The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1868-12-12
Taa Peddier's story.

sense. The sound. as of human voice,
comes to me and sylables words of mean
ing, when 1 know that no human being
is near, and that the whole must be scyae
kind of mental deception. | remember
once, when quite lad, living at home
with my parents. heard the words
''Pierre Boisant, prepare for sorrow y
What followed? My father at that
time was accounted rich merchant.
Three weeks after he was a bankrupt.
If | had been the most imaginative per-
son in the, world, could not have pre-
saged this.
Three years after the same words were
repeated. I was then alone, on the road
to Troyes, engaged in the humble calling
of peddler, to which my fathers misfor-
tunes had reduced me. | felt that some
thing serious was about to happen, and
took the first conveyance back to Paris.
| hastened to my father, and found him
dying. and my poor mother almost dis
tracted with grief She was surprised
to see me; but when I told her what
brought me home, she said it must be
the voice of the Lord. | did not agree
with her in that respect, because Iotten
heard tl.at same voice saying trifing
things.
Well. my father died. and my mother
did not long survive him, and hen was
alone in the world seeing nothing better
before me l resumed the humble business
of peddler, and after two or three weeks
spent in France, went To Sardinia and
established "a route for myself among the
retired villages Of the mountains.
| WAS now in Il region wild enough
e
peri!nus enough to keep me in a state of
Amos Constant excitement. Some Of
the routes betwee one h .bitation and an
other were lon- that one days Journey
woul | not take me through aud then |
would be Obliged to find my lodging
among the caves, rocks or trees. as b st
| could. Some Of the mountain passes
were very dangerous. and slip or mis-
step might send one headlong down u
thousand feet. Aud not l-ast Of all was
the danger from robbers. who mi ght be
met where least expected.
For six years / carried on my traffic
in that wild region, without any other
misfortune than some serious fights and
hair breadth escapes. BY this time I
felt that. for young man. | was pretty
we'll off, aud thought | would return to
Paris and set up shopkeepng; when an
event. perhaps | should rather say
tragedy, that happened about that time.
fixed my resolution and hasteaed my de-
parture.
] was going over very Wild and
lonely pass of the ,noun tains, the sun be-
ing nearly set. when my familiar voice.
which had ever left me, said distinctly
pierre Bolsant, beware ~
| was alarmed at this warning, be-
cause | had never received warming Of
the kind in vain. 1 looked up to the
frowning rocks above me, and down into
the awful gulf below, and then at the
ziyzag path was pursuing. but saw no
living thing, except large black vulturc
winding its way from one mountain peak
to another. | knew the voice was not
human. and felt that there was some
impendin. danger, but what it was. or
where or when TO look for it, could not
tell. 1t was not impossible for me to
remain where was aud to go back might
be as dangerous as to 20 forward, aud SO
l continued to advance, looking carefully
at every step, and glanciDg nervous!y ut
the Surroundings.
AT length L reached a gloomier place,
where l usually when on this route,
turned down into the dark valley, to pass
the night In little cave, which l had
discovered about u hundred yards from
the path, and which was also concealed
by cluinp of bushes, and l believe. it
was known to no one except myself
found myself instinctivelv, us it were,
moving in that direction. A moments
reflection Oh the mysterious warming [
had received convinced nIe this was the
best thing could do; for if theEe was
danger, it was most likely from robbers,
who were probably, lying in wait for me
on my regular well known route.
So went on, slowly aud cautiously, till
I reached point directly over the cave.
Some bushes which had struggled up
from the earth between the crevices af-
fort1ed me place of concealment; and
crawling into these, disburdened myself
Of my pack. spread out my blanket, and
proceeded, without attempting to light
fire. to eat the food had provided for
my supper By the time I had finished
my repast the sun had set, and the shades
OF night were coming on.
Perhaps am foolish in taking this
precauton.'
Scarcely had these thoughts passed
through my mind than | fancled heard
voices speaking in low tones. The sounds
seemed to come fro,n below. / listened
lntently straining my hearing to the
utmost, to catch the words, if words i,l-
deed they were; for, after all, it might
be the breeze playing among the rocks
and trees.
For several minutes continued to hear
those sounds, but unable to make out
what they were. They ceased, and all
was silent. It now became dark md