The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-02-21
Swift Justice.

81, ,953, and after same discussion was adopted.
Swift Justice.
A merchant left st. Petersburg to
travel across Europe. In the course of
his Journey he arrived at Warsaw Be-
ing furnished with a letter of introduc-
ton, he repaired to the hoGse of one of
the chief citizens there, and was most
courteously received. He staid at War
saw for week, and his host spared no
pains to make the visit agreeable, and
showed him everything worth seeing in
the town. Indeed, the visitor was quite
overwhelmed by an amount of kindness
rarely shown to any one but friend of
long standing.
At length the pleasant visit drew to
its close, and after breakfast the guest
expressed his wish to see some poor
parts of the town, of which he had
heard. "But," said he, 81 have with
me small box of great value that / do
not like to risk in such places. If it
were my own I should not be so partic-
ular but it was intrusted to me by a
friend, who requested me to deliver it
to person in another town. It con-
tains diamonds and other valuables
Would you do me the great favor of
taking charge of it for the day?" The
host, with his usual urbanity, willingly
agreed to this proposal, and the mer
| chant departed with light heart on his
tour of inspection, 1 forget the name,
but let us say in the "Seven Dials," or
Give Points" +" of Warsaw.
Next morning after breakfast he cor
daily thanked his kind entertainers for
their jealous hospitality, and added
that as he was about to depart, he
would now resume his charge of the
box, which had never before quilted his
person since he had received it from it's
owner. The host and hostess started
at him in well-acted amazement. ''What
box?" asked the host 81 remember
no box, do you, my dear?" turning to
his WIFE "No," she said, 81 have no
recollection of any box whatever.
"What was it like?" asked the host
"perhaps you left it in your room"
But on the merchant insisting that it
was with the host himself it had been
| left, on his turning to his hostess and
trying to make her recollect the circum-
stance, both (after appealing to each
other several times, and fortifying each
other in their denial) became cold and
distant, and began limiting that some
thing must have happened to the mer-
chant, to induce him to persist IN so
strange delusion. As the host touched
his forehead with significant glance,
the poor man remembered he was in
strange city; the ground seemed to be
slipping from under his feet; danger to
himself loomed in the distance, and he
hastened from the house in alarm.
Straight to the police he went and
stated his case. The official listened i'm
perturbably to the whole story, and then
asked, "You give up this valuable box
to an acquaintance of a weeks standing
without any witness or any written ac
acknowledgement? ?"
"He had been so very kind, man in
his position"
"Bah you a man of business But
have you no proof that the box belongs
to you?"
"None whatever, except the key. It
is locked, and [ have the key; here it
is" and he produced small key from
an inner pocket.
The official remained lost in thought
for some time, and then said, "Well, [
will do the only thing / can for you.
The Archduke Constantine (the COVER
nor of Poland) is a stern, harsh man,
but he is known for his rigorous JUS
tice, and if he believes your story he
will do his best for you. 1 will take
you to him at once.
No time was lost, and the merchant
soon found himself in the archduke's
presence, and was desired to relate his
story. When it was concluded, the
archduke, after few moments refec-
tion, rang bell. An official appeared.
"Send for M" naming the treach-
erous host. 1t was quickly-done, and
the archduke, without preamble or
question, said to the guilty man, "Sit
down at that writing table and write as
I shall dictate to you" The man took
his seat and took up the pen the arch
duke began debating:
"My dear wife All is found out"
"No," said the man, springing from
his seat; 'EI won't write that"
"Then you are guilty." was the
prompt answer.
Puzzled and foiled. he resumed his
and wrote as he was desired:
"My dear wife All is found out
Send the box by the bearer"
Then he signed it with his own name,
by the archduke's order, and a messen-
ger was dispatched with it. The mes
senger found the lady at her toilet
when she read the missive she turned
ashy pale, trembling violently. Then
leaning forward, she drew the box from
the recess in her toilet-table, and
handed it to the bearer, who swiftly re-
turning, placed it in the hands of the
archduke He Immediately handed it
to the merchant, desiring him to unlock
it that being done, he asked whether
the diamonds were all there. Yes, the
box had not been opened they were
exactly as the merchant had left them.
Again the archduke rang the bell, and
to the attendant who entered, he said,
designating the guilty man, "Take him
to Siberia he is not to go to his own
house again.