HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1889-02-08, Page 7erVf 134,
• as
gab wOfincis,--hero, here, hero, here, -
MYSTERY OP TrIF FAT UT
4 4 4 • here arid here."
He indicated on his own bread the
• places where the murderet1 man. had
About ten years dge busine.sw coin- been stabbed; his forehead was beaded
pelted sa.) to Vtake ffeqUent 30uravys -with perspiration and Ids words seeraed
Tram. Lausanne to tBentier, In tho:v---nlley to stick in his :throat. For a few mo -
of Lake Joint. meats lie reumbsed silent, apparently
At first this inountain trip, which had contemplating the corpse of cidDiathurin
to be Made in an ordinerY diligonee, pliet•oaph
z -red on his memory, r.lisen, re-
seemed to alio exti•oniely tedious. 'Ilion, .: Sinning Ins story, ho said:
11441 by 1131°, J. 1.)°;°30 ir-40)41143 with "Tho governor cf the province asked" -
the mountain ways that 1 traversed as :me who committed the 'crime, but I did
hi a dream,. and at Last 1 cacao to love • not know. How could 1? Ltow was any
them, 1 loved the austere •molssicholy ' one to know? There had never been au
of the somber horizons, the inuritturi»g assassination in this part of the celmtry.
NVOOds of dr, the pastures of 1)n, thin Nothing had been taken from Hatheirm.
ATaEs, among which the hardy yellow ' Flo must have. been killed for revenge, as
gentians grew, the isolated and - silent • aleylan eaia. Bet who had thus wreaked
Obaletst ana, ?Awe all, the lako, that his vengeance and for what? Every one
mysterious laTi:e which. received many in the village loved poorold lllathurin,
streams and 114 no vieiale outlet, but who come here twice a year like a bird
emptied. the surplus of its dark and slug- that brings goal. luck. .A.11 began to
'oish water into subterranean cbaanaols, eearch forathe murderer-tho gendarmes,
v
the people of the a
ailed their judges, ll tins.. illge-
a
:deo acquired an affection for the in- •
but it wao melees. Am), the search was
• mbitants a the region, who c
valley the valley, as if there were no continued for a lo:ag time, although
other in the world. They were a sturdy nothing. was discovered. Nothing ever
race of mmIntaimq°,1?e48a7-3ta and worl;- will be diecovered-nothingl No, it will
men, most of th.ni bung engaged iu the never be known wilo killed. poor old Ma-
neanufaeture of wattles. They were thruin!"
descendants of a number of .fainilles of As ho said this his vcioo was gredually
French refuleeee, had ekl fashioned man- lowered, and was. filially lost in oohs. A
um, were intellient, 'laborious, eatne, moment afterward, relaxing Ws grasp,
feirly well educated, scrupulously hon- ho took hie hand leo= my arm, and Ins
est and devotedly pious. 1heaving chest sent forth &rat -sighs. At
I took the diligence at tho station of 1 kat he carried his 4,,1acs to Lis lips, 'took
Bornainrootiers about 4 o'clock in the ! .several swallows of absinthe, rose from
afternoon, and by night. it had conveyed , his chair and returned to his comer,
Ule to Scotia, etopping at eupper-time at 1 where ho reeumod his former mysterious'
the principal inn of the village of Pont. manlier. Looking at him. I asked my-
Thereeafter having pm:tea-on of a plate 1 self if 1 lited been dreaming, if this extra-
.o.f soup, 1 was served with one of .those 1 ordinary being wore a reality. and had
delicate trout which aro the ElpecialV of i been sitting face to face with me, his
the. place, end with a bit of excellent. 1 hand upon my am, and speaking to me.
"vadherin," tale savory cheese of the 1 The servant cane to tell 'me that so.y
country. Th beet saluted me, drank, a1 supper was served. at another table. I
small glass of white wino with me, and did not have much appetite. However,
at my departure gave me hi 1 s land witi
a cordial "teu revoir,
Every time I stopped at this inn I saw
til ono corner of the room, seated at a
table with a glass of absinthe before bira,
a gaunt old man, with a llow complex-
naado an atternpt to ent my soup.
