The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-06-21

mouse still renamed ClOSeO ana fastened
long after the sun was up, and quite con
trary to the usual custom. One or two
stopped. in their daily passage from one
place to another, to observe the fact and
remark upon it.
"Oh," said one, ''tEe family have gone
to Dieppe, as Nanette said they were tc
do. though they have slipped away very
quietly, that's q fact. But we know they
have been getting ready"
They couldn't do anything like othel
people; they must even make a mystery
of going away" said another.
"Queer people," added still another.
They must have gone in the night, VI
said fourth person.
That's just it," responded one of the
first speakers, "where there is so much
secrecy there is sure to be some good rea-
son for it. No one knows anything about
this Madame Brienville and her pretty
daughter, though she has lived among us
these two years and more"
"She is registered by the police, aud il
there was anything wrong about her they
would find it out, said another.
"Very true," responded another of the
group, who was discussing the matter.
" Leave madame in peace. Ifshe chooses
to 60 to Dieppe by night, let her CO."
And 50 the subject was dropped by the
neighbors. If anyone asked about the
stone house, which presented the aspect
Of dwelling Theoretically sealed, he was
told that the occupants had gone to
Dieppe to pass the summer by the sea-
side, on account of Madame Brienville's
failing health, and so several months
passed on.
u, acI h., %ho s,,,,,,,o, x,,o, ~,.,o 81
winter set in, but still the people who in
habited the stone house did not return
from Dieppc. When Madame Brienville
had first come to the place, it was remem.
bered by the inquisitive ones that she had
purchased the establishment, so there was
no landlord to be looking after the rent.
gradually settling down over the stone
house aud its Surroundings by the follow.
ing epriDg, but, then, that was the owners
matter if it tumbled to the ground. A
sentiment which the neighbors fully ex-
pressed.
The isolated situation of the house pre-.
vented the fact of its remaining so long
shut up from being the cause Of much
remark, and the years from 1910 to 1850
wiz AuIt Va cuOA oNAAluS CAPElA CASVS III
and about Paris, that the old stone house
ceased to- be subject of curiosity even to
those in the immediate vicinity.
BY and by came the preparations for
the Improvements in the Bots de Boulogne,
so long contemplated.
One of the first obstacles to be removed
proved to be the old stone house, which
had lain empty these ten years. Inquiry
was made as to the ownership; but the
action of the French authorities, when
once commenced upon any given purpose,
is summary; no delay is permitted, for
the Government is all-powerful. So an
order was issued to tear down the house
without loss OF time, and now that attcn-
tion was directed to the building, the au-
thorities were themselves surprised that
the affairs of Madame Brienville had been
permitted to sleep quietly for so many
years without coming under their surveil.
lance.
Curiosity was aroused once more in the
neighborhood when it was proposed to
tear down the stone house.
The usual forms were observed, and q
suitable officer was detailed to oversee the
solving of this mystery.
The doors were broken in very. easily,
for decay had weakened them, and ere
long, they would have fallen from the
eating of rust, damp and general decay.
Strange was the sight that met the eyes
of those that entered there. The dust and
mold were many inches deep upon every
thing. Articles lay about as they had
done in everyday use, but coated with
the deposit of years. The close, damp
atmosphere was oppressive and the STILL
ness Ominous! Nothing had been packed
away as if for departure or a temporary
absence of the occupants.
There stood table with the decayed
food in the dishes, the cups and saucers,
knives and forks and spoons, lying about
as though left there to be cleared away
before the next meal should be prepared.
There was strange and mysterious sug-
gestiveness of something TO be discovered
in these signs which met the eye at every
turn.
Presently the officers wentup the dusty,
creaking stairs, and into the first room OF
chamber they came to.
All! what do they see that causes them
to startso, and to hurriedly address each
other?
These are men accustomed to all man.
ner of exigencies. but they almost tremble
with excitement now.
Upon the bed they beheld-one of them
having thrown open the barred Window
the skeleton of woman, half clad in q
nightdress, the whole under . coating of
mOldl The mystery was about to he
solved. Here was the evidence Of muir
der, too plain tn be mistaken.
Other roomswere hurriedly visited.
In that next to the one first examined,
they found another skeleton, half clothed
: this one lying upon the floor near the
door. a. If on the way 10 join the person
who had occupied the first room.
In the rear room, upon this floor, was
found still another skeleton lying cross
wise upon the bed, and partly clothed,
like the others.
These three skeletons were the only &C.
cupants of the house. The officers called
In some of the neighbors toqucstion them,
end ct lest one or two were found who re-
membered about Madame Brienville and
her family and part Of the mystery began
to be unraveled.
Here in the first room was the mother
in the second apartment were the homes of
the daughter, the once lovely Loise; and
in the third and rear room, there Law
across the bed the skeleton of the old
domestic, Nanette. Evidences were soon
found that showed the house had been
robbed, and these women murdered, some
ten or twelve years since.
Further examination showed that the
r0bbor q robbers must have entered the
house from the roof, g the only window
Or place of ingress and egress found un-
barred was that Of Q rear one In the upper
half-story Of the building. After satisfy.
ing themselves upon this point, the off,
cials returned to the chambers where the
ghas3ly skeletons lay.
The bonoD alone were leftl
Tho rats and other vermin had eaten
every particle Of the flesh from the frames
years and years gone BY. qgis8
After proper Ofilcial action had been
taken. the remains we're decently arranged
! and buried.