The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-07-05
Misfellaaeoas.
THE DEAD ALIVE.
a Romance of Real Life.

a Romance of Real Lie.
The subjoined narrative, from Chambers
Journal, il stated to be translated from a
foreign newspaper. II Is necessary TO 70.
mind tho reader, that the island Of Mauri'
thus, appertainiug ut this day TO the Eng
lisb, was originally colonircd by the French,
and that tho population yet consists IN n
great measure Of persons Of that nation, to
whom, bya formal treaty between the
powers concerned, their ancient laws and
i,sagcs were preserved without any lnatcri.
al alterations.
Some time ago, the Sieur Clodomir Fre-
nois, a rich merchant OF tho Island, was
found dead and frightfilly disfgurcd IN his
own habitation. His body was discovered
lying on tho floor, with his head and face
n,u,ila,cd by means off pistol, and all
doubts as to the cause of The catastrophe
was dispellcd by tho discovery Of tho fatal
weapon by the side ofthe corpse, and also
a paper in tho handwriting Of the deceased.
This paper contained tho following words /:
I am ruined! A william has rubbed me
of twenty-five thousand livres sterling dis.
honor must be my portion, and cannot
bs
task ofdistributing among my creditors the
means which remains TO rs, aud ] pray
that God. my friends. and my enemies,
may pardon my self:desirlction! Yet IN
another minute, shall be In eternity!
.CLoDoMiR FsEsois.
Great was the CONSERVATION caused by
this ,ragic event, which was the moro un-
expected, rs the loss alluded 10 In the note
had never becn made public. The deceas-
cd had been held in great esteem over the
colony M man District honor and probity,
and was universally lamented. His at,acli-
cd widow, after endeavoring faithfully 10
fulfil his last wishes, found her grief too
ovcrpowering to permit her to minglc with
the world, and took the resolution to con.
.ccrate her remaining days to the services
Of religion. Two months after the sad end
OF her husband she entered convent,
leaving to nephew Of her late husband a
physician, the charge Of completing the
distribution Of the effects OF Frenois among
his creditors.
A minute examination ofthe papers Of
the ,icfunct led to tho discovery Of the
period at which tho unfortunate merchant
had been robbed and this period wns
found to correspond with tho daio OF the
Disappearance Of man named John Moon,
long in the employment Of Frenois. Oi
this man, on whom suspicion naturally iell,
nothing could be learned on inquiry but
shortly after the division Of the lato lner
chants property, Moon reappearcd in the
colony. When taken up and examined 70.
s,ecting tho cause Of his flight, ho stated
that he had boen sent by his master 10
Francc to rocovcr certain sums duo TO the
merchant there, in which mission he had
been unsucoersfal and no further avercd
that if Clotlomir Fenoia, In his existing
correspondence, had thrown any injurious
suspicious upon him (Moou) the whole was
hat prctcxt to account for deficiencies o.,
which tho merchaut himself was tibe solo
cause and author. This declaration, made
by man who seemed TO fear no inquiry,
and whose worldly circumstances remained
to appearances the snmc ~ they had ever
been, had the effect Of silonoing, ifthey did
not saiisfy, the eIaminators; and tho afiair
soon fell, In great measure, out Of public
recollection. - NJ .aT"H sat \
Things remaiaed for shoss time in this
eosdition, whom one morning, Mr. Will.
am Burnett, principal creditor Of tho late
Clodomir Frenois, heard q knocking at his
ssse At very carly hour. He ssllsa up
ono ofhis servants, who went down and
immediately returned with tho, io,elligcuce
that stranger, who seemed desiruus Of
keeping his pcrson concealed, wished to
speak with NJ. Burnett in private. Mr.
Burnett rose. threw on hia dressing gown,
and descended to tho parlor. lie saw there
q stranger ola tall person, seated IN IN
easy and familiar attitude upon sols, With
q copy Of tho Morning Post in hin hand.
The beck Of the visitor was TUNED 20 Mr..
Burnett - b entered. Rather surprised to
80 q stranger conduct himself % like an