The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-12-13

how he had entrusted his treasure to the care
of his hostess. "And as Tor you, poor wo-
man." exclaimed the advocate, abruptly, turn
ing to the landlady-"as for you-why should
/ blame you women are but the tools Of
their husbands, and you are punished enough
All little thought you that one of those gold
crowns was this very morning given to Gretch-
en-, your maid, for kiss behind the door, while
you were lacing your bodice
Thou villain!' exclaimed the hostess,
shaking her fist at her husband, who stood
open mouthed and aghast.
"Ays" continued the lawyer, 'nor did you
dream that that precious spouse OF your own
promised Gretchen to run away from you, and
live with her as his wife; supporting the hus
sy on those very gold crowns for which you
perilled your life and lost your honesty !
Come, now, would you do it again, my good
yfraua'
'sNo, and in troth /" cried the hostess, rush.
ing to her husband. "And is this my return
you good or-nothing perjured deceiver T.
"Such fine woman as you, too y sighed
the lawyer; land such a mink for your rival
Well, at least you see that stolen goods do not
prosper p
"But will have my revenge" cried the
hostess, reading her husbands guilt in his face
"And if did take the poor soldiers money,
you know it was because you commanded me,
vile slave that was -
Hush hush !" groaned the host.
You hear her." said the lawyer, trium-
phantly. "But one is as good as the other
courage, mine host : If you meant to run
away with your Gretchen, your wife had prom
ised little Herman, the barber, to rob you
next Thursday, and set off with him to open
shop at Colognen'
"Ah, wretch T. cried the host, enraged in
his turn. 81 suspected as much and that's the
reason he stopped short
i" That's the reason you sewed the riX-dol
lars and gold crowns up in your doublet see
and before the host was aware, the lawyer
had stepped up to him, and with a touch of {
knife he drew forth, unripped the doublet, ano
the coins came gathering down on the ground
No words can describe the excitement tina
ensued at this exposure But the judge alone
retaining his presence of mind, and anxious
yet to bring off his brother, cried "Silence'
and as soon as the hubbub subsidized" Wor-
thy counsellor" said he, sit is not on mere
appearances that we can judge worthy man
like the plaintiff whom you have contrived sc
strangely to turn into defendant If it be
true. as you state, from motives of jealousy OIL
revenge to ruin him, how do we know but
what all this has been a trick between you
both-how else could you have arrived at the
knowledge of things done between the closed
doors of mems homes Doubtless the woman
took the money herself, and sewed it up in the
doublet unbeknown to her husband. Is mo-
so, my brothers'
"Ah, ah-ho, no." said the lawyer, ale
your brother speak for HIMSELF" and as hi
said this, the lawyer threw back his gown
his form seemed to dilate-taller and taller,
larger and larger he grew, as he stood close tc
the landlord.
"Well, then," cried the host plucking VI
courage, and hoping still by the judges con-
nivance to be brought out from the periiou'
dilemma into which he had fallen, "well, then
devil fly away with me, if l know how the
crowns got into the doublet!'
"That is all that wanted and waited for I
Cried the lawyer, "niss here-ht there" anc
he pounced on the host like hawk on spar.
row. Up flew the roof of the court-sky and
cloud peered within-and high into air, out o.
sight, flew the tiend and his victim.
Such is the true history of Kaspar Karner-
ach. his host and his boot, as it is told in the
18th book De Pr0stigiiS Demoaun,, C. 20, and
corro6orated by the illustrous and unim.
peachable testimony of Paul Eitzen, 9th sect
dc ses morales, conveying the notable and com
Portable truth, "that the devil himself can bt
friend at pinch, provided your soul is you
own and your case is good one"
AS for little Bettine, her descendants still
live at Hebron, and you may see in thei
possession the identical boot so celebrated ir
the ancient records of the Marquisate of Bran
debourg. The crowns, to be sure, are all gone
Their loss is easily accounted for, since the
good success OF Kaspar's trial had given tn,
family taste for litigation; and somehow o.
other they never found lawyer who let then
off as cheap as the devil