The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-06-14

W
showing that truth is somtimes stranger
than fiction
When NJ. LaReynie was lieutenant
general OF the police, terror, produced
by the mysterious disappearance of sew
eral persons, spread through the various
districts of Paris. Within about four
months -tWenty-slx young gentlemen,
varying in ages from sixteen to twenty
tive years, were missing from their in
lnconsOlable families. Mysterious and
contradictory rumOrs spread in Eau
bOnrg st. Antoine, which had been
robbed OF five promising tradesmen's
sons. The gOssips declared that prin-
cess who was suffering from a liver
complaint cOntended against the malady
by taking baths in human blood. Others
affirmed that the Jews, at intervals cru
c1tled Christians in hatred Of the Saviour,
out luckily this mad opinion did not
prevail.
The Due de Gesvres spoke on the sub
Ject to the King, and the latter COM
planned to the lieutenant general of the
police for allowing such thing to 90 on.
LaReynie, i'll despair at the Kings dis
satisfaction, returned very sadly to Par
IS On arriving there he sent for a very
smart agent-One Lecou-whOm he had
previously employed with success in ey-
trcatlng tangled legal sl1eins. On hear
ing the? report, Lecoq, carried away by
his aGtlyity, exclaimed:
| wen, M0nselgnem, [ see that in or
| der TO relieve you from your embarrass-
! ment1 muStsreneW Abpaham's sacrifice.
|. ask week, and at the end of that
tune hope to have good news for YOU. y
LeCoq gave no further explanation.
and De la Reynie, who regarded him as
one OF his most trustworthy agents, dis
missed him with a sign that granted
hlm most extensive powers.
LecOq mad son, to whom he was
sincerely attached, and whose educa-
tlon he undertook himself. This lad,
called the Wide-awaken by his com
IadesNsWlng to his ready wit, really
possessed an uncommon intellect. He
| was sixteen years Of age, and nature,
while developing his mind, had not for,
gotten his external appearance.
Wlde-awake, whose real name was
EXuperee, obtained from Lecoq every
| thing that can flatter a young mans
vanity. His handsome clothes heighten-
ed the effect OF his personal appearance;
but ne rarely went out, for. Lecoq was
| aware to what young men are EXPOSED
In the streets of Paris. He was escorted
by spies in whom his father could con
| fide. -
On the day when Lecoq had his con-
ference with De Ia Reynie, on his return
| home, he shut himself up with Wide
awake, with whom he had heightened
| conversation, and an hour after the
female nelghbOrs noticed the boy go out
| in the most brilliant toilet, and this time
alone. He wore round his neck and hat
gold chains and medallions; there were
tive watches in his fOss, and he fire.
quently cllnSed the louis with which his
pocket was well lined. Lecoq felt that
young men had necessarily fallen into
| some gallant snare, and that the lure
| offered them must be O pretty girl.
Hence he fOresaW that in exposing his
son te a meeting with this creature she
would not fail to Try to ruin Wideawake
also, but the latter, being wen warned,
would not be caught in the trap by
which so many others had persisted.
About p. M, ON the fifth day, young
LecOq, in all his glory, was walking on
| the riverterrace in the garden of the
Tuileries, when q remarkably beautiful
| lady passed close to him. She was not
alone, but followed at a short distance
I by a species of duenna. The Young
| lady's age might be from twenty-five to
twenty-five, and her face and figure
were models of beauty. Wide-aWake
examined her with interest; his glances
are not lost, for pleasant ones directly
| respond to his. He forebOded that he
was in for an adventure could this be
the girl he was looking out for 2 In or
der to make certain he checked his pace
and eventually sat down on a bench
| facing the Champs Elysees.
| He had not been here more than ten
minutes ere he saw the couple prowline
| around him, and end by seating them
! selves on the same bench. They bowed
in the usual fashion of the age, entered
into conversation, and the artful youth
who thus found his affair ready made
asked the duenna who her companion
might be.
"0h! sir,nn was the reply, "my mistress
history is almost a romance
| The duennA hereupon proceeded to In
form Wide-awake that her mistress was
a daughter Of a great Polish prince and
sole heiress to his estate. Wide-aWake
| on his side, told the gouvernante, with
all the ingenuOusness possible, that he
was the son of doctor at Nantes, and
sent to Paris to attend the lectures
After some minutes talk the old woman
took Wide-awake;s hand.
!" You have gained my heart, and ]
really feel an affection for you. Here il
Ia proof. Listen to me. My mistress
has just seen you you please her. She
instructed me to find out who you are
| Come this evening to the great gate OF
| st. GeTmain FAuyerrOis, where | vii
meet you, and, in all probability, bring
you good news. Do not fail to adorT
yourself at your best, for you would bt
ruined it you appeared before my mis-
| fpnSS like n needy stl1dnnf
| After this they parted, and Wide,
| awake was mad with delight, as he fell
| certain he had found the girl to whom
the disappearance of the young fellow
was due. He hurried to his father ana
I told him all that was going ON. Lecoc
/ shared his sons suspicion and hope
i butin the hour of success, paternal ten.
derness was aroused, and he trembleC
/ at the peril the young man must incur
/ In order to diminish its extent, he as
sembled his most trusty myrmidons
and ordered them to. keep close to hi
son, though without compromising thu
success OF the plan, and placed himself
. at the head of the squad.
/ AT nigltfaIl, w ide-aWake, More hand.
s0mefy attired than before, presented
himself at the indicated spot. As tht
church doors were being closed, d poorly
CIdl N0lita SIdSIgSU- from Tic sdCFcC
Eellifice, looking around her furtiyely
and, recognizing Wille-awake, made
him a sign to follow. They passed
/ through several streets, closely followed
i by the spies, and at length stopped in
taatOf dies 0fecres, in front of rather
! fine house.
"My pretty boy, !" the old woman said
to Wide-aWake, the lady does MOI
Il live at. this palt1y spot, but, as the
house is her property s she wished to re.
eeiye you in 1t. will go and inform