Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-02-18
THE ROBBER OF PlROCHE.


road we are going to travel was border
ed on the left by tall reeds. on the right
by the sea. 1t was useless to say the
sky was blue, the sea brilliant, rolling
ia long, tapping wages, and the road
hot and dusty.
will only add, this road wound
along the coast of Bretague from Pote-
rie 10 Piroche,a a little village like all
other villages of that period, and two
peasants. father and son. mounted on
two asses, were trotting along this road
very comfortably for the asses as we'll
as the peasants.
Will we get there in time? said the
son.
Yes, it is two o'clock replied tho
father, and the sun Low marks a quar-
ter to twelve.
i am anxious TO see it, said the son.
Yes, l can we'll believe you.
Will he be hanged with the armor
on:'
yes, am told so.
What made HIM think Of stealing a
suit Of armor:
1T is not 80 difficult to think OF as
TO do, interrupted the con, who
wished to have his share IN the joke.
Was the armor very handsome "
'Magni6cent-steel inlad with gold.
Was he taken in the act OF carrying
it off,
Yes; you understand the armor could
not be moved without a terrible clank-
ing aud the noise woke up everybody
IN the chateau
Then they canght him"
Not at all they were afraid
NATURAL y-peorle are always afraid
in the presence of robbers; without
that there would be no advantage in
being a robber.
No; bat these people didn't think he
was II robber.'
What then
"A ghost. The rascal carried the ar,
NOR IN front OF him. holding it high
above his head II looked like a giant
walking through the corridors besides,
the scamp MADE a ho"rse, groaning
noise behind it. You can imagine the
fright of he servants. but unfortunately
for him, it aroused the lord Of the cha
teau. who was afraid Of neither the llv
ing nor the dead; he arrested the rob-
Der and handed him over to the proper
justice.
And the proper justice ? interrupted
the son.
Ordered him to be hanged in the ar
NOR he had stolen
Why was that clause IN the jndg
ment q
Because the Lord Of Plroche is not
only brave soldier, but man of wit
and intelligence. You know, every
thing that belongs to hanged person
becomes "a taisman of good luck to
those who possess It; that is why the
Lord of Piroche ordered him TO be
hanged in the armor. After death it
was to be returned to him. lie wanted
it as II talisman in the next war.
Come, let us make haste; l am anx
ious to see this hanging
We have plenty of time; don't ia
tigue our beasts, for we must return
home tonight.
Thus father and son chatted, and in
half an hour they reached Piroche.
There was great crowd in the grand
place, in front of the chateau, where the
scaffold had been erected-a beautiful
gibbet placed upon it Of superb oak
wood.
Our peasants approached the scaffold
as near as possible, So as to see all that
passed, and waited with the others.
having the advantage of being mounted
on their asses. where they coald see bet
ter and with less fatigue. They had
not long to wait. At 2o'clock precise
ly tho door Of the chateau opened and
the prisoner appeared. preceded by the
guards of the Lord of Piroche and fol-
lowed by the e1ecutioncr.
The robber was dressed in the armor,
mounted upon an ass, his face turned to
the tail of the beast. and his hands
bound behind him. The visor of the
armor was lowered so one could not SEE
his tace, but you can imagine he was Il!
at ease and prey to very sad rehec-
tions. They brought him In sight Of
the gibbet.
The exeoutioner placed his ladder to
the scafold and the chaplain Of the Lord
of Proche mounted the stage and began
to read the sentence of death The
prisoner never budged. They ordered
him to lismount from the ass and deliv