Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-03-13

GOOD bHf EN--f IA NOE 81 JIM
Ona gloomy day in the month ID J, ysm
Der, a traveller on horeebacb stopped at tt,
aoor of an inn iu ne village 90 kcuclle,
France. VII CHI adioins the park q Mamait 90.
The hostess went out 80 receive hin, ami
giving bis horse to The stsbe boy, be order
ed dinner He was shov1 into the best
room in the house and he buey hostess set
about preI aring che repast.
Iu few minutes another traveller on houe-
back stopped at the inn and also ordered
dinner.
al am very sorry that cannot accommo-
date you" sand the hostess, "but every thing
we have in che house has b. en- bespoke b.
gentleman who came a few minutes before
YOU"
go up stairs" said the traveller, "and tell
your guest shall be obliged TO him il he
will permit me to share his dinner, and
will defiay my portion Of the expense
The hostess delivered the message TO the
first traveller, who very politely replied:
"Tel the gentleman I should be glad Of
his company, but that jis not my practice TO
accept payment from persons whom / invite
to dine with me-
The second traveller accordingly went up
stairs, and having expressed bis acknow-
Judgements for the kin0 reception be had re-
ceived they both SAT down 90 The table.
The dinner was as cheerful as could be
expected, considering The short acquaintance
Of the parties but during the dessert, when
some excellent wine was placed before them,
the conversation became unrestrained. and
the second traveller asked his obligIng AM
phi;ryou what had brought him to that part
Of the country, whore he appeared to be
stranger.
81 have been ordered here by the cardinal"
by the Cardinal g. RESUMED his compan-
ion. Pardon my curiosity, il ] enquire
whether you have given his emineuco any
offence 7"
"By no means," replied the FIRST traveller
"and IL is only 20 free myself from any such
imputation that have come here The fact
is, there has been published at Rochelle my
native town, vruient saure upon the public
conduct and personal character Of the cardi-
nal, several copies Of which have been address
ed to the king, and though i never n ms
life wrote single word that has appeared in
print, am urjusLy accused Of being Che
author OF this pamphlet. Nothing obtains
such ready belief as the wbisperiugs Of
folly and iil-nature and ] have therefore
lost no time in obeying The summons of bis
emincnce. in the hope OF ofectually Iefutiug
the charge that is brought against me-
Sir said his companion, with en- expres-
sion Of marked anxiety, "reiurn thauks to
Providence for the fortunate accident that
has introduced you TO me to-day. also
have been summoned hither by ihe cardinal
and for no other purpose / am convinced than
that Of beheading you"
A thrill of horror passed through the
frame of the person to whom these words
were addressed.
Eyes, sir, resumed the speaker, "my task
would have been 70 bebtad YOU. / am the
execuuoner Of ueghboring town, and
whenever the cardinal has any secret act Of
vengeance to perform, l receive orders to re-
port to the castle. The particulars ! have
just heard you relate, together with the hour
of your appointment here, all convince me
without doubt that you are marked out as
a victim. But fear nothing, will secure
your escape. Order your horse instantly and
go with me. | will acqut myself Of the debt
OF gratitude which your courtesy has impos.
ed upon me"
The horror and alarm Of the poor traveller
may be more easily conceived than described.
He instantly ordered the horses TO be sad
died, and having paid The bill, lie and his
companion set out, taking private way thro'
the wood OF Bertrand
preached the cssue "that grated window
which almost reaches the crannies of the CEN
tIal turTeti In that dungeon, sentence,
against which there is no appeal, are pro-
nounced and executed, and the mutlated
bodies Of the victims are hurried into the
moat below, where they are speedily destroy
ed by quick lime, Neglect not TO observe
my instructions. Conceal yourself behind
that hedge, and il within the space of an
hour you see light gimmering at the win
dow which have pointed out, then am or
dered here to execute vengeance upon anoth-
er but if, on the contrary, you see no light
rely on it that you yourself are the intended
victim. In that case, lose not moment
Profit by the darkness of the night and The
swiftness Of your horse. Gain the frontier
and there plead your cause as you see tit
But permit me to tell you that it is absurd
to seek 10 justify yourself against the impn-
tation of an offence which you have not COM
mitted; for where despousm reigns, truth
and justice are powerless.'
Having expressed unbounded gratitude to
his tutelar saint the first traveller withdrew
to his hiding place
The suspicious Of the cardinals agent
proved well founded. No light appeared at
the window of the turret, and at the expiTa-
ton of an hour the traveller galloped off.
He Immediately quilted France. and did
not venture back until after the death OF the
cardinal.
On returning to his native country, his
first business was TO visit ;ho inn at Roudelle,
and to make enquiries respecting his beneiac-
tor, who, however, had not been heard Of for
several years.
He then ralated his adventure, which has
since bacome local tradition, and has con-
ferred celebrity on the inn at Roudelle,
known by the sign Of Chepal Blame.
The room in which the two travellers dined
is shown to this day, and is called "The
room of good cheer"