The Shasta courier., 1862-10-11


time lifted the coffin on to the green sward
beside the grave. With a few blows of the
mallet and chisel the lid flew open, and the
pale moonlight cleaned on the ashy coun-
tenance of the corpse. De Beaurepaire fell
on his knees beside it, and raising it in his
arms, gazed down sadly on that loved coun-
tenance. Suddenly the memory Of their last
parting, of her last words, flashed across his
bewildered brain, and winding his arms
| around her, he pressed upon her dead lips that
kiss which she had fondlv said would recall
her to life. The next instant he was seized
with a fit of trembling then, starting up, still
holding the corpse in his arms, he fled away
over The tombs with a cry that thrilled
through the heart of his terrified companion.
The grave-digger started in pursuit; but
De Beaurepaire, in spite of his heavy bur-
den, ran with such supernatural swiftness,
besides being favored by the inequalities Of
the ground, that he was soon lost to view
All that his unhappy accomplice could do
was to return to the grave, horror stricken
at his crime, replace the coffin, and remove
as far as possible, every trace of tho sacri-
lege. He then went home, and awaited
what daylight might bring forth with feelings
far from enviable. But the next day came
weeks, months, years rolled on, and moth
ing occurred to justify the grave apnrohen-
sions he felt for the result of that nights
work.
At regular intervals, the widower, Mon
sieur LIE Mime, came to pray over his wife $
grave, and to hang garlands on her tomb.
At such times he stealthly but curious
ly watched by the grave-digger, who remem-
bered, with certain qualms of remorse and
apprehension, that the mourner was weep
ing over an empty coffin.
/ Five years after-namely, in the year
eighteen hundred and eight-the grave dig
ger lay upon his death bed. The doctor in
formed him that any worldly affairs requir-
ing attention had better be dispatched forth
with. The heaviest sin upon his conscience
was that midnight robbery of the church
yard, and of this he resolved to ease himself
at once by disclosing the whole affair to the
injured widower. Unfortunately he died be-
fore his statement could be reduced to wri-
ting. and with him went all hope of bring
ing his accomplice to Justice,
Monsieur LIE Moine, however. placed the
affair in the hands of the police, and their
first step was to verify the dying mans con-
fesson. The grave was opened, and the
coffin found empty. They next ascertained
from the beadle of St. Gervais that Major de
Beaurepaire, whom he knew we'll by sight,
had made particular inquiries, some five
years previously, about the burial place of
Madame lie Moine. The description given
by the graye-digger of his companion cor
responded in every respect with the personal
appearance of that officer and it was more
over, well known in Marselles that hs had
been deeply attached to the deceased lady.
The police thought they had clue. The
next thing was to ascertain the movements
of the major, The date of his return from
England was procured at the war office-the
thirteenth of August, eighteen hundred and
three just eight days before the perpetration
of the sacrilege He had subsequently been
ordered to Italy the day of his departure had
been duly recorded, and from minute inqui-
ries set on foot, it was ascertained beyond
doubt that he was accompanied by lady
closely yelled. Finally he was traced to
Strasburg, where he was then living openly
with lady who passed as Madame de Beau
repaire, and this person unquestionably bore
striking likeness to the deceased Madame
LIE Moine,
The case came before the tribunals, and
the novelty of the case excited universal at
teption. Madame de Beaurepaire had to ap-
pear and answer any questions that might
be put to her. When confronted with Mon
sieur LIE Moine. she appeared astounded at
the assertions of that gentleman. Monsieur
de Faron, who was summoned from Mar
seilles, was so struck by the extraordinary
resemblance to his daughter, that he burst
into tears, but as the lady, instead of evincing
any corresponding emotion, surveyed him
with look of cold surprise, he was too be-
wildered to express an opinion either way
Papers were produced, setting forth that
Madame de Beaurepaire was the child of
French parents long settled in Canada that
after their death, she bad been sent by her
friends to England, where Major Beaure
paire, at that time prisoner on parole, had
married her. The documentary evidence APP
peared satisfactory. At all events Monsieur
LIE Moine made nc attempt te invalidate it
possibly because any effort in that direction
would have been nugatory so long as hostil-
tiles continued between England and France.
On the other hand, several Inhabitants of
Marsailles, who had known Madame LIE
Mone previous to and Subsequent to her mar
riage, swore to her identity. Her husband
certainly the least likely to be mistaken
never once wavered in his belief that Mad
anne de Beaurepaire and his supposed de-
ceased wife were one and the same person.
Pamphlets were exchanged between members
of the faculty to prove that the supposed
~
but the hours were reckoned in which Mad
ome LIE Moine must have existed in this state,
and it appeared that no instance of SO pro-
longed trance could be adduced. Major
de Beanrepaire contented himself with saying
very little; and if pressed upon the subject,
he was attracted by a esemblance-perhaps
more fanciful than real-to the young lady
he had known some years before at Mar
seilles
The pleadings Terminated on both sides and
the day fixed for the final Judgment of the
case arrived. No one doubted which way the
verdict would go, nor that Monsieur LIE Moine
would be baffied in his strange pursuit of an
other man S wife. This gentleman, however,
as the sequel will show, by no means de-
SPARED even then of establ fishing his claim
The court was crowded All the members
of the tribunal were assembled. when Mon
sieur LIE Moine, leading little girl by the
hand, quietly threaded his way towards a Ia
bic in the centre of the hall, where Madame
de Beaurepaire sat, her face buried in her
hands. 4 little hand gently pulled hers
away. and little voice said sadly
s.Do not leave me again. mammal
Madame de Beaurepaire gave the child one
bewildered look, then throwing her arms