The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-22
A Night Adventure.

| the Tenth, and nearly nVe'and- -lnlrty
years ago, had been TO take farewell
dinner, and a temperate glass or two of
Medoc, with fellow townSmnn and neigh
Dor of mine, who was on the point Of re-
turning to the paternal roof at Somerset
shire. He had been studying medicine
and the elements of practical chemistry
for the last year, under the watchtul eye
of his uncle, phHrmacen in the Place
Fendome, and it was there, in the small
sky-lighted back room behind the shop,
which fronted Napoleon's triumphal col
umn, that we had our modest symposium.
| was 10th to part with him, he had been
so true a friend he it was who cranimed
me with colloquial Freneh-tbe popular
idioms of the Paris highways; who made
me acquainted with all the ins and outs,
the by-ways and short cuts Of old Lutctia,
and taught me how to solve the difficult
problem of cutting my coat according to
my cloth, which in those days was unlor-
tunatcly very Scanty indeed.
1t is not much to be wondered at that
| forgot the lapse Of time, and that, when
at length screwed myself up to the pitch
OF saying the last adeuS, and had torn
myself away, it should be verging to-
wards the small hours of morning. In
truth, it was on the point Of striking one
~'t>sN Aeh the hoUse, and before | had
well got clear Of the broad place the
hour had struck.
At any other time | should not have
cared a straw about this, but have walk
ed on quietly to my lodging in Lae,R1c
Richelcu; but now knew it would be
Of no use. That old concentrated eSsence
4f <eYoics o&e,,a5esf1,--; :. =: Is = :,
| himself little trouble, had detained my
| lettcrS ~tC Z R.araiag till came da.araa, 7i,'-
stead of sending them by the 9drc0h to
my room on the fourth floor, and | had
quarrcled with him in consequence, and
given notice to quit at the end of my
month. Since our quarrel he had used
me savagcly, and knew he was no more
likely to let me in after one o'clock than
he was to pay my tailor's bill.
This reflection brought me to stand
still. What should do? Where should
| go? To increase my chagrin, it began
To rain in rather sharp shower. In
| stinctively | faced about, ran across the
Place, and got under the shelter of the
piazza in the Rne de CaStiglione. just in
time to save myself from drenching tor
rent which burst IN the street like a wa
terSi4out. was walking up and down in
| the dark, taking counsel Of myself, until
| the storm should cease, when stumbled
and tripped over somebody lying crouch
cd up at the foot of pillar.
is that you, Janin?' said rather whi-
ming voice, which seemed to proceed from
one in the act of waking from slpcp.
No. said !, it isn't Janin; who are
you and why are you lying here at this
time of night 2.
/ TN pturre drengle" said he 81 am.
waiting here for my comrade, who has
| gone to the spectacle. You see, Mseu,
! Janiu is fond of the spectacle, and. while
he is getting his fill Of it, take my pas
! time on the cold stones
thought it but a grim sort of joke,
and told him should think better Of ia
min ii he were more conSderate for his
friend.
The poor blind wretch did not agree
with me, and, to my surprise, began vim
dicatng the character of Janin. Gon,
see, NJ >ieu, he said, if am blind, Janin
has good eyesight, and why should he not
enjoy it? lie may as well be blind as
| if he is to see nothing. One should not
be selfish although one is unfortunate.
While he was speaking, and | was in
wardly admiring his simple magnanimity,
Janin came up at a quick pnce, and chat
ting lively ditty. what, my old phi
losopher. so you have company, he said
Il am afraid must disturb your confer
encc.'
Make no apology for that, l pray,
said |; 'bGt if Ven can direct me to Il
lodging shall be obliged
'You are English said Jann; there is
an English house in the Rue dc FOdcon,
which is always open ill two. If you
make for the Pont Neuf at once, and step
out, you will be there in good time
Good night, then, my lads And
away trudgcd at round pace for the
Pont Ncuf-croSSed it in pclting show
er, and made the best of my way to the
Rue de rUdeon. accounted myself for
tunate in reaching the house few min
uteS before the hour for closing the door,
but found that had not 50 much cause
! for congratuiation as had imagined, aS
the place was full, and the only accommo-
dalion the landlady could offer was "a
small trucklr. bed in two.beldcd room,
already bcspoken for the night by pre-
viOuS conner.
Being wet through by the rain, and
feeling that should not mend matters hy
| &, | fn;t fn Il NirfIln
of necessity, and accept the truckle.hcd.
| Moreover, wishing to get out OF my damp
garments as quickly as possible, ! asked
for my candle, and was forthwith shown
ta the dormitory, which found was up
four flights of stairs. lost no time in
getting between the sheets, but had no
intention ol going to sleep until knew at
! least what sort of a subject was to be the
companion Of my SlumherS. So | took Il
book from my pocket, and, placing my
candle on a chair 10y the bedside, began
to read, resolved to keep my light burn
ing and myself awake until the sounds Of
footsteps on the stairs should apprise me
of the approach of the stranger. After
the lapse Of about half an hour the sounds
| was listening for approached, and then,
clappinG the cxtinsuisher on the light, |
lay back, half closed my eyes, and affect
ed t. sleep.
The figure that now entered the room
was not at all fascinating one, to my
view at least. lie was man about five
and-thirty, .auntily garbcd in one of the
pea green, high colIarcd surtoutS current
among the fast men who affected the Lux
cinburg quarter of the Paris of that day,
but which surtout, like the rest of his
garments, seemed to have run all too sud
denly to seed. There was something
boozy and vicious about the expression
of his face, which, in spite of il fierce
looking mouStache, gave one the idea oI
mcanness and servity coupled with q
reckless sert Of braRade, which smaeked
rather of Swagger than Of daring, and ii
every feature there was the impress o
| ,l,Hnnobor,, opA IIn nj