Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-12-26

", MINNESOTA, THU
/ prevented me from joining to mucl
extent in the dissipation, and I ga
looking on and wondering whether
had ever found real amusement in sucI
pandemonium. At last, while Oscar
don was telling wonderful story of
run with the Ballybotherun hounds
half in English and half in German
the landlord entered the room and de.
clared that if the noise was per
sisted in he should be com.
PEELED to call in the gems d'armes. Thi,
announcement was received with yells
he was told to fetch whom he liked
Woodbridge muttered some vague sen
tence about " Englishn's houses cas-
sle," and the landlord retired amidst
storm of groans. The uproar was re
newed, but five minutes after, we hearf
the heavy tramp of the gems d'arme.
ascending the staircase. and all of u.
determined to resist tho invasion b,
force. Some seized sticks, some laid
hold of pieces of furniture to hurl al
the intruders, and I gr:1ped an empty
champagne bottle by the neck and
slipped it into my coat saoeket, keeping
my hand on it the white. The door
was flung open and the chief of the po.
lice entered, leaving two of his men
outside the doox.
"Gentlemen," said he, in an author.
itative voice, Sin the name of his
Majesty I command you to quit this
house at once"
A roar of derision was the reply.
"Suppose we don't intend to go2'
said a student with red beard, taste
fully decorated with scraps of salad,
shreds of tobacco, etc.
'Then Ishall proceed to execute my
duties and turn you at once into the
A second derisive roar much louder
than the first.
"By the holy Malone I" said Oscar
don, rising slowly before the astonished
gen d'arme, and pulling himself up to
his full height, "I've a mind to fling
you out of this window. And I'll do
it too, before you can cay knife. He
made two steps forward and seemed
about to execute his threat, when
Zintorski interposed.
"One minute" he said. "Gen
d'arme, where is your permit"
The gen d'arme looked astonished,
but did not reply.
"Your permit 2" repeated Zintorski.
"You are aware that after midnight
no gen d'arme can enter q private
residence withouta special permit from
the burgomaster2"
Her Graf" suffered the wretchetl
functienary, edging toward the door,
Ill regret that
His courage failed him; he said no
more but rushed down the stairs, fol-
lowed by his men and in a minute we
heard the door close behind them.
Immediately upon their departure
fresh wine was brought in, and the
orgies continued until about two
O'Clock, when the party broke up
had secured bed at house where
had lodged in my student days, and it
so happened that my way lay in a
different direction from that of nv
companions I therefore bade them
goodnight and started off alone. 1t
was dull, murky night, with O sharp
sleet driving from the north; the only
light shed upon the wretched streets
was from the oil-lamps swung at inter-
walls across the road. On hastened,
wrapping myself up in my large coat,
and meeting no one. Not sound did
I hear until, just as I was reaching the
street where my lodging was situated.
!x1vt,S nh $s1r,Hn1 mt ~ - =
principal ollees of the town. 1 thought
T distinguished the sound of advancing
footsteps. ] listened, and was con-
vinced that my surmise was correct;
but thinking nothing of it I proceeded
up the street. Ihad reached the door,
and was endeavoring to turn the rusty
piece of German mechanism supposed
to be key and mentally contrasting it
with my own neat Chubb at home,
when two men advanced toward me,
followed at some distance by third.
This I could Just distinguish by the
light of neighboring lamp. As the
said, Goodnight" "Good-night p
I replied; cor rather Good-mornlng
for it must be almost that by this
time." The words had scarcely escap-
ed my lips when the foremost man hit
me a tremendous blow between the eyes
which Int up thousand candles before
me and knocked me violently back
ward. As my back dashed against the
door I heard something crash. In a
second I recollected myself; it was the
champagne bottle I had placed in my
pocket when the gems d'arme entered.
In q second I grasped it by the neck,
withdrew it from my pocket, and
whirling it in the air, brought it down
with my full force on the head of my
assailant. He gave one eroan and fell
heavily to the ground, while the blood
spurted from the wound ike q fountain.
His companion turned and fed, while
the third man. who all this time had
remained at distance. also Immediate
~ made off. Ny state of horror can
scarcely be imagined. I knelt down
by the mans side, I bathed his head
with water, which I was fortunate
enough to procure 1 strove to stanch
the blood which was pouring from the
wound. Ispoke to him-I offered him
all my money if he would only look up.
was in monentary dread Of the arri-
val of the gems d'armes, and of being
conveyed to PRISON as murder. I. For
moro :::,an an hour did I remain in this
fearful state. The man never opened
his eyes, but lay apparently in leth.
argic stupor. No one came near me,
and my excitement was at it's height,
when by the dawning light perceived
q figure approaching. 1t neared me,
and in it I thought I recognized the
companion of the robber. Not q word
was spoken, and with my assistance he
raised his friend, twined his arms
around him and half carried, hall
dragged him out of sight.
Ineed scarcely say that did not "a
to beo that night. I went in, struck q
light, collected the few things I had
unpacked from my ,carpet-bag, and
needless of my friends and intended
pleasure, hurried off by the first train
and returned at once to England, &C
apprehensive was I of the consequen
ces.
Two years passed, and 1 heard
no more OF my nocturnal ad
venture. I had letters from oscar,
don and from some German friends
full of wonder at my sudden departure
but giving no hint as to its cause, anG
the circumstance had almost faded
from my recollection. Last autumn
however, was in Germany, and hear
ing that an old tutor of mine had be
come Protestant chaplain at the gao
of Verdun- place q few miles from
Dusselberg-I went over to see him
He acted as my cicer0,ae round th,