The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-01
CAFTSSO(N GOl:)iUl:jSSAC. l:)il: I

adiutant one morning informed us we
had an important undertaking on hand.
An honest, poor man, a master mason,
had been assassinated at his own home,
Faubourg Montmailler, no one knowing
who had committed the crime. 1t was
in September, and we had an agreement
to clear the roads for the unarmed chas-
seurs. The adjutant, M. Boudet. now
promoted to the rank of captain, recon-
mended to the quartermaster that the
men redouble their vigilance, and If
they found under the chestnut tree or
along the road doubtful or suspicious
characters, to arrest them. The entire
round was guarded, for the order had
been dispatched to Chateau-neuf, to Am
bayac, to Saint Sulpice and Lauriere,
Bellac and Rochechouart. Such orders
are somewhat perplexing. 1t will not
do to depend too much upon the appear
ance. There are those Of uniaForable
mien who are most worthy. I once
knew a person whom they might have
guillotined, or at least sent to the galleys,
for his looks. All, well, he was man
to whom in every other respect they
would have given the Montyou value.
He supported number of people, and
distributed to the poor all he had;
saint, upon my honor, yet with the head
of galley slave; while others who would
be granted absolution without confession
suddenly come to manacles. But they
told us to arrest, and we arrested ped:
dlers, beggars, as yellow as their wallets,
even idiots, who roamed unknowingly
over the country. Not one seemed
capable of making way with Father
Coussac. Time passed, and the assassin
of Faubourg was still unknown. Discov-
cry was not easy; we had 80 few indica-
tions to guide us, and the affair was one
of mystery.
One day when I was at the guard
house beautiful girl, with black eyes
like mulberries, and red lips like straw
berries, came toward me, saying:
aHave they any news Of the assassin !
am the daughter of Leonard Coussac."
That YVES something worth hearing.
She spoke with SO much energy and feel
ing that felt ashamed of not having put
into custody the wretch who hs'd killed
her father. Then I tried to excuse my
seH, saying how meager was o1r lnfor-
nation regarding the assassin, snd: this
and that, but she looked at me so steadily
1 BECAME embarrassed and said suddenly:
sWel, miss, would risk an ann or
limb to catch the rogue for you. IT, =.
And spoke the truth; yet it was nos
perhaps professional duty that made me
Say it, but those yelvety black eyes. - - =.
aOnly," I said, 1--WE must have clew."
"A clew?" And then she shrugged
her shoulders. aIs not 1.-The hand oneT
1.-THE hand! What hand" ?"
Then Catisson Coussac related to me
the story of the crime, which I confess
chilled me. ~-...- 80
It was one evening in September.
Poor, honest Coussac had at his house in
Faubourg Montmailler some mopey
which had been intrusted to him by his
patron, N. Gabourdy, the contractor,
about 10, 900 francs, with which he was
to settle two bills-one with a plasterer,
the other with lumber merchant. Hav-
ing, upon this particular evening
finished his repast, Father Cous-
sac and his daughter remained
downstairs after mother Coussac had re-
tired, he reading his almanac as he sat
near the closet containing the silver, and
she knitting wool stocking. It is nec-
essary to explain that there was gar
den back Of the house, and, facing this,
window, the height Of a man, the shut
tiers Of which were generally closed, but
which on this particular evening, the
worthy man, being a trile warrn, left
open, He read there, under the sky
Hight by small lamp. and Catisson
heard him turn over and over the pages
of his almanac. She has often told me
that she salt, while working meehan-
fcally, q little dgowsy, by this noise. OF
the paper, SO regular, and by the tick.
of the pendulum, and that, suddenly
raising hes,iead; from her work, to yawn
and zee if it was not time to go to sleep,
| che saw, believing at first that she was
mistaken, that she dreamed; that she had
the mghtma7e-she saw betwean the
folds Of tho shutter, passing, moving
Isofs.y, softly, a hand @ large hand hut
with something 2rightful about it that
ICstisson remarked as cnce, the four fin
tgsrs. almost as large as the thumb, be
Ling au Of the size, 20, though cut by line.
tyet they were not cut, only terminated
in this srightful way; and this hideou'
hand glded slong the shutters, evidently
seeking to. open the blind noisolesaly
Then it remained mosionless, as: though
its owner knew that catisson had discov
cred him. For moment she believed
she had nos seen Alright, that the
light of the lamp had dazzled hel
| sight. But when she opened he1
eyes, very much frightened, there
was tha moving hand, with its enor.
NOUS even fingers. Catisson wished
to scream, but scanned strangled by tha'