Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-07-27
One day Monsieur f. received a com

One day Monsieur F. received com
munication from the cure of neighbor-
ing parish to the effect that his Monsieur
F.'s) brother. had died suddenly, and that
in his last moments he had expressed an
earnest hope that his brother would as
sumo the charge of his two sons. ..~rt
A reply was forwarded, requesting that
the boys might Immediately repair to their
uncle's house. In due course they arrived.
The elder was fine handsome youth,
with frank, engaging manners; the young
er, though handsome also, was reserved
and unsociable. and the regards of the
whole household were quickly centred in
the former, whose gayety soon dissipated
the gloom'of the chateau. ST.
The younger brother, Francois, saw,
with concealed jealously, the decided pre-
ference felt by his uncle and aunt for his
elder; nor was this sentiment likely to
have been lessened by fact that, before
they had resided a year at the chateau,
had by some means come to his knowledge
viz: that the whole of the property had
been left to his brother, with the exception
of sum just sufficient to start him (Fran-
cois) in any profession he might select in
which to earn his bread. 81 a,io,
To the great regret of Monsieur and
Madame Fremont, Cecile, the elder con-
eeived a passion for the naval service, and
carrying his point quilted the chateau,
taking with him allithe light and mirth it
contained. .5a 5isy =, -..,i.r .-ra 5aaiz
At first his letters were frequent, teem-
ing with affection and merriment; then
long intervals of silence would excite the
apprehensions- Of his loving friends. The
second winter after his departure was un-
usually severe, and the health of the old
people began to fail. ,a5
One sad morning Francois, entering
with a eountenanee of assumed grief, com
Inunicated the heart-rending tidings, re-
ceired, he said, through shipmate of his
brothers, that Cecile had died at sea-
Already weakened by illness, the shock
was too much for the kind old people
Madame Fremont died within few weeks
and before the close of the year her hus-
band rejoined her in the grave, having
previously settled all he possessed upon
his surviving nephew.
The latter, now at the height of his am
bition, lorded. it grandly over his depen-
dents; and profound was the regret that the
kind, mirthful Cecile had not lived to oe-
cupy the masters position. 90, .aa'-i-f.
s One evening Francois was sitting alone,
moody and out of sorts, slipping his solita-
ry wine, when be was startled by voice
speaking without the window, which look
ed upon the garden. a.
Advancing with caution, Francois de-
manded who was there.
at is l, Francois replied a voice that
blanched the hearers cheek; but with
trembling hands he opened the window,
and his brother, radiant with health and
happiness, bounded into the room. He
had intended surprise for his relations,
of whom Francois having intercepted the
correspondence on both. sides) he had not
heard for many months. -,..l
In one instant Francois comprehended
his position and took his resolution. To
his brothers eager inquiries he answered
that their uncle and aunt not being quite
well, had dined up stairs, whittier, after
Cecile had refreshed himself, they would
presently proceed.
Contriying, while Cecile was diyesting
himself of his oyer-coat, to secure the door,
Francois returned to his brother, and af-
feeting the greatest JOY at his arrival, en-
couraged him TO dIink and talk until wea-
ried with excitement and his journey, the
latter sunk into temporary doze.
1t should be mentioned that at this time
some confusion reigned at the chateau on
account of alterations that were making in
the house, and which necessitated the re-
moval of a portion of the wall of the cor
ridor. During this operation most of the
domestics were quartered in an outbuild-
ing some distance off.
No human eye witnessed the manner III
which this true descendant of him that did
the first murder completed what was in
his mind, He presently quilted the room,
locking the door, and desiring that he
4 10 ulS6uIUcu uO iuOI0 bldJ
When all was still he crept forth and
made his way to the lodging of the mas
ter mason. What passed between them
was never exactly known, but on the fol
lowing morning, the mason, assisted by
his tempter, oontrived to wall up the re
mains of the victim, where they were sub
sequently discovered.
Tormented by remorse, the form of hi
brother even before him, the wretehed
criminal at length dismissed his household
sold the chateau, and proceeded to Paris
hoping in that lively city to drown the re
membranoe of his fragrant guilt. But ven
geance suffered him not to live" A
quarrel with the Comte de G. in gaming
house led to meeting next day in tn,
Bois de BOulogne, in which Francois wa
killed. Singularly enough, among his pa
pers was found confession of the murder
though bearing his assumed name.
The remains of poor Cecile were decent
ly inferred in the cemetery at Geneva
The M. family continued their residence a
Belle D., and certainly, up to the tim
when l (the narrator) made their acquain
tance nothing extraordinary had ever agai
1 disturbed their tranquility.