Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-04-25


A STRANGE SroRY-They tell strange sto-
ries of the time Of Napoleon's wars. Here is
one of them -
In 1907, a young Polish officer, being with
the division that was advancing on the Vistula,
obtained leave to visit his father, whom he had
not seen for years, but whom he hoped to find in
the paterna mansion, situated in wild part OF
the country, but not very far from the route
which his corps was taking. He was, however,
surprised by the night, as he was still riding
through forest of frs which seemed intermina>
be lie therefore put up at small roadside
inn, where there were two ladies' put up-a
mother and her daugher-two polish ladies',
who were hurryng to meet the husband of one
of them, a colonel in Jerome Bonaparte's army
They were in a great state of alarm, the cons
duct olthe people bout the place having reused
their suspicious to an alarming degree. Al
their request, the Pole took up his quarters in
a room from which their chamber entered, so
that no one could reach them without passing
by iIim. The room he thus occupied was on
the first floor, and al the top of staircase, from
which access was obtained by trap. door,
This trap the officer shut and fas ened bya wood.
en- bolt belonging to it. Then, telling the ladies'
to fear nothing, he placed a sword and pistols
on table beside him, and resolved TO keep
watch. About midnight, he heard steps on the
staircase. No answer was returned to the
challenge lie Immediately made on the contra
ry some one tried to force the trap. The off,
Ger, observing IA hole two or three inches square
in ii, passed the muzZle of one of his plslos
through it, and fired. There was the sound of
body rolling down the staircase. But The
attempt was soon after renewed th, time, how
ever, differently. A hand appeared through the
hole, and grasped the bolt the bolt was even
half withdrawn, when the Pole, at II single blow,
severed the hand from the body it belonged to-
There followed groans and horrd impcecaions
but nothing more took place that night In the
morning, a squadron of French cavalry arrived,
and the ladies were placed in safety. Not a
single person was found in the inn. The Off
Ger continued his way to his fathers house,
One thing, however, had much struck him, the
hand he had cut off was very small, deceat
and white; moreover, one OF the fingers wore
ring of considerable value. The ring he took
possession of, with strange uncomfortable
feeling of coming eve which increased as he
went on. Arrived at his fathers house, he
was told that his parent was i'll, and in bed
lie was, however, soon introduced TO his pres-
ence. The old man was evidently suffering
great pain; but he converSed with his son tor
some lime, with tolcrabe composure. Sud-
denly, however, by "A convulsve movement, he
threw of the bed-cohes, and the officer, TO his
horror, saw that his fathers right hand was
wanting. ut was then you aud this is your
r!ng!" he cried in an agony OF conflicting pas
sion, as, throwing the Jewel on the floor, he
rushed out of the house, mounted his horse,
and rode of at tull speed. A few weeks aner-
ward, he found his death amid the bloody
SHOWS ol PIussian Eylau.