Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-10-22

terward, Jacob and his ward were duly
summoned before the Recorder to appear
against Lefranc Btellou, charged with
theft of one gold -cased mineature on ivory,
abstracted from the parlor of said Fitzsim-
mons, on Tuesday, the 10th ins:.' Jacob
laughed heartily at the prospect of convic.
ting the rogue; but Louise shrank from ap-
pearlng In court against the poor artist,
who, she knew. must have been sorely
tempted to have taken the miniature. She
recalled his gentlemanly address. his fine
appreciation of his art, his exquisit skill in
restoring the old group from the faded min
iature; and she found it hard, very hard,
to believe that he had actually sto en- the
miniature of herself, which her good uncle
Jacob priced so highly But there was no
putting off the SUBPOENA; and so the car
riage whirled the old gentlemsn and his
niece away 'to court
Call in the accused!' said the Judge. as
the witnesses appeared. Lefranc was led
IN, having spent the night in the Tombs
He looked pale indeed, and was very weak !;
but old Jacob was not to be moved by com
passion. That's the rogue ! he exclaim-
ed. And is this the miniature?' said Old
HAYS. 1T isl swear to it = said Jacob
Louise did not speak. That pale face sent
a sense of pain through her heart, and she
would have given ten times the price of
the precious painting if the artist could be
dismissed. There Lefranc stood, with
downcast eyes, which plainly said he had
never before been arraigned as culprit
Old Hays was at his side, as cold and hard
faced as the Tonbs, whose very outlines
seemed to be reproduced in his features.
Louise could see no more. HeL eyes
filed with tears and she sank into chair
for support The Recorder ordered the
witnesses to be qualified but Lefranc
spoke up: Il confess the theft took the
minature--ihat is all There was that in
his bearing which showed plainly it was
not a case of theft for the value of the thing.
| The Recorder was not the MAJ. to allow
such case to pass without Investigation,
and proceeded to question the aris: upon
the motive which prompted him to take
the ivory. He simply replied, 4 should
have returned it again the next day after
took it; but was too i'll to paint and re-
fused to answer further questions. But
the Recorder was not to be foiled. Old
/ Hays was sworn and testified that he found
| Lefranc in his studio, stretched out upon
an old lounge, sick with the fever-that
the miniature lay open upon the stand be
fore the easel-ihat on the easel was a face
half done. which ha believed was a copy of
the mineature that Lefranc pleaded not to
be arrested, for that his illness had prevent
ed him from restoring the picture-that he
was not to be fooled by any such represen-
tatious, and had seen him safely in the
Toombs, the previous night.
The Recorder looked straight at Louise.
She arose calmly, looked the prisoner in
the face and, turning to the Judge, said:
Il believe him, sir, that he did mean to re-
turn the mniature and will forgive him
if he will rsturn to me the half finished
face which he has Old Jacob was aston
ished. 'What!' he exclaimed, 'let the ras
cal go Never!' But Louise, with au un-
usual degree of decision, said Uncle,
would you punish that poor man, who has
already lain in cell all night, and who
now restores to us our own p She laid
her hand upon his arm. why, my dear,
this is strange l will let him go if you
say SO; but tell you he is a rogue--how
dared he to steal your picture?'
Lefranc rose up to his full height, and
his face cleaned in its whiteness. Sir
said he, am no thief If | did take that
miniature. Neither you nor any other per-
son shall repeat the charge after say am
no thief His eyes cleaned like stars,
and all around felt that there was truth in
i his words.
Lady, continued Lefranc. Il have de-
served this by my misconduct; thank you
sincerely for your kindness and forbearance
Il promise to restore you the picture as
you command A sad expression grew
into his face, as he said this, which the
deeply stirred heart of Louise did not fail
to respond to with sigh.
! The case was dismissed. Louise COM
manded her Uncle to pay the costs, in her
usual way of giving orders Uncle. shall
be unhappy if that poor man is permitted
to suffer any more for this and with an
other look of wonder at his ward, Old ia
cob arranged all with Old Hays and the
Court, and Lefranc was released from the
dock He bowed coldly, and passed out.
'The papers did not report the affair,
Since Louise herself asked the reporter TO
forbear mentioning it. How could they
refuse when she asked?