National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-03-07
Swift Justice.

"a i'lb Wv ''''''''S
travel across Europe. In the course OF
his journey he arrived at Warsaw Be-
ing furnished with letter OF introduc.
ton, he repaired to the house OF one OF
the chief citizens there, and was most
courteously received. He stayed at
Warsaw for a week, and his host spared
no pains t6 make the visit agreeable,
and showed him everything worth see
ing in tho town. Indeed, the visitor
was quite overwhelmed by an amount
of kindness rarely shown to any but q
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 n small box of great value that do
not like to risk in such places. Ii it
were my own, should not be so par
ticular, but it was intrusted to me by a
friend, who requested me to deliver it
to person in another town. 1t 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 n light heart on
his tour of inspection, l forgot the
name, but let MS say in the "Seven
Dials," or Five Points of Warsaw.
Next morning, after breakfast, he
cordially thanked his kind entertainers
for their Jealous hospitality, and added
that, rs he was about to depart, he
would now resume his charge of the
box, which had never before quilted
his presence since he had received 1t
from it's owner. The host and hostess
stared at him in well-acted amazement.
"What box q asked, he host. 81
remember no box-do you, my DEAR"
turning to his wife.
"No," she said, ] have no recolles-
ton of any box whatever"
"What was it like ?" inquired the
host perhaps you left it in your
room.
But on the merchant persisting that
it was with the host himself it had been
left, on turning to his hostess, and try
ing to make her recollect the circum-
stances, 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 touch
ed his forehead with a significant
glance, the poor man remembered that
he was in strange city /; the ground
seemed to be slipping from under his
feet danger to himself loomed in the
distance, and he fastened from the
house in alarm. Straight to the police
he vent and stated his case. The Of
fetal listened imperturbedly to the
whole story, and then asked:
"You gave up this valuable box to an
acquaintance of weeks standing with
out any witness or any written nc
acknowledgements"
"He had been so very kind ; man
in his position
"Bah you man of business! but
you have 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 produceda small key from
his 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 Governor of Poland, is stern,
harsh man, but he is known for his
rigorous justice, and if he believes your
story, he will do his best for you. /
will take you to him at once"
No time was lost, and the merchant
h,,D,.n1f ,,, hn oroh In Il a'c
presence and was desired to relate his
story. When it was concluded the
archdnke, after few moments retiec-
ton, rang bell. An official appeared.
"Send for NJ" naming the treach-
erous host.
1t was quickly done, and the arch
duke, 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 mp
the pen the archduke began debating:
"My dear wife-all is found out"
"No," said the man, springing from
his seat, d" / won't write that"
"Then you are guilty." was the
prompt answer.
IuZHlcu anu lOlleu, nc rcSuiiicu lid
seat and wrote as he was desired.
"My dear wifeall is found out.
Send the box by the bearer"
Then he signed it with his name, by
the archduke's order, and messenger
was dispatched with it. The messen-
ger found the lady at her toilet when
she read the missive she turned ashy
pale, trembling violently. Then lean
ing forward, she drew the box from the
recess in her toilet-table, and handed it
to the bearer, who, swiftly returning,
placed it in the hands of the archduke.
He Immediately handed it to the mer-
chant, desiring him to unlock it /; that
being done, he asked whether the dia-
nonds were all there. Yes, the box
had not been opened ; they were exact
lv 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 home again.