When the innkeeper returned I called
him to ins and said:
"Toll me what you know about this
strange man who has just related to me
..
WS first emotion haidng goon &grew*
ho tpiked, more freely than at tho in, as
If, 'having been obliged to malce a goatelort,
effort, ho had, sueceeded through. that of -
fort la putting soma lucidity into Ws
'dee.%
"The corpso lye» there," ho saki, "at
the foot of that t:r tree, stretched out in
that direction -the extended es" -,s ul-
most forming a (Tose, the left legulic,latly
ou,rved. Tkier0 was not muelt blood. The
ground was damp, and we were able te
'.race the Otops of the enassin. Ile wore
large shoes, with:Navy nails. After the
raurdor ho want toward, the lake by that
little path which crosses tbo field, per -
baps beeatiee ho wanted, to wash his •
hands. Ile raturned and tool 100 eta
toward Lien, apparently to throw peep o
aft hie trac14. then he event•to Pont. At
the edge of the village his traces were
tot -at six paces from my bow°. The
Wife was never found. Nothing -was
missed from alathurires effects; lio bad
Loa frame in his poe•aet. Could you
coneeivo of anything eo mysterious? 'Up
• to the present time tho murderer' has not
been. discovered; that's certain. The at-
. fair happened so long ago -nearly every •
one has forgotten it. But I-1 have not
forgotten. it!"
ho uttered these last words in a
broken voice, his fade still .expressiou-
: lees, his eyes fixed on the fatal spot, the
problem, which had already presented
each. to me was brought to my iniad
mare clearly than ever. .1low, I asked
myself,. could a sensible man.-onewhorn
the citizens, not only the ignorant peas-
ants, but the intelligent and educated
people, intrusted with. their interests be -
caste they considered him the most
capable and holiest man among them -
how could Buell a man be driven almost
to monomania by the murder of a ped-
dler/ The continual contemplation of
ere= deele problem. might, of course,
cause such mental aberration. On the
Mho.. hand, tbe peaceful lifo of those
monotaineere was. too simple and too
healthy to bring on mental troubles
which result from the .overwork, ambi-
tion, intemperance and excesses incident
to life in the capitals.
the story of Matb. ur int s assassination." Thus' uickly argued with m self while
loll. Ile . was negligently dressed and My host smiled calmly as he replied.
was smoking his pipo and contemplating "Ah, he has told you that story. I ,Eiroand stood there rooted to t ie spot, as
his glass; he was continually absorbed, know he woukl toll it to you some time., though spellbound by his memories. 1
. apparently, in a drunken reverie or ea IIe tolls it to everybody. He can think looked at him again. His face was still
mammies. of days long pate. Tho bra- of nothing else. Ho is not happy, poor expressionless, but tho sweat rolled down
keeper, whom I finally questioned in re- old man." his cheeks, and in. his look there was
goad to his strange guest, said: "Rut why does ho remember with such something. terribly tragic. Then a hor-
nThat is X. Arnaud, who was the syn- distinctness a crime, which most of tho rible suspicion, which perhaps had O-
dic of Pont in 1855, the year of the people of the village have long since for- ready been outlined in my mind, Bud -
.crime." • gotten?" denly promoted itself to me, and in -
Tho horn of the diligence summoned , ""Ah! He was the syndic when the stiactively without reflection I oz -
lam before I had timed:
to inquire concern- crime was committed. It was he whc claime
in tho the details of this crime, WIACil was first touched tho corpse after its diseov-
"But, you wretch, it was you who
aelled the erime, just as they spoke o,f ay. It was ho who -formally announced killed. him!"
the valley. the murder to the authorities ancl or- Arnaud turned toward mo,, his eyes
On ,any next visit to this region, en dered an inquest:, and he took an active wide, open, his form almoet erect. A
stopping at Pont one cold, clear night in part with the police in searching for the little foam came to his lips. Ile clinched
October, I was informed that it would be assassin. All this affected his mind. At his fists and =no toward me, and then,
necessary to remain at the plopo several first no change in him was noticed, ex- as 1 retreated, he throw himself uponthe
houra in order to repair the diligence to cot that ho. seemed to be a little nerv-gr?und, exclaiming in a hoarse voice:
which some accident had happened. I • ous. People said, 'Ale the poor syndie: he 'Alit do not denounce mo! Do not de -
was the only passong. er, and the inn- is troubled °tortilla affair.' Then, when noull° nler
keeper having gone to look after the the inquest
was finished., I io sent in his re- He dragged himself along the ground.
diligence, I found myself the only °eau- signation,as syndic, saying that he was At last lue features underwent a change
pant of the room, excepting that strange not worthy to hold the calico, since he and. his convulsed face, contortedmouth,
old man, who sat there smoking before aflowed people to be assaosinated---auet dilated nostrils and enormous eyes
his half empty glass. Curious to know as if he were to blame for DIathurm's showed his lereor. Something of the
more of. this strango character I took a murder. To show their confidence in fear that possessed him was communi-
seat at the table next to his. I helped him, the "people Wished to send him to catecl to no, and at the same time 1 felt
myself to a glass of vermouth while the grand council. He declined to go. great pity for him. What crime deserved
waiting for my supper, and opening a He was the wealthiest land owner in this this long period of torture What pun -
newspaper 'Which lay near by I began to part of the country, and was hold iu ishment could compare with it? Geetieu-
glance at it. groat esteem by sal. Soon afterward he lating wildly, lie repeated his prayer it
• He soon seemed to hive the eame mai- lost bio wife and also his son, who died a has*" valew
osity to. regard to roe that I had concern- of a cold caught on the fronthe during
"Do not denounce mo! Do not de -
ins him. Slowly lie raised his largo tho W. Then ho took to drink, and nounce me!"
head, which had been nodding; hiseyes, would repeat to people 070r and over "Do not fear," I said, "I am neither
which W01:0 usually half closed, were again the story of Math:mires murder. judge nor •informer; I will keep your
opened sufiiciontly to fix their glance on People began to shun him, and at last he
secret. But why did you"—
me; his lipe raoved as if he wishedto talked with no one except strangers, to raelI, oediriniailne„di mgmythought and interrupted
speak, and he coughed. Then with ' whom ho recounted the history of the me
a trembling hand he took his glass, rose:
memo. Yes, he is certainly demented, "No! No! No! 1 can say no more!
with an effort and came to ray table, at . and absinthe has helned to unsettle his That will never bo known! Noverr
which he seated himself opposite me. I mind. Ho no longer 'busies himself with Then. rising from the ground with all
laid down my paper and addressed setae anything; his affairs aro in disorder, his the agility of a young man, he tookflight
words to hen, which he did not seem to property la morteaged, and in. a few and ran toward the village.
ed hie accuse:caned . • ho will become a, charge on the
During lei following winta I clid net
'at
th v Ile but
hear. Ile had restmi 3 cam
attitude; his eyes were half closed, his commune." Imve cec sioa to revisite a y,
head drooped, and I almost, believed that In my dealings with the inhabitants of in the spring I again went to Sender.
he was Spellbound to eternal silence. Hie the valley I had found them to be voey On stopping at the inn at Pont I no -
presence became embarrassieg to me.
b es= to feeI uncomfortable, and that I oon.scientious people, and could rnder- tieed that the corner of tho room
\Thera old Amend. used to Bit drinking
l
inaght become more at nay eneo before stand how their sensitive mindsmaght bo tortured by scruples and, cloubte. Efow- abeinthe was vacant. I asked the inn -
this Man, who seemed to take no notice over, tho case of the each syndic seemed .keeper what had become of him.
"Ah., the poor man 1" ho replied. "It
of me, I again took up my newspaper, extraordina,ry to nie. 1 believed that 1 is a sad story. Youe know 1 told you
when, he suddenly etretchdd out toward. haclaunt
f I in it ono of those strange cases that he was a little crazy. Well, it vas
me his heavy bony hand, laid it upon ray of mental derangement resulting from found that ho haca lost his wits alto -
arra, through which I could. feel a nor- the exaggeration of one faculty, a froze He finally persuaded himself
;vows tremor run, and said: dwelling upon ono idea, to which the gether'
that it was he who had killed old Mathu-
great cleal of attention; ancl I made up •
at 1
ALL
• , "Do you not kLIONV the history of the psychologists were beginning to give a rin,,, and ho denounced himself as tho
1 was astonished, and signified triy ig- my mind that I would follow it more murderer. It became necessary to put
. nor,ance by shaking my head. Ile at closely. As soon as I had finished re., him in an insane asylum."
.7 "But," I said, afterh slight hesitation MASON Br,ocic
once resumed in ar hollow voice: . supper I approached the old man, who "what if ho wiz() not insane? What if
„ ,e, , , nn4 in .0 had just boon served with another gime
Aim, without rmaesng his ...0,..... On my of .absinthe. ho really wero themurdererr
"Ah, well! I will tell it you." -_ • • •
arm; which, for a moment, his 'strong ;
"Xs the lace where tho murder we's aly host regarded mo with an air of .
grasp pained, he began to speak in tho committed") far from" this village?" -I stiipefaction.
: measured accents Of tho people of that "sle a, murderer:" ho enclainacd. "How
rogiou, Ins face wearing a fixed ores- asked.
IIo raised his eyelids, loel!-ecl at me a
.
sion, which nater for a moment chan,ed: raoment, ancl then rising, said:
"It was in 1855," ho said. "I was then "Como, and 1 will show you the clot."
tho s die of Pont. One morning old - 'Wo left tho inn together.
Meylan, the forest guard, came to sual- -
Lu. ice mimed throaeho" tho r I fr
moil me. Ms was greatly agitated. .:11e ,,,. - t.., "..,„.., '-'' . ---ap°. Cl Eln.i.lung my conviction. / Len 0
Tho houses, tho roofs •sc.i.,,b. t,"'_cir chnn..
,., ...reaucl's confession to myself, k ..1
said: (Ilave you not heard, M. Arnaud?
Old Mathurin has been assassinated; his itys, _ the trees . and' tho ineceive cla
e -arch were all elatinctiy outlined ks the ite was e.1 tl,ssi...j. scrisksz with rs , " !-
leave never made ue my mind wheh r
mosso
near has
Come and see.' " air 1 could he.p.! •;.'„'a ianen lc:Urea crtekto or tho victim. c,f monomani -.'rai.
latcd by A. I. Haven, fee= the E'rOncla
ans.
body has boon found lying in tho road ' white moonlight. In tho keen, frosty
My strange companion paused for •
Infanent and then eaid: . , nada <Air itu.s; N.bile the touoths cf the
. of Eanun,rd. hod, for law, Yor as Prezz,
evergreen fir trees rep, eated then mono -
'Do you not 1:410AV W110 Mathurin was? •
to:c.v.:I plaint. Tho waters of tho taket a
came to
o valley sellino Earls paper, Imo) part of which w,.,s vi,i1,1 intim. .`. Wonderful rorbcataace.
' ite was a French peddler. Ho often ,
I mos . ,
JAS. W. INGLIS,
MANUFACTUREa AND DEAL= INA
uttegs, Sleigks,
Buggies, &a., ag.
Repairing of all kinds attended to.
Agr PRICES VERY MODERATE.
GIVE ME A CALL.
YOU OUGHT TO GO TO
S
7
8
CDOTEEIITG ]J POIR,ITTILA
Where is to be found the FINEST, BEST SELECTED and CHEAPEST As-
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• • INGIIAM, ONT.
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OflTnfaithful, Sluggish, Slumbering or Napping 'Watches
yherorgilly Diaguned aud Fut Right
IN FRAME AND DISPOSITION, BY
E.
