Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-02-25

Il
vel this weather ii is only these 'be.es Amer
leans. who run here and there and back
wand and forward at night and in all wea-
fhers, as if they were running for life or
death. Mon dieui what is thatf" as a loud
knocking shook the outside door
60 70 the door, Alphonse Perhaps one
OF the neighbors is sick. fit Is traveller,
black or white, bring him in. / would 40.
turn dog out such a night"
Alphonse obeyed. In few minutes he
returned, and with him a man. Old Pierre
gave one keen look at the stranger. who was
bent beneath q heavy weight on his back,
and sprung 10 his feet with terrible oath.
An cbnsxioas paekman was before him.
"But, Aphonse," he thundered, ''art ;iiou
drunk or mad, that thou should bring
peddler here: Va. sortez, infame, Get
out :" he sputtered, mixing up French and
English, and advancing with threatening
gesture on the peidier, a frank-faced bright
looking young man, who quietly deposited
his pack on the floor and stood his grnand.
| A~ASsNAA " WI. lz1lDhs, lie
said, quietly, 1T is not my fault ain here
heard how much you dislike,l men Of NY
calling, and wouldn't have intruded, as
sure You, but am stranger and not ac-
cusi2mcd IL yoG' prairie paths, So lest my
way"
Let the young man stay" Madame La
font whispered 20 her husband. The Eng
lish in which he spoke was an unknown
tongue 10 her, but he was a stranger, drip
ping wet, and doubtless hungry. These
mistortures appealed to her kind heart
Old Pierre's keen eyes fixed themselves
upon the man before him. He was not at
all like the type he had been accustomed
to see-cringing. cunning-eyed fellows
but a good looking young man, with laugh
ing eyes, and general air Of being equal
to any emergency, even to breasting the
storm again should he be forced to DO 50.
Whether it was the young fellows prepos-
sessins face, Oh the egg -nog, or the duties Of
the season, or all combined. no one will
ever know, but for once in his life Pierre
Lafont's obstinacy gave way. He said
Monsieur, | will let you stay. Ifyou
open your pack Of salopris and try to get
my wife TO buy, will turn you and your
pack out as quick as dat" with snap of his
fingers.
Il never try 10 persuade ladies or any one
else to buy" the stranger said pleasantly.
I'm fact, Ihave nothing in my pack to tempt
them. I deal in cutlery, and I'm travelling
more for orders for a large firm in New York
than 70 peddle goods. My name Is Charles
Gordon, and am from Rhode Island. I've
heard Of you, Mr.. Lafont," laughing merri-
ly, "and was warned never TO put my foot
on your premises"
Lafont smiled grimly.
You did hear de truth, Monsieur Cor
ton, but Christmas only comes once year.
Jeanne, give the monsieur some supper.
Alphonse will tend to your pony"
The supper was good and bountiful, and
the young stranger talked good deal to his
host, and talked we'll, too. As for Monsieur
Pierre himself, ignorant and narrow-mind-
ed as he might be, his exceptional shrewd-
ness was noticeable in every word, and for
that evening, at least, he PLAYED the "bon
camarade" to the despised peddler.
When Mr.. Gordon rose the next morning,
however, he found his hosts mood had al
tered strangely during the night. The ef-
fects Of the Christmas cheer were over, and
he was evidently repenting his broken res
olution. Breakfast passed in sullen silence,
and all Mr. Gordon's attempts at converse.
tion were met by kind of a growl. He
hastily made his preparations for departure
and then asked his scowling hos; for his
bill.
"You will pay me ten dollar, ssr," hs
said.
"Ten dollars /" exclaimed the assonished
young man. "You surely don't intend
charging that amount for one nights board
and lodging'
"Isay ten dollar. sar. You pay me no
for de supper nor de bed. Non non ! Old
Pierre Lafont charge no man for TO eat o,
TO sleep. You pay me ten dollar for break
ing my word and taking you in my house
Ven you tell de oder canaille peddlers, d.
big money you has to pay, dey will let my
house alone Aha !" with 9 triumphant
grin, "de ten dollar viii be better dan ter
shotguns to keep dem away"
Mr. Gordon was indignant, but he wal
cool enough 70 see that indignation woult
be wasted on the stubborn old fellow befor,
him. he felt that II he resisted, Alphonse
who was leaning laziiy on the gate post
coald bring deal Of reserved force 70 hi
forcible ejectment, and like sensible man
he counted on, SO In Monsieur Lafort'i
hand.
, Its regular swindle, mus. say, Nj
Lafont," he said, land Tn paying higl
, price for your broken word"
They were alone In the room. Alphons
was whistling q, q gate post in the yard
. and Nine. Lafon; and her housema!d wer
busy In another part Of the house. A. Nj
; Gordon was turning away his eyes fell upol
clock on the mantel-one Of those old
, fashioned concerns where the pendulum
swings up and down In full view. 4 sud
den idea struck him-whai he called an In
spiration-And he turned 70 his grim hos
Z with smile.
, "wsll. I woa't bear malice against you
, Mr.. Lasoat, though you've bean pses:,
, hard O. 10. That's queer clock yss ha~
tiara"