The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-03-13

A Lovers RuSe "A Dowry Gained by Stragem.
Some years since two wealthy bachelors
lived in the vicinity of Paris. They had a
young maid. ofall-work named Marie de La
Pont. Marie was sweet, pretty girl, and
lively and piquant in her manners, although
modest IN the extreme, and this was the rea.
son the two brothers kept her in their en-
ploy. They knew that she was frugal and
economical and dressed IN the most moderate
manner imaginable. One day Marie sur.
prised her employers by informing them that
young artisan residing in Paris had asked
her hand. They strove to dissuadc her from
accepting the offer Of marriage, but she told
them she could not be happy unless she be-
came the wife of her dear Henri. SO it was
arranged that she should quit the service of
the two brothers at the end Of the coming
month
One day during this interval the two broth
ers sold some valuable real estate which they
owned jointly, and the sum realized amount
ed to 100000 francs 1t was all in bills on
the Bank of France, and was paid too late for
deposit the same afternoon.
Night came, and as the old bachelors sell
dom had such large sum in the house they
were considerably concerned lest robbers
should attempt to rob them. Their fears
were strengthened by the numerous burglar
les that had recently taken place in that
vicinity.
The residence of the old men was some
distance from the main road, and stood near
the River Seine. 1t was lonely, gloomy
location, ana on the night in question the
winds swept through the tall larches sur.
rounding the mansion with doleful and
moaning cadence.
About midnight the old men retired but
scarcely had they fallen asleep when Marie
raped at their door and informed them that
robbers were at work below.
Both the bachelors were terribly frightened,
and when one commenced to bar the door the
other Logan removing a tile from the hearth
to hide the bills.
"You have gum" said Marie; take it
and shoot the villains
But the two trembling men paid no heed
TO her advice.
"Cowards!" said the brave girl, scornfully.
VI wish that ! were man for five minutes
just then there came Il heavy crash from
the apartments below.
The brothers crept beneath the bed, where
they shivered and cringed, unable to speak
from terror
ave shall all be murdered in our BEDS
SAID the girl. 1--WE will be found by the po
lice in the morning with our Threats cut from
ear to ear. Peste! fools, give me the gun:
She seized the double barreled gun that
laid upon the shelf and started down stairs
while the two frightened men watched her
without saying q word. Presently, bang!
went the gun, anu Il groaa was heard. Bang
went the second barrel, and sCreech of pain
resoundcd through the house that caused the
blood of the brothers to run cold
A then w
tripping up stairs, but her face wore deter
mined, dissatisfied look. She asked for pow
der and ball to reload, which were furnished !;
but, before she finished loading, footsteps
were heard retrea,ing from the house.
No one slept IN the house that night, nor
were they again molested. But at early dawn,
on going down stairs, a pool of blood on the
hall floor showed that one rObber at least had
been seriously if not MORALLY wounded; and
ii was plain to see by the bloody path in the
earth that the victim had been dragged to the
river Gore marked the whole distance, and
the police were at once put on the alert for
the arrest of the living thieves and recovery
of the body of the dead one.
But all efforts proved vain, and the bravery
and daring of the young girl was discussed
far and near
The grateful bachelors were 50 overwhelm.
ed that they offered 10 give Marie dover.
"Ah! messears,' replied she, affectionate-
", how can leave you? You may again
be- attacked by robbers
"But we will not, nevertheless, stand b.
tween you and happiness they replied
"ticre are $4,000 francs-you have saved our
lives and richly deserve the money. Ii you
choose t. live in this house with your hus-
band we will repair the lower part for that
purpose, aad you can also be hired TO keep.
Dur room neat "a at present.
Henri married Marie, and they accepted the
dover ana the house.
Years passed, and recently the real facts of
his midnight robbery came to light. Both
IF the old bachelors were dead, and had will
ID Marie another $4,000 francs. The brave
girl did not refuse it. 1t turned out, however,
hat the robbers were not plural. Henri act
ID as the burglar, the blood was from lamb
killed for the purpose, and the whole was bui
ruse of the two lovers to open the hearts
and purses of the two ola misers.
AZ party IN Fourth street, the other night,
, youp,r Gentleman tried tO coax the young