The Empire County argus., 1854-09-16


dcavor to listen calmly to all you have to commu-
nicate. Where are my mother and sister
Pierre" said the old man. ''arm yourself with
all your fortitude You will never see your mother
more till you meet her in that happier world where
the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are
at rest
rierre croaned deeply and covering his face with
his hands rocked Lis body to and fro as he burst
into AN agony of tears, The priest sought not to
interrupt him. but turned away his own weeping
conntenancc for the anguish of the youth was too
painful to contemplate
At last, the poor soldier looked up and spoke
again: What of my sister q
Il know nothing' replied the priest "she is
gone WHITTIER none can tell great crime has
been committed BY whom. none knows, save G"d
and the perpetrator thereof. You sent home
large sum of money to your mother. She was so
overjoyed at your good fortune, that she made no
secret Of its reception, though | cautioned her
against speaking of it. fortnight ago the will
age was alarmed by cry of fire. Your cottage
wa, seen to be in flames. The neighbors FASTENED
thither and extinguished the blaze. In the smoke
and confusion it was not perceived at first that
murder, as well as ncendiarism, had done its foul
work" The priest paused, overcome by agitation
On on - shouted Pierre, II can bear it all
now !"
Your poor mother was the victim" continued
the priest; she lay on the hearhstone dead, and
bleeding Her bureau had been broken open and
rihed of its contents.'
s.Nx 10 oriod tba soldier
She was gone The whole surrounding country
was searched, but nothing was discovered"
Maria Maria could gold have tempted yOn?
No no dog that am to suspect you Misery
has driven me mad +" cried the soldier, dashing lis
hand against his forehead.
The whole dreadful crime said the priest, lis
shroudcd in mystery as appalling as death itself
But God does not permit such deeds to slumber un
detected or unavenged. Sooner later they are
brought to light
May prove the instrument of detection " said
the soldier Some of the coins that | sent my
poor murdered mother were markell could rec
ognize them again. They may prove the means OF
nnravelling the mystery Father, you shall take
me to my mothers grave. One prayer there-"ne
word with Estee-- and then Will 90 to arls ii
is the resort of every criminal and thence it sends
forth its crime-blackened rufans to desecrate this
iair earth with horror. Come, father, come--my
mothers grave lead me there at once.'
Years passed away Save by two three per-
sons, the great crime which had desecrated the
hcarthstone of humble village home was forgot
ten in those great historical events Of which Eu-
rope and France then the theatres. In those
days Of bloodshed and battle, of victory and tri-
umph Lierre Lacour. who had commenced his mil
tary career as a brave young soldier, might have
risen to the highest honors had he followed the VIC
torious eagles Of his emperor Why might not he
rise as well as NIurat, Ney, I.annes or Il hundred
| others I he epaulettes Of colonel, nay. the
baton of Il marechul Of France were prizes within
the reach of the lowiest, provided he had the head
to plan and the heart to execute daring and chiy-
alric deeds. but his heart no longer bounded like
Il war-hUise to the charge OF the trumpet and the
roll Of the drum He lived for one purpose---tO
discover the assassin of his mother, and The sister
of whom nothing had been heard ot since the
dreadful night Of murder and conhagraton. 10
facilitate his purpose he had procured himself IL
he enrolled IN tile unrlNullCu ponce iUlCe VI TOuCHO
hat willy minister had no more able assistant ul-
der his command and none in that fraternity oi
which muuy were miocreans who had purchased
lmpunity tor crime by selling the lives and liberties
of former acconIl,lces and comrades who could
compare with him for purity Of lite and elevation
of motive To punish evil for the sake Of society
was the aim the young police officer. None more
untring or intelligent than he in terreting out the
perpetrators of deeds Of violence. In the crmi-
nails whose arrest he effected and whose conviction
he secured, he expected constantly to ind some
cognizant of the offence which had thrown SO black
IA shadow over his life He read, with eager avid
ity. the dying confessions of the condemned. lie
caught eagerly every syllable that fell from the
li,s of men, who standing on the brink OF eternity
seemed to be impressed with the necessity of reveal
ing truth But for years his expectations were
batfled
At last all Paris was thrown in commotion by
the murder of Colonel Belleville an officer who
had served with distinction in the grand army and
who was found dead one morning in room al
house No. &C. Rue La Harpc. The only mark OF
f violence discovered by the surgeons was dark
purple spot about the size of five-ranc piece on
the left temple. The police were apprized that on
, II, nf tho tlav haf siiuht