Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-11-23

/ Ills udiIs diiu repeatedly cACidiHCu, w nat
crime have committed to deserve such pun
ishmentY' He received no answer. He
begged for few hours delav, to throw him
! nature of his guilt In vain: the officer
would allow him only time to pack up few
! clothes and linen scarcely was the opera
! ton finished when he was surrounded by the
soldiers and carried outside the house, where
a coach was in waiting He was then lifted
/ into it-more dead than alive-while two
soldiers, with drawn swords and cooked pis-
/ tolls, took their seats on each side of him.
+ The doors of the vehicle were locked, and,
| the officer giving the signal, the coach rolled
away at full speed, surrounded by cavalry
escort How long the first stage lasted Fro
! gere was unable to tell, the vehicle was so
| thickly covered that not the least ray of light
could penetrate He was told'on entering the
coach that the soldiers had orders to shoot
| him on the spot the moment he opened his
mouth to put questions to them lie conse-
| quently observed strict silence, and suffered a
world of pain. The door of the coach was
at last opened-it was broad daylight His
eyes, however, were bandaged and he was
! led into miserable hut, the doors and win
dows of which were closed as soon as he en-
tered When the bandage was removed, he
saw, by the faint glimner of a rushlight, a
dish OF coarse food upon board before hiIns
Though be had been fasting for some time he
could hardly swallow morsel; fear, however.
induced him to eat, for the faces that watch
ed his motions seemed to portend no good.
Siberia Siberia that was the only thought;
he was to live in that terrible land Frogere
gave himself up to despair, when the previous
oficer-by-th the-by. an old acquaintance en-
tered the room, attended by courier. The
poor prisoner felt as if he had not seen that
friendly face for years. In the joy of his
heart he was about to embrace him; but a
motion with the hand and stern look re-
strained him, while the finger of the officer
pressed upon his lips imposed silence. He
had fattered himself that the courier had
brought an order for his release: but he was
mistaken.
The officer dismissed his guide, and order
! ed the soldiers to leave the room and wait
! outside Being alone with the prisoner, he
, said, almost in whisper, .'Frogere, we must
now part. | have accompanied you to the
first stage, and you will hence be under the
inspection OF another officer Be careful not
to speak word. / risk much even in giving
this canton; but am your friend. Have
you any orders for me? Can | serve you on
3 L
melted into tears Instead of replying to the
question, he only bewailed having to undergo
punishment for an unknown crime IAN
unknown crime 2" said the officer Don't
you, then, know what you have done? Are
you mad, Frogcrc? Have you forgotten the
sarcastic jest you made at the imperial table :?
1t has offended the Emperor; you are punish
ed becaase there was so much truth in it."
Good heavens !" exclaimed the exile.
Hush be silent p whispered the other !;
walls have ears. But, rot to waste time,
listen, Frogere. / am the only one whom
you know: hencefofth, during your long
journey, you viii find faces wholly unknown
to you. The Emperor, you are aware, is i'm
movable in his resolves, and memorable in his
wrath. You ad better, therefore, be re-
signed to your fate; you have nothing to
hope. Tell me, then, quickly, what l can
do for you p
..speak for me to his Majesty"
Not word of that" said his friend ;
task anything but that"
IF that be the case" said poor Frogere,
Il have nothing TO ask"
sand your money and trinkets," rejoined
the officer. ''you have left them all behind
Can lodge them safely for you somewhere.
until you return 2"
my return?' gasped Frogere; ''then I
am not exiled for life?'
ssOf course not-only for three years
Take courage; they will soon pass away
and then"
''Three years for an innocent word p
whined Frogere, and began to cry and COM
plain. But at this moment the soldiers enter
ed, and bandaging his eyes, they lifted him
into the vehicle, and away it rolled again.
1t seemed a very long stagc-for Frogere
calculated that he had travelled the whole
day, when the vehicle again stopped. As
before, he was bandaged and led into a
wretched hut, counterpart of the first, and
lighted by piece of blazing pinewood. The
same coarse food was again placed before
him. He looked at the faces around him
None that he knew-none that inspired him
with comfort After several similar Journeys,
the vehicle again stopped. By Frogere's
estimate, as well as he could tell, he had
travelled three days and nights His eyes
were bandaged as before; but, instead Of
being led, his guides seized him, and carried
him for some time, until thep placed him upon
wooden bench. lie waited for few mo-
ments, and wondered why the bandage was
not removed. At last he heard soft whisper
iss; anu tnen quick steps approaching. Hi'
hands were suddenly seized, and tied behisd
MS back He tremblingly asked what i
meant but received no reply. In another
moment MS coat was torn off his shoulders
ana MS breast iaid bare. Frogere now though
that eternity, instead of Siberia was 70 +,
the goal of his journey. Take aim p, IVA.
the command of one whose voice he tbougb
he knew-HFire p and several shots were .
once discharged. Frogere fell senseless !,
the ground. He was raised, unwounded
] and whilst he was borne aIonr ha -,