The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-03-19
CATlSSON COUSSAC.

entered the guard at Limoges, where the
adjutant one morning informed us we
had an important undertaking on hand.
An Honest, poor man, 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, NJ. 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 bad
been dispatched to Chateau-neuf. to Am
bayac, to Saint Sulpice and Lauriere,
Belac and Rochechouart. Such orders
are somewhat perplexing. 1t will not
do to depend too much upon. the appear
ance. There are those of unfavorable
mien who are most worthy. | once
knew person whom they might have
guillotined, or at least sent to the galleys,
for his looks. All, well, he was a man
to whom in every other respect they
would have given tine Montyou value.
He supported n 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 unknowing)y
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 so few indica-
tions to guide us, and the affair was one
of mystery.
One day when | was at the guard
house a beautiful girl with black eyes
| like mulberries, and red lips like straw
berries came toward me, saying:
Have they any news of the assassin?
am the daughter of Leonard Coussac."
That was something worth hearing.
| She spoke with so much energy and feel
ing that | felt ashamed of not having put
into custody the wretch who had killed
| her father. Then | tried to excuse my
self, saying how meager was our infor-
nation regarding the assassin and this
and that, but she looked at me so steadily
| became embarrassed and said suddenly:
"Well, miss, | would risk an arm or Il
limb to catch the rogue for you"
And spoke the truth; yet it was not
perhaps professional duty that made Inc
say it, but those velvety black eyes.
"Only," said, 1--WE must have a clew."
"A clew?' And then she shrugged
her shoulders. rs not the hand one"
"The hand. What hand 2"
Then Catsson Coussac related to me
the story of the crime, which l confess
| chilled me.
1t was one evening in September.
Poor, honest Coussac had at his house in
Fenbourg Montmailler some money
which had been intrusted to him by his
patron, NJ. Gabourdy, the contractor,
about 10000 francs, with which he was
to settle two bils-one with 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 u wool stocking. 1t is nee
essary to explain that there was a gar
den back of the house, and, facing this,
window, the height of man, the shut
ters of which were generally closed, but
which on this particular evening, the
worthy man, being trifle warm left
open. He read there, under the sky
light by small lamp, and Catisson
heard him turn over and over the pages
of his almanac. She has often told me
that she felt, while working mechan-
ically, a little drowsy, by this noise of
the paper, so regular, and by the tick,
of the pendulum, and that, suddenly
raising her head from her work. to yawn
and see if it was not time to go to sleep,
she saw, believing at first that she was
mistaken, that she dreamed: that she had
the nightmare-she saw between the
folds of the shutter passing, moving
softly, softly, n hand, large hand, but
with something frightful about it that
Catisson remarked at once, the four fin
gers, almost as large as the thumb, be-
ing all of the size, as though cut by line,
vet they were not cut, only terminated
hand glided along the shutters, evidently
seeking to open the blind noiselessly
Then it remained motionless, as though
its owner knew that Catisson had discov-
cred him. For moment she believed
she had not seen Alright, that the
light of the lamp had dazzled her
sight. But when she opened her
eyes, very much frightened there
was the moving hand, with its enor-
nous even fingers, tatlsson wished
TO scream. but seemed strangled by that
terrible hand. Then she suddenly arose,
and, seizing her father by the sleeve,
pointed to the hand on the blind. But
at the same moment that old Coussac
turned, the robber quickly pushed open
the blind, and "A current of air extin-
glished the lamp in cloud of dame
and smoke, leaving Catisson and her
father in darkness COussac, hearing
the sound of a heavy body leaping into
the room, tried TO find IA knife with
which to defend himself and more es-
pcolally the money, hut before he could
open the cupboard he was seized by tse
throat, and felt "A stroke against his
neck, then down near his heart. Catis-
son screamed, divining all, though see
ing nothing, but a heavy blow rendered
her powerless. The poor girl was in a
. faint she could not say how long, and
when she recovered found herself in the
lower hall. where Mother Coussac,
, whittier than her robe, sought to rouse
poor Leonard, who pointed to the breast
As if to say; Wound IN here-no rem'
edy,"
. or course the closet where CoussaO
had placed the money was broken open
and the bills were stolen. Such night
The Fauboury Montmailler will long re
member it. They aroused the neighbour
Y and searched the garden, where they
fomd footprints, which they measured
q Tley searched everywhere. In thu
: meantime Coussac died, and the ole
mother was beside herself Catisson
: half out of her senses saw ever tina
/ frightful hand, with the four even lin
gers gliding over the oak shutter, like
- spider or rrgb,
As You can imagine, we made every
effort to find the dog who had sent tina
worthy to Lonyat (tho cemetery at Lin
n oges,) Yes, we did all we could, bu
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