Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1888-01-11

were not long in coming. At the end of
year Mira died from the effects of a pie
thOra of health.
Great and sincere was Gertrude's grief
She broke the set of her finest dozen O
towels to shrOud the icy remains of he
friend. Then, as she reflected that sh,
did not know what to do with the dear
animal, she became a prey to the mos
poignant anguish.
In truth, she was at a loss as to what IL
do. Bury the remains in the garden? No
she could not muster up the courage to d,
that; the proximity of the grave would
! have afflicted her with an incurablf
melancholy. Where then would she mi
the pet? In the depth of her despair AT
inspiration flashed, lightning like, through
her mind; the kind Monsieur Gregoire
the beadle of Saint Ursula's church,
would assist her in this her hour of sor.
row. He was so good, so Obliging! With.
out moments delay she dispatched a
lad, her neighbours son, with a message
begging him to come to see her immedi.
ately. Half an hour later NJ. Gregoire
arrived.
He found the unfortunate Gertrude in
the parlOr, the blinds of which were
closed, and which, by four lighted tapers.
was formed into a kind of mortuary
chapel She was seated upon a lounge.
where, wrapped in its white towel as if in
winding sheet, the pug lay stretched out
on us Dack. Somewhat moved by the
sight, NJ. GregOire DOTTED his hat.
He was about to cross himself. when
with sign, Mile. Gertrude stopped him
In few words, intermingled with sobs
she related her troubles and explained
what she expected of him.
ESPECIALLY" concluded she. 81 wish
you to bury the body far from here. and
to keep me in ignorance Of the spot. for if
l knew where to find the grave 1 would
go every day and wear my eyes out in
weeping over it."
NJ. Gregoire promised all that was
asked
Il will come this evening"" said he.
after dark, to take away the body. AS
you know, people are so funny! Seeing
me would be enough to set them gossip
ing"
lie returned, as he had promised, at s
O'Clock. a long cloak hung from his
shoulders to his heels. Gertrude uttered
a cry and ciasped her hands together,
when he drew from under the mantle an
oblong poplar box of the same shape and
size as a violin case.
"a cOfIinl A real coffin! Oh, Monsieur
Gregoire, you are really too kindr'
For ones friends, " replied the beadle.
with his most unctuous smile, Zone can't
do too much. Besides, you know the
proverb, added he, as he pointed to the
rigid body, ''The friends of our friends are
our friends"
Half an hour later Monsieur Gregoire
went OF with step of becoming gravity.
bearing under his arm the mournful bur
den oonfded to his pious care.
"And you say you found it in a field
near the hospital?''
poral."
''In clearing up the feldi"
I'm clearing it up"
with your plOw?'
With my plow."
THAT'S peculiarp'
Corp. Poireau stopped writing to scratch
his nose with the point of his pencil.
1t IS very peculiar" repeated he.
drawing the word out to its full length.
i shall refer the matter to my ranking
OfIicer!'
And the corporal referred the matter to
his ensign, who advised his Lieutenant.
The latter informed his captain, who noti-
fed the colonel, so that, half an hour
later, all the gendarmerie of BriduevilIe
was on foot.
Captain" said the colonel, ''you must
go to the public prosecutor and inform
him of what is going onr'
Very well, colOnelp'
The captain started off, left foot fore
most, closely followed by our friend the
corporal, who all the way kept mutter-
ing to himself, Decidedly this is a very
peculiar casep'
An hour later a detachment of police
was stationed at distance of about loo
meters from the military hospital. at the
top Of the hill from which NAV be seen
the whole of Briqueville with its short
straight streets, and, at q distance. the
harbor with its forest of masts, surround
ing countless fishing boats.
Near the detachment, the colonel and
the prosecutor were comforting together.
while, at respectful distance, the laborer'
the first cause Of all this emotion, stood
twlrling his greasy hat, awaiting to be
questioned.
All at once the attorney turned to him.
$50" asked he, ''you say that until now
this field has not been cultivated"
Why, yes, and the best proof is that
was hired to break the ground"
so that criminal might have come
mere and have buried the proof of his
crime with firm hope that it would never
be discOvered?''
''Ihat might be possible"
well, first we must see for ourselves.
I l. us 10 the spot where you made the
The ueaeant oho,,od - III,
nifty steps. He was followed by the pubIic
prosecutor, the colonel and the detacb-
lnenC OF police. Reaching the spot where
his plOw still stood in the ftlrrow. he
pointed to the earth at a box of white
wood slightly disjointed by the dampness.
and in the side Of which the plowsbare
had made hole.
Inc public prosecutor stopped and close
~ examined the object
There is no possible doubt" said he
rs he resumed an erect position. sSee
Lor yourself, colonel; iG is really q coffin -
A child's coffin, added the colonel.
Il, IL IS strange, very strange continued |
inc public prosecutor, shaking his head.
IL IS evident that we hold the clew of the |
crime. Colonel, please order the thing TO |
pc taken up with the greatest care. There
Is nothing more to do now until our re-
Iufn TO town.
The colonel said a few words to Corn.
folreau, who leaned over the gaping cit |
and gently took up the mysterious box, |
inuttering to himself; "All this is be- !
sinning to look very peculiar" il
On tne way back to Briqueville the pro-
5ecutof said to the colonel:
What a vexing coincidence Our ex-
aiming magistrate and our coroner are
away and viii be absent until tomorrow.
NOW, IN q case Of this kind, it is my |
opinion that it would be better to await
their return before investigating the mat
ter any further" ii
II believe you are right, replied the
colonel Besides, this is not q case that
an immediate examination. This
comm has been buried fully ten or twelve
months; delay Of twenty-four hours can
surely do no harm.Ti
II was therefore decided that they
would await the return of the judge and
the coroner. In depositing the object |
upon the Office table Corp. Poireau give