The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-02-28
THE PEDLAR.


vited him to make some stay at his house
The pedlar accepted the invitation, and re
manned eight or ten days, kept prisoner, as
it were, by the hospitality Of his host, and
perpetual succession Of snoW-storms lie
was present at the wedding, and at the mer-
ry-making given by the family in the evening,
where he noticed among the guests young
man of rather handsome appearance, who at
tracted much attention by the gloomy herce-
ness of his manner. Towards most persons
he preserved a sullen silence; but he relaxed
with the pedlar, laughed and talked great
deal, inquired what route he meant to take
and how long it was likely to be before he
would be among them again
In due time the pedar quilted the farm
house, and proceeded on his way. The
country Just there was very thinly inhabited,
the woods frequent. and Of considerable ex-
tent, and here and there were caverns of va
rious dimensions. In one of these the pedlar
one snowy night found himself compelled TO
take refuge. He had had the precaution to
take some food with him; and, the cold being
piercing, he collected a quantity of wood: kin
died fire, and sat down to enjoy his supper
beside it. He had not taken many mouth
fuls before he observed man enter the cav
ern covered with snow which he shook from
him as he advanced. There was an imme-
diate recognition; it was no other than the
farmers wedding-guest! He accosted the
Ipedlar with a strange, constrained civillty-
saying he was come to sup, and spend the
night with him.
'You are welcome" said the Frenchman.
with as much self-command as he could as
sumo.
"Perhaps, however," replied the Sandman,
Il shall not continue to be SO when shall
ihaVe eynlainpd nv ezra nd y
"We shall see; explain yourself"
| "Listen then p
II listen; proceed But allow me first to
offer you little supper. Here. pray take a
slice Of German sausage and little of this
wine, which have luckily brought along
with me. Taste it; it is very good"
"No," answered the Sandman; II will
neither eat nor drink with you until find
whether it will be necessary to kill you or
not %
"KilI me %
'Yes, you; unless you accede to the re-
quest | am about to make. Listen | am in
love with a girl whose father will not give her
to me unless can prove myself to be in pos
session of one hundred dollars. Now | wish
you TO lend ne that sum, which will faith
fully repay to you: not at any stated time,
observe, for | may be unfortunate; but l
swear to you, here, on this dagger, that !
will repay it sooner or later" And he held
up the glittering weapon in the light of the
flames, ready to press it to his lips should the
pedlar accede to his request
The Frenchman naturally felt exceeding
ly uncomfortable; for, from the savage as
| pect of his guest. he did not doubt be had
reason to dread the worst.
The Sandman continued: Should YOU be
so foolish as to refuse me, l shall kill you,
take all your property, marry, and make use
Oft. But because am an honest man, |
wish you in that case to tell me who is your
nearest of kin in France, since it will be my
most earnest endeavor to repay him the
money as soon as Providence shall have put
in my power"
Here he paused to observe what-efect his
words had produced on the pedlar, who for
some time was too much terrified to reply
WE'LL resumed the guest, you are I'M
decided? 1t is Just what L expected it is
very natural. However, will stay all night
with you, that you may have time for refec-
ton; because had rather not Kill! you if |
could help it. Still. | have made up nv
mind to be married next week, and | would
4 kill fifty pedlars rather than to postpone the
ceremony"
Under these circumstance" replied the
Frenchman, &" ! must lend you the money,
since | have no choice"
You resolve wisely; you have no choice
One observation more, however, must make,
and then we will sit down comfortably TO
supper. 1t is this: when you next come to
our village, you will of course see me and
my wife, and you will take up your residence
with US in preference to any other PERSONS
You will say nothing, however, of the pres
ent transaction, neither TO her nor any one
else. You will not seem afraid of me, as in
deed you need not be, but will be merry, and
reckon confidently on being repaid the sum
with which you now accommodate me.''
All this the pedlar promised.
! Now" exclaimed the young man, "give
me your hand we are tried friends; let US
sit down to supper. Afterwards you can
reckon me out the money; we will keep up
a good fire, and chat by it all night, and in
the morning we will separate, each to pursue
his own way"
In the morning, as they were about to bid
each other adIeu, the Sandman took out his
dagger, and cutting off one Of the buttons
from his coat, handed it to the Frencbman.
saying. "Take that and keeplt till restore
you your money. Observe, it is of silver
and has been handed down in my family for
many generations. / would not part with it
for all you possess; and when intend to re-
pay you the hundred dollars, this is the course
shall pursue: will say have lost my but
ton, and will offer a hundred dollars to any
one who shall find and bring it to me. You
will present yourself; and you will produce
the button; and l, as in honor bound, will
give you the sum agreed on. Do we part
friends 90
The pedIar, who Notwithstanding his loss,
could not but be amused by the strange char
acter and ideas of the Sandman, gave him I
his hand and thew narted friends