Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-09-08
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From the Home Journal
THE MIDNIGHT ASSASSIN.
BY GIAcoMo S. cAMPANA.

W tiEN was i iHuCu younger man LHaQ
am now, saw no inconsidGrable portion of
Europe, with knapsack on my shoulders
France particularly, | traversed, in its length
and breadth, on foot. 1t is the only mode of
travelling that was ever satisfactory to me-
Above all things, like to be free, untram-
mcIlcd and independent; and travelling with
a kuapsack is the only way III which | ever
could secure these requisites in anything like
perfection.
The knapsack, to be sure, must not be too
| large or too heavy and to keep it from
| becoming so, 1t is indispeusably necessary to
send the wcighty articles ahead, establishing
certain depots, or headquarters, along the
route, and putting upon your back only 4 few
changes Of linen, for present use.
But [ am neither writing eulogy on
pedestrianslu nor handbook for the prac-
! tce of it. Enough OF this, therefore.
Once upon time," in the early fall
season, just as the vineyards were beginning
to blush with the ripening Of the grapes, !
was trudgiug along a solitary mountain path
leading from Lous-le-Sauluier to the village
Of St. Amour, in the Department of Jura
1t was a wildly picturesque and romantic
region. My way, for the most part, lay
along a beautiful stream, a tributary Of the
Ain; and the attractions of the scenery had
given me so many excuses for lettering, that
1t was becoming every moment more and
| more evident that it would be impossible for
ne to reach St. Amour that night.
| As the sun left ne, | was descending into
| a much more level country, but still wild
and uucultiYated one, aiiuEding 10 sign of
| human habitatiou. The twilight passed away,
tue shades of night descended, and the stars
came out, one by one, and looked as though
/ ~
mockcry at my vain attempt to find a place
of shelter.
For moro than an hour q oped along the
uncertain path, inwardly berating myself for
| the lazy, lettering, !ouuging disposition which
! had led me into such all extremely disagree
able scrape
At last, sat down upon a wayside boul-
! der, and resting my CHA upon the palm Of
upon what was the best course for me to
pursue l felt that l might walk on half the
night without finding il shelter, aud | was
therefore not long in coming to conclusion
that I could not &c a better thing than to
take the boulder for bolster, the knapsack
| for pillow, and all out-Cf doors IN general
| for bed to lie upon till next morning.
While making tie few arrangements ueccs
| sary for The disposal Of my person in this
emiucutiy primitive aDd unnecessarily aired
bed chamber, my cars we're saluicd by the
| welcome sound CT the barking Of dog.
Hastily picking up my pillow and the rest OF
my bed furniture (bolster eXcePted) in one
hand. started of in the direction of the
noise, travelling by the bark, )" as the back
wootsnlcn DC, when they distinguish the
north from the south side OF the trees by the
moss growing upon them.
The barl; did not last long enough to be o!
much use to me, III and ofitsclf but it led me tc
make an important discovery, namely, light
| shining IN Gha saure direction, which had pre-
viously been c1ue,l lied ~ a patch Of swa:apy
| around covered NTH n growth of stuntcy
trees and briars.
This Hght L followed up steadily until il
led me to small stone house, standing ii
solitary blcakncss upon the desolate-looking
moor, The light proceeded from a lamp oi
candle shining through au uncugtaiued and
) Unshuttcred window, Oh the groundhoor
AS | approached the door, [ heard the
bark again, and this time the dog accom-
panied it. 1t vas viIlanous- looking cur
till called off BY a hardly less villauous-look
ing man Ho was u tall, dark -broweC
peasant, with sour, foIbidding look, as
|
door was thrown fully open.
Good evening" said L s.Will you b,
kind enough to tell me how far it is to st
Amour?"
About two leagues said the man, gruf
Gy, with 1atois that rendered every wore
he spoke a separate enigma.
As far as my capabilities were concerned
the two leagues nigh just as well have becE
two hundred.
is there any public house between tLi
place and St. Amour?" asked L.
There is 10 house Of any kind, replied
the enigmatical peasant
; ''In that case, my friend, you will have t.
supply me with lodging for the night,
couldn't travel another league if evcy foot O
the way was strewed with gold Napoleons."
1t is u fact which [ have often observed
but which l viii not now undertake 20 cX
plain, that those who murder their mother
tongue in the most hidcous manner, maxim!
themselves nearly uninteligible to those whc
speak it iu its purity, are nevertheless able
most generally, to understand what is SAT-
by the latter tolerably well--much bette
than the said pure speakers are able to com
prehend Mcn.
OF this phenomenon had an example il
this instance The dark faced peasant ap
pearcd to understand my French (Which wa
Partisan as far Us 1t was anything) yer,
well, while at least half the words of his
had TO guess at.
After my broad hint about the lodging
the man eyed me attcntiycly from head Il
foot. and then told me that might comeil
| if liked. but | would fnd his accommoda