The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-11-26

y
IA the dry goods or grocery lins?"
ssWeIl, stranger" said Dobbinss glaneiBg
round The store, az don't see anything that
suits me better than brooms; as know to
. ties what they cest, III take the balance
IN brooms; SO come on and help .sfeller'
load up."
The merchant had nothing to say; he
helped Dobbins load, in silence; then, as
the peddler mounted his cart, and wished
him, a good day he said: ssWheaeyers you
have any more brooms to sell for store pay
just give me CALL l
Dobbins promised not to forget him, and
drove of to the next village. making sim
on Tuesday of the following week, he found
his stock reduced TO twenty
Then he found it necessary to go into the
retail trade, by peddling them from house
to house, and as his route that day lay some
miles from store, through a sparsely set
tied part of the country. he found a very
good sale for his brooms; SO much so, that
at night he found himself reduced to two.
These he expected it would be difficult to
get rid of, for they were the poorest of the
lot, and remarkably weak and slender in the
handles. But fortune led him TO the door
of woman who, being widow, had now
no use for broomsticks, save that of sweep
ing, and who relieved him of the last of the
four hundred. ''as they were light and han
dy-iust the thing for her use."
Dobbins, as may be supposed, was not
long in making his way back to Wildwood;
and when about ten miles from home, he
was surprised By the appearance of his ri
val, Eben Dunn, who in his perigrinations,
had got on the same road as Dobbins, and
was also hurrying back to Wildwood, 10
present himself to the mistress of his heart.
Driving up alongside, he took peep into
Dobbins' cart, and was surprised to find it
empty.
II reckon, by the looks of your cart, you
found a ready sale for your brooms?' said
he.
"Yes-I experienced no great difficulty
in getting rid of 'em. But see you're
empty too
Eyes and have been this long time
Here both parties whipped up their
beasts; and, as if by general consent, a race
commenced.
The road was wide enough for the two
carts to proceed abreast-and the race was
kept up with spirit until, meeting vehicle
that two gentleman occupied Zone as dri-
yer, the other passenger,) Dunn did not
give quite room enough in passing, and the
consequence was, his cart was upset, and
himself rolled into gutter by the way
side.
He arose with resentment flashing in his
eyes, and with the true Yankee spirit,
threatened to chastise the author of his ca
Iamity, who, being heavy, broad-shoul-
dered six-footer. desired no better sport
than brush with the peddler.
He accordingly gave the lines into the
hand of his eomrade, leaped to the ground,
and meeting his challenger halfway, gave
him such a dressing, that he didn't open
one eye for a week after, and the other was
surrounded with black circle, as if mourn
ing the loss of its fellow.
Dobbin halted to see fair play, but drove
on toward home before Dunn had righted
his cart and tied up the thills, which were
broken.
He had not, however, proceeded far, when
Dunn again overlook him, and, with wo-
BECOME look, cried out that he had been
robbed, aud called on Dobbin to return with
him on the road the sharpers had taken
and help him to recover the money! frac-
ton less than eighty dollars-the proceeds
of his four hundred brooms.
''And is that all you made on your
brooms?" asked Dobbins, surprised.
"All?" Yes. ] reckon it's more than
you have made.''
"But I've got q hundred dollars in clean
cash in my pockets, barring the five I've
paid out for lodging and meals" said Dob
bins, slapping the thinking coin. 80, il
you've only made eighty dollars. you've
lost the gal.''
81 reckon her decision will settle the mat
ter" said Dunn, without any regard to
our broom speculation
''Well, that's just what I was thinkin'
of when you came up; and if you like
we'll say nothing about our weeks job oil
peddling, but go to the gal, and tell her to
take her CHOICE
OF course, Dunn was pleased to accept
this proposition of Dobbins, but he insist
ed on deferring the visit for one week, to
give him time to recover both his eyesight
and his money.
Dobbins didn't like delay, he wanted the
matter settled at once, but when he looked
upon the swollen and discolored counte-
nance of Dunn, he felt throb of pity al
his uDpresentable appearance; and SO con-
fdent was he of Madge's preference, that
he consented to his wishes.
"Well, Madge, the boys have both got
back to- day, with empty carts, said Cap.
tain Mumford to his daughter. (Which dc
you think has done the best business?''
81 don't know, I'm sure,' replied Madge,
colorng to the temples.
She had passed a restless and unhappy
week, and now that they had returned, she
al faorad to hoar tho -asu1t
The captain smiled, but made no com
ments when his daughter appeared at the
table, In a pretty, white muslin wrapper
and a dainty little bouquet of wild roses and
eglantine peeping from amid the folds thai