The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-09-02
A Story of Paris.

contains the following tragic story, show
ing that truth is sometimes stranger than
fiction: - - p s
When NJ. La Reynie Was lieutenant
general OF police, terror, produced BY
the mysterious disappearance Of several
persons, spread through various distric.s
Of Paris. Within about four months.
twenty SIX young gentlemen varying in
ages from seventeen to twenty five years,
were missing from their inconsoIable
families. Mysterious and contradictory
rumors spread in the Fauborg St. Antoine.
which had been robbed of five promising
tradesmen's sons. The gossips declared
that princess who was suffering from a
liver complaint, contended against the
malady by taking baths Of human blood
Others affirmed that the Jews, at intervals,
cruci6ed Christians, in hatred of the Sa-
sior, but luckily this mad opinion did not
| prevail. 5E
The Duke dc Gesvres spoke on the
subject to the King. and. The latter COM
planned to the lieutenant general of police,
for allowing such thing to go on. La
Reynie in despair a. the kings dissarisfac-
ton, returned yer, sadly to Paris. On
arriving there, he sent for very smart
agent, one Lecoq. whom be had previously
employed with success in extricating tan
ged legal sksins On hearing the report,
Lecoq, carried away by his activity, ex
claimed s..-
Well, monseig neur, see that in Or
der to relieve you from your embarrass>
ment, | must renew Abraham's sacrifice
| ask for a week, and at the end Of that
time hope to have good news for you"
Lecoq gave no further explanation, and
De la keynie, who regarded him as one
of bis most trustworthy agents, dismissed
him with a sign that granted him the
most extensive powers. Lecoq bad son
to whom he was sincerely attached, and
whose education he undertook himself.
This lad, called the Wide-awake by
his comrades, owing to his ready wit,
really possessed an uncommon intellect.
lie was sixteen years of age, and Nature,
while developing bis mind, had Dot for
gotten his external appearance.
Wide awake, whose real name was Ex>
upere, obtained from Lecoq everything
that can tlatter a you1g mans vanity
His handsome clothes heightened the ef-
feet Of his personal appearance; but he
rarely went out, for Leaoq was aware to
what young men are exposed in the streets
of Paris; he was escorted by spies, in
whom his father could confide.
On the day when Lecoq had his confer
ence with De Ia Reynie, on his return
home, he shut himself up with Wide>
awake, with whom be had heightened
conversation; and An hour after the fe-
male neighbors noticed the boy 90 out in
the most brilliant toilet, and this time
alone. lie wore round his neck and bat
gold chains and medallioLs, there were
two watches in his fobs and he frequently
clnked the louis with which his purse
was we'll lined. Iecoq felt that the young
men had necessarily fallen into some gal
lent snare, and that the lure offered them
must be pretty girl. Hence he foresaw,
that in exposing his son to meeting
with this creature, she would not fail to
try and ruin Wide-awake also; but the
latter, being we'll warned. would not be
caught in the trap by which so many 9th,
ers bad persisted.
Atabout 3 P. NJ. on the fifth day, young
Lecoq in all his glory, was walking on
the river terrace, in the garden of the
Tuilleries, when remarkably beautiful
lady passed close to him. She was alone,
but followed at short distance by spe-
cies of duenna. The young lady's age
might be from twenty-five to twenty live,
and her face and figure were models of
beauty. Wide-awake examined her with
interest; his gances were not lost, for
pleasant ones directly responded to his.
He foreboded that he was in for an ad-
venture; could this be the girl be vas
looking out for? In orde: to make GER
tain, he checked his pace, and eventually
sat down on a bench facing the Champs
EIysees.
lie had not been here more than ten
minutes, ere he saw the couple prowling
around him, and end by seating themselves
on the same bench. They bowed in the
usual fashion Of the age, entered into con-
versation, and the ar,fuI youth. who thus
found his affair ready made, asked the du
emma whom her companion might be
"Oh, sir,' was the reply, my mlstress's
history is almost a romance
The duerna hereupon proceeded to in
form Wide awake that her mistress was
the daughter of great Polish prince, and
sole heiress to his estate. Wide-awake,
on his side, told the gouver mantle, with AL
the nervousness possible, that he was the
son of doctor a. Nantes, and sent to
Paris to attend the university lectures.
After some minutes talk, the old woman
took Wide. awake's hand. ..s-.
You have gained my heart, and real
ly feel an affection for you. Here is a
proof. Listen 10 me. NY mistress has
just seen you, you pleased her, and she in
structed me to Gud out who you are.
Come this evening to the great gate OF St.
German 7 Auxerrois, where will meet
you, and in all probability bring you good
news. Dc not fail to ado.n Yourself al
your best, for you would be ruined if you
appeared before my mistress like needy
student"
After this they parted, and Wide awake
was mad with delight, as he felt certain he
had found the girl to whom the disap>
pearance of the young fellows was due.
He hurried to his father, and told MIN all
I