Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-01-22
"oUR COUNTRY Right Wrong Country"


l
ting impatient, knocked at the door, came into
the chapel, were aStonishcd to find me alone
aud asked me what had become OF the prisoner
| lie must be an angel answered, with all
the simplicity and calmncSS could assume,
for ] assure you, on tie word Of priest, he
went out Of that window Tie hcatlsmnn,
who lost his vile pay and pcrquisitcs by this
Hight OF the prisoner, was Of course in n brutal
passion, and, after inGuring in no gentle terms
whether meant to make fool Of him, hur-
ricd OIL to find the magistrates. They caIne
Immediately to the chapel, remaining seated
as before. | assured them that the prisoner
did take flight through the window that the
being who could accomplish an act SO extra
ordinary might be looked upon as an angel
certainly not criminal that myself might
even beg one possessed of such Supcrhuman
power to intcrccdc for my sins, instead of re-
cciving his confession; and finally, if the pris-
Oncr was guilty, which could hardly be the
case, in view of his miraculous escape, was
not placed there 10 be his keeper. Ny man.
ner was calm and Serious for my solitude of
three hours had qrictcd the nervous agitation
had felt at litSi.-Tlc=in eiStlaies= listened
to my recital with evident miSgivings, not at
nil complimentary to the sOundncSS Of my in
tcllcct, but finally laughing contcmptuouSly at
my evilcnt stupidity, they wished my 1,Utcgf
a good journey, whether ON angels wings or
on his feet, and went away. quickly walked
out tho chapel, breathing, as may well be
imagined, much more freely than had done
for the last four cvcntlul hours.
"Some twenty-five years after my robbers
flight. l was travelling alone in the forest of
Ardcnnas, so familiarly known TO all readers
Of Shakespeare. had lost my way, and night
| ura rOtniu,y 1i Ixhnu | InVnYtn,l- .lrnccO,
in the garb of the country, who first looked
very hard at me, then asked inc where
wished to 20, adding that the road we were
travelling was extremely dangcrous-that if
chose TO put myself under his guidance he
would take me TO PEASANTS cottage, where
could pass the night in safety was in doubt
rs to my best course and the Scrutinizing
look Of my rude companion was far from CHI
courHging. But said to myself, am com
pletcly in his power, and if he means to mur-
tler and then rob me, there is no escape; and
| therefore followed him with fear and trcm-
bling.
~ was not long kept in suspense, for we
soon arrived at the cottage lie had mentioned,
and my guide, who was its owner, told his
wife, rs he entered the doorway, to lay the
pouItry.yArtl under contribution, and to pre-
pare the best supper she could in honor of her
husbands guest, meaning my unworthy self
/ While they were executing these orders the
peasant went out of the cottage, but soon came
back leading in eight childrcn--sons and
daughters. My children he sail, thank
this good man OH your knees for your lives,
for without him you would never have been
born, and should not now be alive; hr Mred
mY Vc' then, in the utmost surprise,
looked ut my host more closely, and brought
to mind the countcnancc of the robher whose
flight had aided. Twas ofcourSc overwhelmed
with carrsSes hy the children, and received
the kindcst attentions from the peasant and
his wife, When alone with my host asked
him to relate his adventures, and especially
how he managed to get so we'll offin the world
MS appearances indicated. You may rclncm-
Der that promised to live and die an honest
man. said he, and from the hour that you
saved my life have kept my word. | begged
my way from the prison door to this part of
the world, where was born. was hired as
q farm laborcr by the former owner Of this
cottage and the lands belonging to it, and
having gained first the confidence and after
wards the friendship Of my employer, he gave
me his daughter, an only child, in marriage.
Heaven has blessed my determination. and
given me strength to lead an honest and useful
life. ! am rich enough in this worlds goods,
but all | possess is yours, and shall now die
in peace, since have again seen You, and it
is in my power to be grateful replied to
his warm protestatiOns that was but too well
repaid for my agency in etlrcting his escape
from death, by his having made 50 good use
Of the years that had passed.
81 would not, Of course, accept any money
from my grateful host, but could not refuse
to remain with him Il short time, and no prince
could have been better treated. lie did, how
ever, force upon me one Of his horses for the
remainder of my journey, and he insisted upon
being my guide until was well Oh my way,
and fairly beyond the rcaclr Of danger.