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§
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0
Besides, he keeps the Most Varied, Select, Elegant and Cheap
Stook of
WATCHES, JEWELLERY, &c.'y
IN WINGRAM.
01
•
can you iraegine that he would corarait
such a crime? Ile did not have an en- -""""'""'"'"'"""""'""'-
cany and was the most upright man in
the placer
This perfect. confidence had the eVect
UFFIEL 8z
th
moonlight, driven by t'ao wind in 1.vr.ved One cf the editore of this paper wits
pocketbooksecto. Ile hag een'Iniower
tipon the pebbles oT tho shore, cent- assaulted by a drunken, )1Iexicao the
p ained like too hrs. Along the road ' other day while crossingthe turbid cur -
here for years. ., -. .i .
.. "Ho had not an micity in the wald. I
arnand's shadow advanced heeide Mine. , rent of events which. divides the two
ant it ourselves. Ile told stories to ' no walked with a heavy step. his back revublies, but refrained from adopting
no was a good, honest fellow', a Protest -
the childrezl and. el.-plained the Bible to slightly bent, his head lowered and his 'policy of retaliation from a lbasliful hesi-
'them. Only the day before hems killed arrno twilIng.
as WO went on. over the real, national controversy and an Unwilling -
Me said nothing, Ly. taney of btv.oming the sub3ect of inter-
ior in,y- little girt-wbiek tool; us SOInt (.11tallOO frOM, OW . IlOSS. to e..(1).11N0 11110 SOC6011 of his bril-
1 !cad I:relight sonso playthings from him degrees,
"-Well, I went with old itleylan. All lake, he beamed. to walk with nur:o diill. , lifint contributions to the coluning of .The
the people -the whole village--svere on • cul(. Allioneh his face NVPS Still ram. ! Guide. Now is dia. time to subscribe.--
the road. And poor old Inithurin-wo mobilo and his step 'Watt LAW, hails braaal. I na310 nes (Tex.) Guido.
found. him tying rigid in death and tilt': was ItaavYf and et lar.t he procced4 !
ant:than C a 011, wholesale nna rotpail. , EaVetrnighillg
white. Why, he was ns white as the only with great efi:ort, At a tun in the 1 :Tile Ilethoit of It.
American end C ' - 0 I. '
road veher.3 CVO trOCS fort ed a sort, et ' ll'i-.1 Derr.;. --You surely flidn2livc,hbet
' specialty. •Repairing ntatly :ma pkomptly done,
I could never fOrget it. WhY, 'even noW Lt triangle he p.aused, dr...w a 1,..nghro-t-t,Ivor, littlo. half starved ral
str)w, If 1 should live a hundred yoars
tH13
NyvanAla...
SON
give all classes a chance to invest their means to the best advantage ie
C40
lee
tin
T. amps,
Lamp Goods, Cutlery anCI Woedenware.
mishil:e bat call atAl inspect our sto.ek laud gf,t, our .
uu tptrt:catki: -ail
and 'with rt, vuick ram= tati.oniatic '",:r.t. Mr NaSY-4;11y r`O` I WOOldritt 4.0 P
' tvreitt1311 icrs liitii-AvilinTittlt1;(ililliYalcz: ttinrS(''Ilty.' tar,?. et- 1,1.4e rk.4. ;lit t'lrip., said: , t'. i tbhag: lite that. II; 'was coming Out
, from under a wall, and1 simply clubbed . •
Thoze was notoing ii-nister about tho lihn with the butt of my gun, stamped DI)
look.% And ho looked so peaceful-nat- "t1;11-3 ''''t'16t31)91,".
many, for his soul was hi lieaven, At 1 I • 1 L
kit it aid ilot, vio was 006,1 /IQ innj auestiona. Contrary te mY ca.»ectation. i anolis Bentinol. b . I
1) ate, on in, to ma '0 sure he Waii mine, •
1 wanted to ask thoold ratli cetera • henget:lads hbad »A»inst a tree.-lndian-
Itleylates suggestion put my band on
kis breast telearti if Ids heart Sat boat
FIELD & SON
STON:11 BLOCit,