The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-09-13
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FANCHETT'S LOV Err.

For five years up to the 29th of Deem
ber, 1864, Jules Ribaud lived in little
roadside cottage, within stones throw of
a post-house on the highway leading from
the village of Raincy to Paris. He was a
little, hump backed old man, and a miser.
Report had it that his hoardings were
nearly million of francs. He had lived
alone, but once his house was entered by
robbers and himself beaten so terribly that
his life for time was despaired Of The
robbers gained nothing for their pains.
Recovering, he resolved to live no longer
alone. He engaged sharp-eyed girl from
Raincy as house-servant. Unknown to
him the girl Fanchette had lover, Adolph,
a student whom once week she was in
the habit of slyly meeting at the post-house
Once month she had holiday, and pass
ed it with her lover at Raincy. Ribaud,
so the neighbors said, had once been rag
picker in Paris. On the morning of the
29th of December Fanchette had her usual
holiday and went to Raincy, returning to
her miser's house at nightfall.
During the night two of the hostlers Of
the post-house, who, by the light of Ian
tern, were playing cards in one of the sta
bles, heard wild cry of agony as of one
in mortal terror. 1t seemed to proceed
from the direction of Ribaud's cottage.
They laid down their cards and listened;
then went outside. All was dark at the
cottage; not another sound did they hear.
They returned to their game of cards. In
the morning they informed the landlord Of
what they heard.
"Stupids, why did you not go to the cot
tage? Now, go there and see if all is
right
The hostlers obeyed, and reached the
pnttagei to their surprise. found no one
stirring. The miser was also an early riser,
They knocked and called loudly, but no
answer came. They tried the door. 1t
was unlocked, In the front room they
beheld horrible, CHASTITY spectacle. They
saw Ribaud lying in the middle of the
floor, his throat cut and his head beaten as
if with heavy bludgeon. Blood was scat.
tered and clotted on the floor, on the walls
and on the bed In the rear room they
heard woman's voice family crying, as if
smothered: "Help help!' They there
beheld Fanchette, gagged and bound hand
and foot, face downward. The two men
ran out and gave the alarm. The girl
Fapchette was released, and when suffi.
GENTLY recovered told her story II was
brief. She did not see the old man mur-
dered. She only knew that just as she
was preparing to undress in the darkness
the miser,,a allowed her no light-a heavy hand
was clasped over her mouth; she was then
thrown violently backward She tainted
and knew no more When she came to
consciousness, an hour after, she was help
less; all was silent as tomb. She knew
nothing about his hidden boards. The
cottage was searched, but no trace Of val.
uables was discovered The police were
at fault; they could only vaguely surmise.
The miser was buried to the ground, and
Fanchette returned to Raincy.
On the I'd of January the account of the
murder was published in the Paris papers,
On the Sd a shabby old man came I'd the
Prefeet OF the Seine.
HMonsieur," he said, ~ am rag picker,
1 knew this poor Ribaud, the miser. We
worked together until he left Paris.
HBut what has that to do with the mur,
der? Why come to me-"
because, monsieur, may aid in finding
his murderers. You see, he has one treas
ure of which he and myself knew. You
doubtless remember that 10 years ago a
jeweler of the Rue Biron lost and set the
police in search Of two magnificent dia:
hopds, the largest ever seen in Paris ex,
cept those in the emperor's possession,
They were intended for Due D'Aumale,"
swell, ragman."
fThey were never found, for Ribaud had
them safely hidden. He dared not sell
them. He took them with him to Raincy
He had them in his cottage"
"Nonsence, the diamonds were lost, moi
stolen"
"Not stolen? That depends. I know
Rihaad had them. Monsieur, you will sec
me again. The person who has the dia,
monds is the murderer Of Ribaud, and ]
know where to find them"
The ragpicker left the Office, but at the
corner of the street he was arrested by an
officer from the prefect.
''This fellow knows more then he will
disclose. I'll keep him awhile in the Sc
cret.'
During the following month of February
Paris had a sensation in the appearance Of
dashing couple, the Count and Countess
de Trouville, who, as they reported, were
just returned from continental tour, on
their way to their chateau, in Malines,
They hired magnificent apartments in the
Fanburg St, German, and astonished even
the ancient noblesse with the extravaganza
of their style. At the opera, the theatres,
on the boulevards, among the shopkeepers
and tradesmen they became notorious. Ev-
identity the counts wealth was inexhausta-
BILE. In their apartments they held at times
high revel, and the count and the friends
he made had the widest orgies. The police
kept wary eye upon them, for they could
gather no information, as to where the
count obtained his funds,
July came with its heat. Meanwhile
the rag-picker was released, but silent.
jacquard, one of the keenest Of the Paris
ian detectives, was sent to Rainey by the
project to endeavor to find clue to the
murderer of Ribaud, the miser. The girl,
Fanchette, had disappeared. Her lover,
the student, it was said, had gone off with
her. She asserted she had received leg
acy from an aunt in Normandy. The de-
tective returned to Paris with only a mi
mute description of Fanchette and her
lover.
One day he saw the Count and Countess
dc Trouville on the boulevard in an open