Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-10-16

very pretty, was PCT of her mistress,
and considerable affection seemed to
exist between them. Things went on
very pleasantly for the eighteen months
during which Marie was with Nine.
Blondin, and consequently the Vouprez
parents were greatly surprised when
they were informed on the morning of
June Z, when the mother carried clean
linen to her daughter, that Marie had
quilted the dwelling of tine Blondins on
the evening Of June 2, declaring that
she was sick, and intended to 60 home
and remain there until she recovered.
When questioned rs to how they
learned that their daughter was at Yer
sailles, Mons. and Nine. Vouprez said
that between 10 and IL o'clock that eve
ming girl called at their residence, and
said that she had just come from Yer
sailles, where she had been at service
for some time, and that girl calling
herself Marie, VINO had taken the place
which their infyrmant had left, request
ed her to call at the Vourprcz's and
tell them that Marie was safe and sent
her love, and that she would soon see
them and explain why she had left
Madame Blondin's. Their informant
made them promise not to reveal the
the fact that she had given this news.
A few inquiries were sufficient to show
the chief of police that the Vouprez's
informant was the very girl whom
Officer Place had brought to the bureau
as Marie Vouprez, and who had es-
capped from him.
Next day detectives were detailed to
investigate this very remarkable case.
There was no doubt now that
a dreadful crime had been committed,
for Monsieur and Madame Vouprez
Unidentified the ring on the severed hand
as one which had been given to Marie
by her brother, and were, moreover,
almost certain that the hand was the
hand of their unfortunate child.
The Blondins were carefully examined
by the authorities, but they told q
straightforward story, and appeared to
have nothing to conceal. Moreover, SO
far as could be ascertained, their private
character and public reputation were
good, and they were esteemed as
very worthy, kind-hearted people. The
husband was man of 80, and the wife
probably five years younger, and they
were in very comfortable if not atfluent
circumstances. Measures were taken
to find whether Marie was it Versailles,
more as a matter of form than other
wise, but nothing could be learned there
respecting her. Search was made all
over for the young woman who had
represented herself on the night of
June z as the missing girl, but without
result.
After the first zeal was over, the
detectives who had charge of the case
grew cooler, and conducted the investi.
CATION in more philosophical spirit
For instance, Place was questioned as
to the dress which the girl personating
Marie wore. Hewas very positive that
her attire answered precisely the des-
cription given in the general order of
the chief, namely: White Muslin dress
with green sprigs, black lace shawl,
plain straw hat trimmed with blue and
white ribbon. He particularly remem-
bered the dress, for the girl held it up
in the gaslight and pointed out to him
the sprigs upon it. He was very posi-
tive also about the other part of the
dress, for the girl came up to him in the
Rue Royale and asked him the wav to
the street in which the Nouprez's lived,
and it was by the dress he Unidentified
her. .. l.ei.
Here then, was most important
point gained. The girl who personated
Marie was attired in her clothes, which
she wore at the very time she had quit
ted the Rlondin's. N[aries wardrobe
was still at Madame Blondin's, and
thither an officer went, accompanied by
Madame Vouprez. She identified all
her child's wardrobe with the exception
of the attire she wore at her disappear
ance, which was wanting. Madame
Blondin was in bed and could not be
seen, her maid said.
AS Marie's mother, however, was
passing Madame Blondin's dressing
room, which adjoined her chamber, she
opened the door and glanced in. A
woman in Il dressng-gown was leaning
out Of the window, busily engaged with
something. Madame Vouprez advanced
toward her, and to her surprise discov-
cred it was Madame Blordin, who,
trembling and eager, and perspiring at
every pore, was working at something
outside the window with the handle of
a broom. Madame Vouprez craned
over with the natural curiosity of wo-
man to see what Madame Blondin was
doing.
In front of the window was Il balcony,
and in one corner of it was spout to
carry off the water. Into this spout
Madame Blondin was thrusting white
muslin dress with green sprigs upon it!