Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1865-12-07
A Thrilling Sketch.

Not many miles from the city
of Rouen, in France, is located /;
wild and somewhat extensive for
est. This wood is chiefly inhab.t
ed by charcoal burners; and MANY
are the. dark legends in which
they figure. Of course the tales
are mostly exaggerated and in the
most cases have no foundation al
all. g.,Yas obi
During the year 1903 howev.
er, several travellers, whose way
lay through this forest, mysterious.
ly disappeared. The whole place
was secured, and the intabitants
vigorously examined; but no clue
was obtained. and they were dis
missed. For several months after
tnis no travellers We're missed,
and finally the excitement was al
layed. 1t is at this time the Incl
dents related in this sketch oc-
CURED. yy -5Yrffs
1t was a fine morning in early
autumn, and the woods presented
a beautiful appearance. The
birds were gaiiy singing, and the
rays of an afternoon sun not too
warm were gliding the tree tops.
In the very heart of the forest,
surrounded by the heaps of smo-
king earth, stood one of those
burners. He was a splendid
specimen of aman, as far as phys
ical proportions are concerned /;
fully six feet in height, and stout
in proportion. His broad shoul-
ders might have contained the
strength of a Hercules. His head
was large and covered with a
shaggy mass of hair, and his fea-
lures were decidedly repulsive.
His eyes were small and nearly
covered with bushy eyebrows.
He iiad, altogether, a cruel and
nlalevolent appearance.
aa AS we introduce him ito the
readerhe was le;tning upon a large
axe, apparently in listening po-
sition. The road ran by the
place where he was standing, but
he could rot see far along it on ac-
count of a asuddcn turn a little dis
| tance from him. The clatter of
horses hoois, however, could be
plainly heard, and in a few min
utes horse and rider came in sight.
The new conner was a small and
active looking nan, and from his
dress was a gentleman well oft.
His eyes were unusually keen
searching, and were bent upon the
charcoal burner in such a manner
that the latter completely quaiied
before him.
~ fair day, my good man, "
SAID the hoiseman, in the easy
manner Of one speaking to an IN
ferior.
Excellent. Monsieur, for one
of my trade; | love not the broll-
ing suns Of summer, nor yet the
the bleak winds of winter"
"Since you are so nicely suited,
l suppose you are what SO few are
in the world happy"
"You say truly, Monsieur-few,
few indeed are. truly happy
There is no happiness without
contentlnent.
!, "And are you not content?'
..At times | think | am; but
when / see the nobleman riding 10y
in his coach and four, rolling in
riches, with servants to obey bis
every wish, and | have to toll
hard for my daily bread, | cannot
help thinking that GSd is some
times unjust" - .,,.,,,..
"And do You ever think of ap'
propriating any of these superHu'
Gus riches to yourself,@% 4
"What odoes Monsieur mean
/ trust that no thoughts OF disc
beying alike the laws of God and
man, ever enter into my mind.
Il meant nothing; it was mere
ly an idle question; but | did uot
stop to talk thus, but to ask the
way to P. 1t is getting late,
and / must be on the move. 5sa
eff Monsieur is in a hurry. ]
can direct him to P-- IN about
half the time.' bsf esf
"Ishall he much obliged to you,
my friend"
! "This lane begins very near my
home, which is about half a mile
further on. You had better stop