Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-09-13
THE PARRICIDE.

Many years ago, before Inc era OF rail-
roads, and when the highwaymen aboun-
ded along the great route from Calais to
Paris, u noted drovcr, who had been to
Boulogne with large drove Of horses
which he had sold for cash, was over
taken by night, on his return, near Mar
quisc. He remembered that littlo dis
tance ahead was u quiet inn he had
never stopped ut, and he determined to
spend the night there.
As he rode up to the house the land
lord, an elderly person, received his
horse and led him away to the stable,
while he invited the drovcr to enter the
public sitting-room.
Here he found two young men, one of
whom from his resemblance to the land
lord he recognized as his son; the other,
somewhat older, from his manners ap-
peared also to belong to the family. I'm
mediately after supper During which
the drovcr statal where he had been,
and what good luck he had met with)
the son mounted q horse, and stating
that he was going to Marquise, to stay
all night, rode off. The drover, having
looked after the comfort of his horse,
soon after requested the landlord to
show him to his room.
As tho traveller slipped off his gar
ments, he felt for his leather belt about
his waist, to see that it was secure.
This contained his gold, while his paper
money was in large wallet, carried in
pocket made for the purpose, in the
inside of his vest. Depositine these ar
ticlcs beneath his pillow, he extinguished
his light and threw himself upsh the
bed, where, overcome by WEAKNESS, he
soon fell asleep.
How long he had been in his state of
forgetfulness he could not tell, when he
was aroused to wakefulncss by the sound
of some persons endeavoring to open the
window near the head of the bed. At
the same time he heard suppressed voices
without as of several persons in whis-
pcred consultation.
Startled by this suspicious appearance
of things, the drover reached toward the
chair on which he had thrown his clothes
for his weapons; but to his dismay, he
remembered that on his arrival when
fixing to wash off the dust of his journey,
he had laid them aside within the bar,
and had neglected to resume them.
Scarcely conscious of what he was do
ing, the dcfcnseless drover slipped from
the foot of the bed, and hid himself in
the darkness behind q lot of woman's
dresses suspended from the wall, and
watching the motions of a man who was
now slowly but cautiously entering the
room. He even fanCied he could detect
the reflection of a dim light upon the up
raised knife as the man approached the
bed with staggering and uncertain steps.
But great was his relief when, instead of
an attempt at murder, the intruder care
lessly shutllcd off his clothes, and throw
ing himself upon the bed he had just va
Gated, was soon buried in deep sllmber.
Not knowing what to make of this
strange affair, the droyer determined to
dress himself, call up the landlord and
have this singular intrusion explained.
He had reached his clothes and slipped
on his trowsers, and was moving toward
the door, when steps were heard eau
tiously crossing the outer room. Once
more he sought the shelter of the dresses,
which completely screened his person,
and awaited the entrance of the parties,
whoever they might be. Presently the
door of the room was silently opened,
and two men made their appearance. 1t
was not so dark but that the drover
could readily distinguish them to be the
inkeeper and the man he had seen at the
supper table.
"Step lightly, l tell you," whispered
the landlord, cor you'll wake him up,
and then we'll have a pretty mess Oh our
hands,"
"Nonsense," replied the other with an
oath. "You are scared, old man."
Scared" replied the first speaker.
"No man ever told Jean GARNER before
he was scared. Here, give me the knife !
Tll show you who is scared! You secure
the money-its under the pillow; / saw
him put it there-and I'll do the rest"
The old man was now in advance, and
as he stood between the window and the
drover, the latter could see his form bent