Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-01-22
sCan you give me lodging for the

[ Il
| was told to come in, and founl
myself in a room of moderate size
miserably furnished. A log fire Wa,
bDrning on the hearth, and three
persons occupied the apartment
The one that opened the door to me
was man about forty years of age
very stoudy built, ard possessed o.
a very sinister expression of counte.
nance. The second occupant was a
man about five years younger, with
even a more repulsIve countenance
than. the elder one. His forehead
was low, and overhung by two bushy
eyebrows with no division between
them. His features expressed down
right villiany a middle aged wo-
man completed the trio. Her face
seemed to have been cast in the same
mould as the others, and altogether
| did not know that ] had ever seen
three more unprepossessiDg looking
persons.
Il have lost my way in the forest, "
said in answer to their looks OF n
terrogation; "and if you will afford
me shelter for the night, l Shall be
happy to repay you for your hospi,
tality."
"WiIl Monsieur take the trouble
to sit down." said the elder stranger,
his eyes sparkling when the word
REPAY" was used.
"Where might Monsieur be 60
ipg?" asked the younger one.
81 am going Ito ST. Eustache. /
left h!endon. at seven O'Clock, but /
suppose | mistook the road for |
have been wandering about ever
since
"You are fifteen miles from st.
said the woman, with
kind of leer.
Monsieur is from PARISH
"Yes."
"Monsieur is not a Frenchman?"
"No," | answered, IL am an En-
giishman. / am about payinga WIS.,
it to a fellow student of mine-a
Monsieur Delatour, who lives in st.
Eutache.
"Ob, we know him we'll, answered
the younger Of the two men, dis
pensing With the obsequious polite
ness he had used before. 'He is a
very fine young gentleman
| must acknowledge this last OBJ
servation somewhat re-assured me-
for must confess / felt anything
but comfortable in the society of these
three persons.
They now commenced to talk to
each other in argOt, and | could not
understand word. After a length
ened conversation, the elder one
turned round to me, and said:
1--WE have only one room in the
house; if Monsieur will not mind
sleeping with our son be can have
part of his bed"
/, of course, Immediately con-
sented, glad enough to find a place
where could rest my weary limbs.
After pause ola few minutes,
pulled out my watch aud said ! should
like TO 60 to bed.
| noticed, at the time, significant
looks pass between the two men when
they saw my watch. 1t was a fine
gold one, a real Cooper, and had been
presented to me by my father for a
parting gift.
"Monsieur will find our son next
the WALL" said the elder stranger
"will Monsieur have the goodness not
TO awake him, as he las been sick
lately, aud has to get up very early"
replied that | would certainly
avoid waking him if possible.
The woman took up the candle
and showed me to loom up stairs.
it was the only sleeping room in
the hut, and situated over that In
which we had been seated Ili1s.
Cautioning me to put out the light
as soon as | was 10 bed, the woman
left me. t l
l found myself in a room the ex-
act counterpart of the one below, ex.
cepting that this one contained a
bedstead. Snoring on the bed next
the wall was young man about my
own age. ] cautiously brought the
light to bear on his face. The first
thing that struck me was that the
man below had deceived me when be
told me bis son was sick. ! found
bis son to be the very picture Of