The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-08-02
A Belgian Tragedy.

On the night of the 18th of June there
took place near Brussels the capital of
Belgium, q tragedy, the shocking particu-
lars Of which seem to have originated in
the fertile brain of French rOmancist,
rather than to have occurred in reality.
On the preceding day Christine Duques-
noy, young girl of twenty-three, who,
the house of wealthy widow lady in
Brussels, was informed that her aged
mother, who lives at Ahe village of Quatre-
Bras, had, in consequence OF an accident,
lost her eyesight. The dutiful daughter
resolved at once to leave her situation,
and to return to her native village in order
to take care Of her poor blind mother.
While grieving greatly over the misfor-
tune which had befallen the latter, Chris
tine congratulated herself upon having
saved from her wages the handsome sum
of 800 francs, which she had deposited
with notary public, and which she
thought weuld enable her to preserve her.
self and mother from want. Next morn
ing she received the money from the no.
tary, and took the train for home. Upon
reaching the last station, she found that
sbe was unable to obtain carriage for
Quatre- Bras, which was about five miles
distant. She resolved to proceed there on
foot; but, after walking about three miles,
she hesitated. A feeling Of terror seized
her. She had to pass through forest,
and there being a house belonging to &C
quaintances of hers in the neighhprhOOd,
she resolved to pass the night there. She
reached it in few minutes, and found the
proprietor, an elderly farmer named
Aubusse, and his wife Ellie, at home.
Upon inquiring where their only daugn-
ter, Francoise, was, Christine was told that
she had gone to Quatre- Bras, and would
not return before morning. Christine
then told them that she was afi aid to pro-
ceed with the mouey she had in her pocket
to her native village, and Aubusse ana ms
wife cordially invited her to sleep under
their roof AS she was very tired
they told her to retire Immediately,
and Elize conducted her to her
daughter Franchises bed IN the
small back room. Christine Duques-
noy went to bed without delay, but as II
often the case with persons who are very
tired, she did not sleep very soundly. one
had not closed her eyes very long wnen
she was awakened BY voices In the ad'
joining room. It was Aubusse anu MS
wife. Although they were conversing 10
an undertone, Christine could understand
every word they uttered. To her horror
she discovered that the two had resolveu
to murder her for the money which she
had in her possession.
ssFrancoise,'' said Aubusse's wicked
wife, twill not come home tonight, SO no
body will know that Christine was IN our M
house. We will bury her corpse IN tne
garden, and who will ever find her grave
thereof
The wretches then stepped into tne
front room. Christine Duquesnoy,
prey to indescribable terror, sprang q
once from her bed, and although she Was
but scantily dressed climbed out OF tne
open window, and sped across the large
garden into the open field. She ran ioi
fifteen minutes as fast as her feet wouic
carry her, without daring TO look BACK
Then she stood still, and, after resting Io1
a few minutes, she started anew. In me-
terror she did not care in what dlrectlot
she was going. At last, after she nae a
Teen running for upward OF one nouI' sll'
reached the Brussels highway, ana wa
soon afterward espied by two gendarmes
They hailed her, and ordered her to stop
but She sped on, and finally sank down y
utter exhaustion behind q shrub oy tn'
wayside. When the gendarmes overtooi
her one of them threw his cloak 70 ne
and then she told them all about !n
fiendish plot Of Aubusse and his wlie
They asked her to accompany them TO IN
house of the Aubusses, which they reac1
ed at an advanced hour of the night. Al