The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-12-09

/ able. Lucille had entirely recovered from
her fright, and received him with empress
meat, regarding him in the light of her
preserver. Courade took advantage of
the guileless heart with which be was
brought into contact, and put forward all
his seductive powers to win it entirely to
himself. He only succeeded too well.
1 have before said that Lucille, up to
that time, had experienced no passion
excepting love for her mother. The
seductions of the soi distant Comte COM
pletely bewildered her senses, and, in her
poetic imagination, she regarded him as
an epitome of perfection. Even her moth
er, experienced as she had been in the
deceptions of the world, was deceived, and
considered him perfect gentleman.
Courade's visits now became of daily
occurrence, and, serpent like, each day he
coiled himself closer and closer around
Lucille's young affection. Their inter:
views became long and tender. and in due
course of time Courade offered his hand
and fortune, having first obtained the con-
sent of Lucille's mother need scarce
ly say be was accepted.
Now, it must not be supposed that
Courade had any intention of marrying
Lucille, for such was not the case the
simple fact was this, the returned galley
slave had discovered that Lucille's dewry
consisted of set of jewels valued at TO-
600 francs To obtain possession of these
was his whole end and aim. As for love,
his corrupt heart was dead to it. If he
had any feeling in the matter at all, it
was of purely sensual character.
His plans were at length matured; he
fixed day for his marriage, but insisted
that the ceremony must take place at
Versailles, for some reason that appeared
specious enough at the time.
The night before the ceremony Lucille
and Courade were conversing together in
the drawing room of Madame Maturin's
house-Lucille's mother had gone to bed
This conversation was overheard, and was
one of the connecting links in the chain of
evidence against him.
"Heaven be praised !'' said Courada,
kissing the forehead of his betrothed-"a
few more hours and you will be mine for
ever"
The young girl hid her blushing face
on his shoulder.
dearest continued the villain, 81
should very much like you to wear your
jewels tomorrow. You could never Sc
lect more fitting occasion. Now, oblige
ME, and let me see them on you when 1
come for you"
eff you really wish it, Henri" replied
the young girl, "why of course you shall
be gratifed." :"
Courade repeated bis desire that such
should be the case very earnestly, and
dwelt good deal upon it, much more
SO than so trivial a matter weuld seem to
demand.
The next day Lucille, arrayed in her
bridal costume, waited her lovers arrival.
When he came he was gratifed to find
that she had obeyed his wishes, and wore
the jewelry. It was decided that she
mother and another friend should go in
one vehicle, and Lucille and Courade in
another.
In due time Madame Maturin arrived
at Versailles, and expected to have found
Courade and her daughter already there.
but such was not the case. Several hours
passed away, bat brought no tidings of
the fugitives. Lucille's mother now be-
came seriously alarmed, and instituted a
search for them.
Three days had passed away. The
search had been entirely fruitless. They
had been traced half way to Versailles
but further than that nothing could be
learned.
About two miles from VivoHay, on the
road from Paris to Versailles, is thick
wood. It is rarely entered except in the
nutting time. One day, however, some
labnrers passed through it. and discovered
In the underbrush the dead body of
young lady. It was proved to be Lucille
Maturin-her jewels were gone. She
had evidently been straDgled, for the
marks of the murdersr's fingers were still
on her throat.
The crime was easily brought home to
Courade, the jewels were found in his
and he at length confessed his
guilt, acknowledging at the same time
that he had murdered three other persons,
all by the same means, by strangling them
with his hands.
He was brought to trial, condemned,
and, as 1 have before stated, executed on
the 18th day of November.
After the execution, his body was con-
veyed to the Ecole de Medicine to be de-
voted to the advancement q medical Set
ence.
1 had been in Paris about a fortnight
when this occurred, and had just Joined