The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-07-04
The Carpenter Of Marmonte.

Marmonte was a walled town in
province of France. In one of the
houses near the ramparts lived car
penter, named Benoit. He was
sober man, who said little. He had
followed several trades; been a SOL
der travelled a great deal and had
many adventures but as he never
spoke of them, the towns-people
thought he had nothing good to tell.
The only person he was at all cordial
with was an old soldier named Trappe,
who had saved his life in battle. This
man was a great Jalker and boaster,
and, Benoit suspected, a knave. He
had set up BARRIERS shop in street
near by. One evening he called upon
Benoit, to ask him to drink bottle of
wine at the chevsI noir with two old
comrades who had served in his regi-
ment. At first Benoit refused; but
when Trappe told him it was also the
anniversary Of the battle in which he
had saved his life, he accepted, and in
sisted on paying the score. When he
reached the cabaret, he found two ILL
looking fellows whom he had never
seen before. They sat drinking to-
gether in the public room until nearly
eleven o'clock.
Benoit, after spending more money
than he had ever spent at an inn in
Marmonte before, bade them good
night andawent home, followed by
Trappe, who was talking loudly, up to
the room where Madame Benoit and
her son were. Trappe laughingly
forced them to drink two glasses of
wine with him. Benoit, annoyed,
walked to the window, and when he
turned around, was astonished to find
Trappe gone. He remembered this
afterward, but thought little of it at
the time, he was so sleepy with the
wine. He then fastened his doors and
windows and went to bed.
The next morning he was astonisbed
to find his shop door aiar, and, on
going up to his lumber loft that the
window was open. He said nothing,
for it was not his custom to talk about
what he did not understand. On 60
ing to his work, he found the whole
town in excitement and talking about
great robbery committed during the
night. He soon perceived, too, that
he was avoided, and many cast strange
glances at him. Then he overheard a
neighbor say:
81 noticed Benoit's shop-door open.
ed last night after eleven o'clock, a
most unusual thing; no Lights
police"
He passed on, SO Benoit heard no
more, but his suspicious were aroused.
He felt sure Trappe did not leave his
house the night before till all were
asleep, and that he had opened the
door to the robbers. He remembered
the wine, too. He went to the barber's
shop.
"Trappe," said he, "thOu hast saved
my life l shall say nothing"
The next day Trappe disappeared.
From this time proofs seemed to ac-
cumulate against Benoit. The police
found the tracks of the robbers from
his roof to the ramparts. A silver
spoon belonging to a family who had
been robbed of their plate, was found
under the window of the lumber-loft.
Benoit was arrested and brought be-
fore the court. The judge asked him,
''if he left the door and window open p
He answered, "No."
"Then," said the Judge, "do you
know who did open them ?"
"No," said Benoit-for he did not
know that Trappe had done it.
"DO you suspect any one ?"
"No, monsieur. As | am suspected
unjustly, l have no right to suspect
Others"
In short, he answered every ques.
ton honestly, without inculpating
Trappe. The judge, finding no proof
against him, was obliged to set him
| free. 1t was evident to him, however,
from the manner of his discharge, and
the talk of the people about the court,
that he was still suspected. He show
ed no emotion, but went quietly home,
After embracing his wife and son, who
were transported with joy to see him
again, he said to the latter:
Sylvester you will hear every
where that although / am acquitted. ]
| am no less thoupht a knave Re moi