been flung ON thu
quay, and was eating them as greedily as if they
had been turkeys and trufiles. The worthy mar
examined the lad little closer o Heavens! i
was their runaway prodigal--it was little Loui;
Dominica The merchant was touched by hit
case; and, forgetting the nightcaps, the hone y
pots, and the rags and dirt of little Louis, tool
him to his arms, and kissed and Rugged him witt
the tenderest affection. Louis kissed and hug
ged too, and blubbered a great deal; he was We
ry repentant, as man often is when he is hun
cry; and he went home with his uncle, and hi.
peace was made; and his mother got him new
clothes, and filled his belly, and for while
Louis was as good son as might be.
But why attempt 10 balk the progress of gent
US! Louis s was not to be kept down. lie was
sixteen years of age by this ti.ne-a smart, live
ly young fellow, and what is more desperately
enamored of lovely washer-woman. To be
successful in your love, as Louis knew, you
must have something more than mere flames and
sentlment:-a washer, or any other woman, can
not live on your signs only; but must have new
gowns and caps, and a necklace every now and
then, and few handkerchefs and silk stock
ngs, and treat into the country or to the play.
Now, how are all these to be had without mo-
ney! Cartouche saw at once that it was impossi-
BILE; and as his father would give him none, he
was obliged to look for it elsewhere. He took
to his old courses, and lifted purse here, and a
watch there; and found, moreover, an accommo-
dating gentleman, who took the wares off his
hands.
This gentleman introduced him into very Sc
lect and agreeable society, in which Cartouche s
merit began speedily to be recognized, and in
which he learned how pleasant it is in life to
have friends to assist one, and how much may
be done by proper division of labor. M. Car
touche, in fact, formed part of regular compa-
ny or gang of gentlemen, who were associated
together for the purpose of making war on the
public and the law.
Ca1touche had lovely young sister, who was
to be married to rich young condemnation the
provinces. As is the fashion in France, the par
ents bad arranged the match among themselves
and the young people HAD never met until just
before the time appointed for the marriage, when
the bridegroom came up to Paris with his title
deeds, and settlements, and money. Now, there
can hardly be found in history finer instance Of
devotion than Cartouche now exhibited. He went
to his captain, explained the matter to him, and
actually for the good of his country, as it were
the thieves might be called his country, sacrificed
his sisters husbands property. lnfOrmations
were taKen, the house of the bridegroom was re-
connoiered and one night Cartouche, in compa-
ny with some chosen friends, made his first visit
to the house of his brother-n-law All the
people Were gone to bed; and, doubtless, for fear
of disturbing the porter, Cartouche and his COM
panlons spared him the trouble of opening the
door, by ascending quietly at the window. They
arrived at this room where the bridegroom kept
his great chest and set industriously to work,
filing and picking the locks which defended the
treasure.
The bridegroom slept in the next room; but
however tenderly Cartouche and his workmen
handled their tools, from fear of disturbing lis
slumbers, their benevolent design was disappoint-
ed, for awaken him they did, and quietly slip
ping out uf bed, he came to place where he had
complete view of all that was going on. He
did not c,y OUT or brighten himself Silly; but
the contrary, conttnted himself with watching
the countenances of the robbers, so that he
might recognize them on another occasion; and
though avaricious man, he did not feel the
slightest anxiety about his money-chest; for the
fact is, he had removed all the cash and papers
the day BEFORE
AS soon, however, as they had broken all the
locks, and found the nothing which lay at the
bottom of the chest, he shouted with such b loud
voice, ''Here Thomas John officer keep
the gate, fire at the rascas!!" that they, incont
nently taking fright, skipped nimbly out Of the
window and left the house free.
Cartouche, after this, did not care to meet his
brother-inlaw, but eschewed all those occasions
on which the latter was to be present at his IA
theirs house. The evening before the marriages
came; and then his father insisted upon his APP
pearance among the other relatives of the BRIDES
and bridegroom families, who were all to as
semble and make merry. Cartouche was obliged
to yeld and brought with him one or two of his
who had been, by the way, present
in the affair OF the empty money boxes: and
though he never faucied that there was any dan
ger in meeting his law, for he had no
idea that he had been on the night of the at
tack, with anatural modesty, which did him real
ly credit, he kept out of the young bridegroom's
sight as much as he could, and Showed no des1s
to be presented to him. At supper, however, as
he was sneaking modesty down to side-table,
his father shouted after him, 'Ho, Dominic, come
hither, and sit opposite your brother-in law"
which Domino did, his friends following. The
bridegroom pledged him very gracefully in a
humber; and was in the act of making him pref
ty speech, on the honor Of an alliance with such
a family, and ON the pleasures of brother,in-law-
ship in general, when, looking in his face-ye
gods he saw the very man who had been filing
at his money-chest few nights ago! BY his
side, too, sat a couple more of the gang The
poor fellow turned deadly pale and sick, and,
setting his glass down, ran quickly out of the
room, for he thought he was in company Of
whole gang of robbers. And when he got home,
he wrote a letter to the elder Cartouche, humbly
declining any connexion with his family.
Cartouche the elder, of course, angrily asked
the reason of such an abrupt dissolution of the
engagement; and then. much to his horror, heard
of his eldest sons doings sYou would not have
me marry into such family 2" said the ex-
bridegroom. And old Cartouche, an honest old
citizen, confessed, with heavy heart, that he
would not. What was he TO do to the lad +? He
did not like to ask for lethsde cachet, and shut
him up in the Bastile. lie determined to give
him years discipline in the monastery of St.
Lazare
But how to catch the young gentleman? Old
Cartouche knew that, were he to tell his son of
the scheme, the latter would never obey, and,
thereiNe, he determined to be very cunning
He told Dominic that he was about to make
heavy bargain with the fathers. and should re-