Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-08-24
Hew q French Mason Became Q
NeblemAn.

Monsieur de Bocher's origin indeed VAS
q the lowliest, for his father was but q
working mason in the days of the Grand
AouaTque. One evening, ss the father
was returning home with his work basket
on his shoulder and trowel in hand, a
man wrapped in long black cloak, and
closely followed by carriage without
any armorial bearings or ciphers, tapped
him on the shoulder and asked him
whether he would like to earn fve-and-
twenty louis. The mason eagerly acqui-
esced; and having entered the carriage,
his eyes we're bsndaged, and the horses
started of at great rate. For several
hours the carriage was driven rapidly
about the streets Of Paris, with the obvi-
Gus intention of making the occupant
lose all trace of the route he had trav-
ersed; and when the object had been &C.
complished, the carriage stopped sudden
~ in the courtyard Of large mansion.
Bocher was then desired to alight; and
was at once conducted, his eyes still ban
daged, into q kind of cellar, where his
eyesight was restored to him. Here he
found two men, both armed, and with
their faces concealed by masks. The
poor man was in an agony of terror, be-
ieving that his last hour had come, but
was somewhat treasured by the gestures
Of his companions, who, fearful Of trust
ing their voices, made signs to him to
make some mortar of the lime which was
lying on the floor. A hole in the wall
disclosed q recess, and the two men rails.
ing with difficulty weighty, strong box,
v&1ooaI - - <hn lot "a A. - - =
to the mason to build up the wall afresh.
Bocher, seeing that nothing was required
of him but the legitimate exercise of his
craft, quickly recovered his self.posses-
sion; and guessing that the proprietors
of the treasure were obliged to quit the
country, and had hit upon this device for
cOncealing it until better times should
dawn upon them, the notion of appropri.
ating it to his own use flashed like light
ming across his brain.
When he concluded his work, as if in
tending to give last polish to its COM
pletion, he placed his hand, thickly COW
cred with wet mortar, on the new wall,
and thus left the distinct impression of
his five fingers on the hiding. place of the
tIeasure-deposit. The promised five and
twenty louis were then faithfully counted
cut into his hand; his eyes were band
aged, and he was reconducted to the car
rage, which after following the same
course of deception for three long hours,
at last deposited him in the same street
as that in which the man with the brown
cloak found him.
From that day forth Bochcr abandoned
the use of the hammer and trowel, and
passed his time in wandering about Paris
inspecting the houses advertised to be
sold, directing his attention especially to
the cellars and lower regions of the build
ings; seeking everywhere but, without
success, that imprint of his hand which
would point the way to ultimate wealth.
In the pursuit of this phantom, not only
the twenty five louis, but all the little
savings of his hard work rapidly melted
away, and misery and hunger began to
knock loudly at the mansions door.
One after another he sold the petty arti-
cles of furniture which had embellished
his bnmble home, to procure the bread
which was necessary to sustain life; and
pale and in rags he wandered about
Paris, reading every new announcement
OF vacant houses, and became nuisance
70 the porters instructed with the care of
showing them.
Two years thus passed away-two long
years, occupied day by day In seeking q
fortune, and night by night in dreaming
that il was found. He was returning
home ooe evening. sad and dispirited,
With the proceeds Of the sale Of the bed
1pon which his mother died, and which
had been one Of the very last articles Of
furniture be possessed, when has eye MAS
caught BY large posting bill anDouse-
ing tne sale Of . m.gnsfcen, mansion be-
boeging 90 the Disc dc CirOax- in the
iEmedsNfe vicinity Of his owr Dwelling.
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