, 1861-01-24

| .
dish Of outlets for monsieur 10 commissioners"
| A loud explosion Of laughter followed, and
before Il had subsided the men were out Of hear.
ing A little way off they halted, and then
quietly dispersed In different directions, leaving
me alone under the starry midnight sky.
The reader can imagine what my feelings
were more easily than can describe them. Ny
first idea was to get into the cabin, and secure
some proof Of the reality Of my horrible adven-
ture. But the door was a strong one, and had
no means Of breaking it open. I then thought
Of the windows; but they were only small OBJ
long holes, too narrow to admit my passing
through them. therefore renquished the
thought Of getting into the place then, and walk
ed slowly on to the village, debating with myself
the question whether should rouse the author
ities and tell my story at once, or wait till morn.
ing
Before had come to Q decision upon this
matter, l reached the village and soon stood in
front Of the principal Guberge. With some diff
Guilty walked up the landlord and q number Of
sleepy headed servants, who undertook to pre-
pare me something to eat From the former
learned that the Mayor lived nearly half mile
of, and the commissioner Of police still further.
This information, tired and sleepy as was soon
brought me to the determination to 60 quietly to
bed as soon as could get some supper, and hold
my tongue till morning-and so l did.
] did not wake in the morning 50 early as in
tended. I therefore swallowed my breakfast %
speedily rs possible, and hurried off to the resi-.
dence Of the municipal officer. That dignitary
found to be short, squat figure Of man, with
q pair Of large wooden shoes, large breeches,
and an uncommonly large protuberapce in the
regions Of the epigastrium and parts adjacent.
Fortunately he had been brought up In the neigh.
borhood Of Lyons, and spoke very decent
| French.
Ny story made Q decided impression on bis
worship's nerves, aud the grunts and groAnS and
piteous exclamatioas which Il called forth, were
really distressing to witness Fearing lest the
latter part Of my narrative might be attended
with serious consequences, thought Il best to
break It to him gradually.
Monsieur le Marie, /" said I, did any Of your
family purchase any mutton this morningr
"MuttonP" quoth the Mayor; Eyes, indeed,
my wife had some beautiful outlets for breakfast.
They were dressed "a MaintenOn. and were
really delicious. had just finished the last one
when you came in to spoil my digestion with
your horrible story"
"Monsieur 10 Mairs," resumed ], at really
grieyes me to the heart 70 have To-"
"Well, sir, welll"
"To inform yOa--"
"Pny go on, sir"
"That those outlets"
aThOse cutletsf"
"Those delicious outlets"
"Those delicious cutletsl"
"Those cutlets a "a MGinienOn-"
"Pny, do 60 on, sirf"
| "Were-
"WersS For Heavens sake. proceed. sirl'
"Were not mutton"
"NOt muttOni JsSts sisl! what were they,
thent"
"Thoy were--they were"
For PHYS sake, tell me at once2"
"They were-hm1dn cutlets-sliced from tho
very corpse have been telling you about"
| The poor man gazed at me awhile in speech
less misery then suddenly cIappng both hands
on his abdominal protuberance, he darted out
Of the back door and disappeared Afteran ab.
sencs Of some Eve or eight minutes, he returned,
looking very pale and Woe-begone, and express
ing bis determination 10 have the sacFilegioua
scoundrels punished with The utmost rigof d
tho law. Having quickly listened 70 the con-
enormous quantity of wine and water, be beg
ged me to proceed to the 0uber0e, where be would
Fejoin me In Q short time with the commissioner
Of police and squad Of geRs daTmea
The Mayor was as good as his word, and soon
made his appearances, riding on well.led, Off.
cial.looking donkey, and bringing In his wake
the commissioner and tho gsns farmss. Mon.
sieur 10 commissioner sported tri-colared scarf,
and tried to look digniaed, but with very indiE
ferent success for the Mayor had told him, sVi-
IDENTIFY with no small degree Of satisfaction, the
story Of the spurious mutton outlets, upon which
he too had breakiasted. - 1Faf
by this time the news had spread abroad iu
the village. and as we advanced through the sin.
gle street, We were joined by considerable part
Of the population. We soon came in sight Of the
cabin, and at that moment saw fellow spring
from The door and start of at full speed down the
rRvine. at once recognized him as the individ-
ual ! had seen the night before, and immediately
gave chase, with the whole posse cOmitaus a
my heels. A young peasant was the first b
lay hold Of him. I came up next, and we held
him until the arrival OF the gels Gargnes, into
whose custody he was given. The Mayor and
his donkey were among the last arrivals, and as
we wended our way back 10 the cabin, the for
mer harrangued the culprit eloquently upon the
enornity Of his conduct, though apparently with
but little effect.
At length we reached tho hut. Being the
hero Of the occasion, I naturally took the lead
passing through the door, which the prisoner, In
his hasty evacuation Of the promises, had lefl
open. There was no one within, but the table
stood in the centre Of the room, with fresh stains
Of blood upon il At the sight Of this confirma
tion Of the horrible facts, shudder pervaded
the assembly, and Il was with intense eagerness
that they watched me o. approached the cor,
ner Of the room where the ghastly head was sup
posed to be. With something Of a melo-dra
matte flourish approached the spot thrustins
my hand beneath the leaves, and drew forth thS
CORY head Of a-deeri
What happened after that am unable 10 say,
I f0s, while the spectators were erowdlnR Pound
/ the head and hide which lay beside L. and Thils
| the DuEKled NAvOP raa wlnln0 tha glSs.aa M his