Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-08-09


possible also 70 Prove IN anul Peopie
had seen Champignol come in, and it
was known that be came every Thurs
day. They had seen him also walking
In his garden. Chapoteau believed him
self lost. Only one resource was left
him. He took Champignol in his arms
lifted him from his chair, and pulling
him by his shoulders, his head and his
legs dragged him to the end Of the gar
den 1t was growing dark Suddenly
q board fell near to Chapoteau. he
started, cried out, ready TO struggle,
thinking the officers had come to arrest
him. The silhouette of a cat. prowling
on the wall in the clear twilight, eased
his mind little.
Near the hedge there was large
round hole. Chapoteau rolled the body
of his friend into it. His feet projected
beyond, so he covered them with straw.
"Adieu, Champignol," he sobbed
There at least his victim was In Sc
cure place. They would not discover
him thcrc very soon. Chapoteau would
have timo tocscape.
He reached tho fields, walking straight
ahead, without plans He had only one
thought-to get away. to go to the end
Of the world, but his feet refused to
carry him. Every few minutes he was
obliged to sit down by the roadside.
He had knotted handkerchief about
his head, so as not to be recognized.
Already he was devising the ruses of
the criminal
Three hours had sufficed to lose his
assured position, to make an assassin of
him, to lower him to the ranks of the
greatest rascals What did his con-
science matter to him? He would not
be the less culpable in the eyes of the
world, and his crime would appear all
the more horrible because his victim
had been his best friend. And yet he
had been an honest man during 55
years. He had practiced all the virtues.
He had dreamed Of dying in his bed.
Poor Chapoteaui Nest unfortunate
Nine. Chapoteaul
He saw himself on the bench Of the
accused. The judge was talking to him.
They had spread out before him the
victims clothes, and in the darkness
the crowd howled, stamped and threat
ened to kill him.
Then greater fear spurred him on,
and he began again to walk. Sometimes
he stopped, believing he could hear
some one running after him. The trees
took ON strange forms in the darkness.
The wind whispered, "Poisoner!" He
| stopped for long time on the bank Of
a pond trying to persuade himself to
| jump in.
A noise Of footsteps caused him to
look up suddenly, Two policemen were
coming toward him. In the dusk they
seemed enormous, like the pillars Of
tsne guillotine.
sit is all over, (" moaned poor Cha
poteau, "thcy have followed me. They
will arrest me- "
He hid himself behind q hedge The
policemen passed on.
Chapoteau wandered for an hour Oh
two He could no longer see nor hear.
His head swayod on his shoulders, as an
empty gourd sways in the wind
'By this time" he thought, 81
should be in my bed at home"
And distracted by his fears he STUN
bled against a wall. There were houses
in front Of him, black as his crime, az
his thoughts, as his remorse. However,
light cleaned beneath door, Tired
out, his strength and energy exhausted,
he knocked. He heard voices inside.
Finally they opened the door.
Chapoteau gave loud cry.
"Champignolp'
1t was Champignol in person. He
had awakened in the hole and was still
laughing at the joke.
Champignol joker indeedl Chapo-
teau thought himself dreaming
Then he had not given fatal dose Of
laudanum-though little too much, il
is true.
He had not killed Champignol. He
had not committed crime He would
not die ON the scaffoldl He touched
Champignol with the tips Of his fingers,
as one touches delicate piece Of game,
fearing that this shape was only Cham,
pignol's shadow.
| In reality, Chapoteau never forgave
Champignol for the fright which he
gave him that day. Translated From
the French For Romance