St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-01-24
Swift Justice.

/
Swift Justice.
/ \ merchant left st. Petersburg to
travel across Europe. In the course of
his Journey he arrived at Warsaw. Be
ing furnished with letter of introduce
ton, he repaired to the house of one of
the chief citizens there, and was most
courteously received. He stayed at
Warsaw for week, and his host spared
no pains to make the visit agreeable,
and showed him everything worth see
ing in the town. Indeed, the visitor
was quite overwhelmed by an amount
of kindness rarely shown to any but Il
friend of long standing.
At length the pleasant visit drew to
its close, and after breakfast the guest
expressed his wish to see some poorer
portions of the town, of which he had
heard. "But,' said he, 81 have with
me Il small box of great value that | do
not like to risk i'll such places. If it
were my own should not be SO partic-
ular; but it was intrustcd to me by a
| friend, who requested me to deliver 1t
/ to Il person in another town. 1t con-
tains diamonds and other valuables
| Would You do me the great favor of
! taking charge of it for day?' The host.
with his usual urbanity, willingly agreed
to this proposal, and the merchant de
parted with light heart on his tour of
| inspection, forget the name, but let us
say in the "Sevcn DialS,' or Five
| 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 its owner.
The host and hostess stared ut him i'll
wcll-acted amazement. "What box ?"
asked the host. Il remember no box
do You my DEAR" turning to his wife.
No" she said, Il have no recollection
of any box whatever" What was it
like p asked the host a; ''pcrhaps YOU
left it i'll your room. But on the mcr-
chant prr>isting that it was with the
host himself it had been left. on lis
turning to his hostess and trying to make
her recollcct the circumstance. both
CATER appealing t" each other several
times, and fortitying each other i'll their
deniaD became cold and distant. and
began limiting that something must have
happened to the merchant to induce.
him to persist III so strange Il delusion.
AS the host touched his forehead with
significant glance, the poor man remcm-
hered that he was i'll Il strange city: the
ground seemed to he slipping from I'M
der his feet danger to himself doomed
i'll the distance, and he fastened from
police he went. and stated his case.
The official listened imperturably to
the whole story, and asked:
''I"u gave up this valuable box to an
acquaintance of a weeks standing with
out any witness or any written acknowl-
cdgcmcnt p
''IIe had been so very kind; a man
in his position"
bah! YOU man of business , But
have You no proof that the box belongs
to YOU ,"
"None whatever-except the key. 1t
is locked, and have the key-here it
is" and he produced Il small key from
an inner pocket.
The official remained lost in thought
for some time, and then said. "Well.
will d" the only thing | can for you.
The Archduke Constantine (the Gov
crnor of PolandD is a stern, harsh man.
hut he is known for his rigorous justice,
and if he believes your story he will do
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 retec-
ton, rang a bell. An official appeared.
''Send for L" 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
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, spriuging from
his seat, Il won't write that"
Then You are guilty" was the
prompt answer.
Puzzled and foiled, he resumed his
seat aud 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 Archdukc's order. and a mes
scnger was despatched with it. The
messenger found the lady at her toilet: