Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-18

i q
and approaching nearer he discover.
ed him to be Kordicus himself. But
ohl how different was his appear
ance that evening to the joily-looKlng e
figure he presented when standing ~ q
the door of his house smoking MS c
pipe. There was something 80 stern =
and despotic in the expression of his /
face that the poor woodman fairIy t
"You've' forgotten your promise {
to me- he said iu voice which rang
in the mars ears like thunder what's 1
the reason you've not called at my
house to pay me the money you owe
me?' if'i.
"spm very sorry said the wood
man stammering, but really forgot
it,
".Don't tell me lie,' said Kordi.
Gus, you evaded my house purposely.
"sI'll tell you then candidly the
TRUTH said the poor woodmaA, my
earnings for the week were not nall
sufficient to pay my debt, and II even
I'd paid as much as had, my wife
and family would have been starving.
| What's your wife aud family TO
me?' said Kordicus. 4 owe them no
favor. dare say you'd tell me your
wife's an honest, hard working woman,
and think by that you'd claim my
pity. So far to the contrary, there,s
nothing on earth detest So much as
an honest aud industrious woman,
and if possible more so when she has
q family b" i-- DO. On ,'' 80.
".Ili pay you little on account if
you'll lstsWe. said the aw9odman
trembling, 'and 2s much next week
az can afford
".Now that's speaking in sensible
manner said Kordicus, assuming his
ljovial toue. tI'm not one to be hard
ou man at any time, as long as be
behaves honestly by me. Pay me
!. something now, and the rest next
. week, or as soon as convenient. Only,'
he continued, frowning as ho spoke,
, don't let me find YOU are trying to
. Iayoid me again. I've conceived .
friendship for you, and nothing al''
, noys me more than to be deceived in
mau in whom I've placed confidence.
Pay me something noY, ana let tne
rest stay on
1.-The woodmau thanked him, and
placed In HE hands y third of his
, earnings, promising to pay the re-
3 mainder as soon as possible when
bidding him good night. he continued
his road home. %. " o So --.-'1
} con meeting ,his wife the poor
!, man. although. be felt ssorrowfnl in
: heart, was Obliged to, try and felgn q
stern expressionil TO- escape. from the
= reproaches he felt were his due. % She
endesvored to prove to him that the
q money he had given to her was Insult
8 ficient for the expenses OF the week,
aud he harshly told her that ifss she
; wanted more abe must work for lit.
e She pleaded that, with her ill-health,
L she could not do so; whereupon he,
u with q guilty conscience left the
u house, and wanted till he thought
, they were all in bed before he return.
ed home. He then laid himself dowt
d on the floor, aud endeavored, though
70 thoughts in sleep. L'' ne 60
l. "The next week passed of, and tn.
3, woodman, fearing to offend Kordi
It Gus, called every evening at his house
o He received him with great hospi
. ,tallty, insisted on his drinking, ant
9, to encourage him to do SO, drani
ii with him, aud by the time pay -da!
z came round the poor man found hi
D. debt had SO much Increased from tn
n quantity he had taken that he wa
I'd fairly puzzled what to do, and COW
he ardlike. determined to return HON
n. by another path aud again avol'
7e kordicus. But in the same spot a
H. before, and barring his road home
y there stood the demon, with ster
Mt and despotic expression on his coun
E. tenance. l.. ,..-... -.... u.s. -.4.
ne Miserable slave,' he said to th
" woodman, 80 you've tried to avOi
~ my house again after all the kindnes
nc I've shown you.' '-Ho- N
h- "'My master, what was / to do
ne Pay you l can't, audI dreaded to NEE
you.' ......... .... ,,. D. .ei..o
rs "Dreaded to meet me y exclaime
aa Kordicus, with SO much sternness i
ne his tone, that it completely petriie
eo the woodman. Dreaded to meet IN
ao slave! Do l appear more terrib
ne when in my house than / do here p
90 "The woodman attempted to mh
as ter some excuse, but Kordicua agai
10 interrupted him. - iU1s9rT i'39
ne "'I'll hear no explanation Of you
lln conduct here-my money I'll have ,
ss- "tBut in what manner can obtai
II it?' said the woodman. Il work fr0I
ay early morning till late at night, and j
ls, will take me many weeks labor
us pay off the debt owe you.' sr.
~ "'If you can't obtain the none
ne honestly, then you must do it di
on give me half you've got about yo
"s aud the rest you may take home.'
1.-the woodman placed the none
Gu in the hand Of Kordicus, and the
IN humbly implored him not to insist {
eu his committing any dishonest actio
est The monster, however, would tai
H. no excuse, but Insisted that the ne.
're evening the wOOdman should call ,
7rs his house, aud pay the remainder I
OF the debt, which he must obtain
'eh any means he could. ------.-
siI "Wretched indeed was the pot
IT, wOodmau when he arose the mel
morning. He felt himself in Il
3D. hands of despotic monster, fro
'ep whose power he found it impossib
ith to escape. He worked OH during Il
to whole of the day, not knowing VIII
yes steps to take, not wishing to comm
do dishonest action, and yet dreadil
to dlsobey the order of Kordicus, 4
ear call at his house with the money {
i'm his way home. At last he determi
me ed to ask him to forgive him the deb
full and started off on the way to b
the house. Presently he saw q knight {
ity horseback crossing his path, and
in he did 80 something fell to the grOun
" The woodman was on the point
dit calling to the knight to stop, but
'ill did not put his thought into practic
to and arriving at the spot, he foui
lri- there purse, with money in it. Tr
nd ing to turn deaf ear 20 the voice
, conscience, that told him the mon'
Il was not his, he advanced towards Il
Or house of Kordicus to pay the debt
ebt owed him. The demon was standil
OF as usual At his door, but with q cou
1th tenance very different from the d,
before.
nix, "Welcome, my dear friend,'
Of said to the woodman. How please
Gus [ am TO see you. Come IN, and let
lin have glass together. Pll stand tire
the tonight