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Article THE DOOMED ONE AND THE EXECUTIONER. ← Page 4 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Doomed One And The Executioner.
When he reached the high road , the darkness had so much increased as to render his features undistinguishable to the passengers ; and , running towards the city , he soon reached the public promenade without the barriers , where he threw himself upon a bench , exhausted by terror and fatigue . Looking fearfully round him , he endeavoured to collect his scattered faculties , and immediately the recollection that he had left the knife in the throat of the murdered officer , flashed upon
him . With this fatal weapon were connected many old associations , which now crowded with sickening potency upon his memory . Again he saw the sarcastic grin with which his friend had said , " Avoid your destiny , indeed ! beware of uttering those words ; " and would not the remarkable knife of Bartholdy but too probably verify the malignant prophecy of its owner ? Instant flight was the only resource that presented itself to his
bewildered imagination , and rising from the bench , he hastened to his lodgings to complete his preparations for departure on the following morning . After a sleepless night , during which he started at every sound with apprehension of a visit from the police , he hurried to the diligence office , and felt a momentary feeling of security when , after an hour ' s delay , the cumbrous vehicle left the towers of the city behind it .
During the day , busily did the phrenzied fancy of the unhappy youth call up a succession of imaginary terrors , until at dusk the diligence stopped at a solitary inn , and Florian heard , with new alarm , that here the passengers were to remain for the night ; " and here , " thought the timid fugitive , "I shall most certainly be overtaken and arrested by the
gens-d ' armes ; " a traveller who arrived soon after the diligence , and supped with the passengers , afforded him , however , the means of escape . This man was lamenting that , at a neighbouring fair , he had not been able to sell an excellent horse ; and Florian , watching his opportunity , concluded a bargain for it ; pleading the necessity of going forward on urgent business , he quitted the inn-yard , and pursued his way . At this time France was at peace both abroad and at home .
Passports were not necessary to the native traveller , and Florian turning down the first cross-road , proceeded rapidly all night and the four following days , stopping only to refresh his wearied steed , and changing his name whenever it was necessary to declare it . On the fifth morning he found himself in a fertile district of central France , and considering himself safe from all immediate danger , he pursued his journey with more leisure between the vine-covered and
gently swelling hills , until the noon-day heat and dusty road made him sensibly feel the want of refreshment ; directing the steps of his tired beast towards a town whose towers were visible in the distance , he proceeded leisurely along the road , till he came to an archway composing part of a detached Gothic structure ; at the town side ' of the arch was a toll-bar at which a boy was stationed , who held out his hat to Florian and demanded a sous . " For what ? " demanded the
weary traveller . " A long established toll , sir , " replied the boy ; " and if you have a compassionate heart , you will give another sous to the condemned criminals , " he added , as he pointed to an iron box placed near the house-door , under a figure of the Virgin . Shuddering at the words , Florian threw some small coins into the box as he hastened forwards , and directed his steps towards a quiet-looking inn , which stood near
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Doomed One And The Executioner.
When he reached the high road , the darkness had so much increased as to render his features undistinguishable to the passengers ; and , running towards the city , he soon reached the public promenade without the barriers , where he threw himself upon a bench , exhausted by terror and fatigue . Looking fearfully round him , he endeavoured to collect his scattered faculties , and immediately the recollection that he had left the knife in the throat of the murdered officer , flashed upon
him . With this fatal weapon were connected many old associations , which now crowded with sickening potency upon his memory . Again he saw the sarcastic grin with which his friend had said , " Avoid your destiny , indeed ! beware of uttering those words ; " and would not the remarkable knife of Bartholdy but too probably verify the malignant prophecy of its owner ? Instant flight was the only resource that presented itself to his
bewildered imagination , and rising from the bench , he hastened to his lodgings to complete his preparations for departure on the following morning . After a sleepless night , during which he started at every sound with apprehension of a visit from the police , he hurried to the diligence office , and felt a momentary feeling of security when , after an hour ' s delay , the cumbrous vehicle left the towers of the city behind it .
During the day , busily did the phrenzied fancy of the unhappy youth call up a succession of imaginary terrors , until at dusk the diligence stopped at a solitary inn , and Florian heard , with new alarm , that here the passengers were to remain for the night ; " and here , " thought the timid fugitive , "I shall most certainly be overtaken and arrested by the
gens-d ' armes ; " a traveller who arrived soon after the diligence , and supped with the passengers , afforded him , however , the means of escape . This man was lamenting that , at a neighbouring fair , he had not been able to sell an excellent horse ; and Florian , watching his opportunity , concluded a bargain for it ; pleading the necessity of going forward on urgent business , he quitted the inn-yard , and pursued his way . At this time France was at peace both abroad and at home .
Passports were not necessary to the native traveller , and Florian turning down the first cross-road , proceeded rapidly all night and the four following days , stopping only to refresh his wearied steed , and changing his name whenever it was necessary to declare it . On the fifth morning he found himself in a fertile district of central France , and considering himself safe from all immediate danger , he pursued his journey with more leisure between the vine-covered and
gently swelling hills , until the noon-day heat and dusty road made him sensibly feel the want of refreshment ; directing the steps of his tired beast towards a town whose towers were visible in the distance , he proceeded leisurely along the road , till he came to an archway composing part of a detached Gothic structure ; at the town side ' of the arch was a toll-bar at which a boy was stationed , who held out his hat to Florian and demanded a sous . " For what ? " demanded the
weary traveller . " A long established toll , sir , " replied the boy ; " and if you have a compassionate heart , you will give another sous to the condemned criminals , " he added , as he pointed to an iron box placed near the house-door , under a figure of the Virgin . Shuddering at the words , Florian threw some small coins into the box as he hastened forwards , and directed his steps towards a quiet-looking inn , which stood near