Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-10-24
A NIGHT IN A FRENCH INN.
By CHARLES +. PRESTON.

4 which befel friend while travelling in
France, I shall for convenience sake,
speak in the first instead of the third per-
son.
Some years ago I made pedestrian
tour from Paris through the interior of
France, to the shores of the Meditera-
mean. For one who wishes to see the
country and become acquainted with the
people, this is by far the best method of
travelling. One may be whirled from
one end of Europe to the other by cars
and steamboats,, in much shorter time
than it required to accomplish this jour
ney but doubt whether he would de-
rive so much real pleasure or information
as might be obtained by a leisurely sur
vey of one tenth the space. For my
own part-though night would generally
bring sense of fatigue-1 usually felt
repaid by what had seen in the country
and its inhabitants during the day. On
this point 1 need not dwell.
Towards the close Of a pleasant autum-
nal day, entered large sized French
village, and being both weary and hun
CRY, made my way immediatel y to the
hotel. It was quite large one, yet it
was nearly full some festival having
drawn to the village many visitors from
the country around.
After despatching a bountiful repast,
and sitting quietly in a corner of the sale
nanger for an hour, listening to the
remarks of those around, began to feel
drowsy, and asked to be conducted to q
sleeping room.
The landlord inquired, doubtfully, of
the clerk
" Are there any rooms not taken This
gentleman wishes one."
The clerk, after moments reflection,
replied. " The only one not engaged, is
No. 3D."
L" No. a." said the landlord, musingly,
well, I think we must let him have it. +"
Taking the lamp in his hand, he him
self offered to conddct me to the room,
which he had mentioned. 1t was in the
upper part of the house. A glance on
entering assured me that it was large, and
provided with two beds. One of these,
in the corner. had curtains on all sides.
" You will sleep in that bed," said the
landlord pointing to the other " and l
have one request to make Of you. But,
first, can you control your curiosity %
" If it be needful," l replied, considera~
bly, surprised at the question.
" Then l would advise you to do it, so
far as not to lift the curtains of the bed
at the opposite side Of the ROOM
So saying, the landlord put down the
lamp, bowed and left me, not little puz-
zled at the singular piece of advice he had
given me.
[ resolved, however, to follow it for the
present, and to decide in the morning,
whether to follw the same or not.
This I decided to do, because I was
conscious Of being stimulated by pow
crful impulse to lift the curtain at once,
and crafty my curiosity. 1 had howev-
or certain pride which would not permit
me to yield SO promptly to the dictate OF
this feeling, and determined to evince
: by patient waiting, that it was not out of
my power to control it. Then, too, was
quite fatigued, and knew if the act
should lead to any remarkable disclosure,
it would act upon my mind in such man
ner as to prevent my obtaining the rest
of which l stood so much in need.
l awoke the next morning after re-
freshing slumber. After l was sufficient
ly aroused to remember what had hap
pened, my curiosity of the night before
returned to me with tenrold force.
What possible harm can there be, -
thought l, - in raising the curtain Per-
haps the landlord was amusing himself at
my expense-making a trial Of my cour-
age. Pooh! iE can be nothing; l will lift
the curtain"
advanced towards the bed. AS did
SO, my heart beat little quicker than was
its wont, for my reason had not quite con-
vinced me that my surmise was correct
raised the curtain with an unsteady
hand, and beheld with a thrill Of horror
a corpse, which had been opened SO as
to expose its whole internal structure. 1t
was the body of young man of stout and
athletic frame.
InvoluntariIy let fall the curtain and
closed my eyes as if to shut out the fear
full sight. But that was not so easy
Still it stood out plainly before my mental
vision.
What can it mean p" thought 1, in
complete bewilderment. Is it possible
that man has been basely, foully mur.
dered in this inn. and that the landlord
fully aware of the atrocity. should place
men in situation to detect and ex pose
the crime }? Certainly. if such be the
case he must be daring william"
Ny blood curdled, as I thought that l
myself might be destined for similar
fate, and that in this manner the perpre
traitor of the crime would have the best
possible guarantee of my silence.
This, however, I speedily dismissed.
as l felt sure that there was nothing
about my appearance, dust-stained travel
er as was. that would lead any one to
consider me a fit object of pluuder. Be.
sides, I considered that the house was
full of strangers, and that it would be