The Opelousas courier., 1889-04-13

ter he shivered with cold In his miser-
able rags.
November and the snow returned
once more. The minstrel again went
to his debtor and claimed the money.
II had a little grain" said the young
man, "but the Save has overhowed its
banks, and my grain is lost. I entreat
you to wait until next year; this time
L will assuredly pay my debt"
"My blood is no longer quick enough
to warm me-" replied the blind man;
"but since the Save has destroyed
your fields. I will suffer and wait"
All, how bitterly he repented the not
having carried his lard to market! But
the zwanzig still seemed to him such
an immense sum that he was patient,
and waited almBt without murmuring.
Before the eAlof the winter his old
cloak was like j prn SPIDERS web.
Once more tiaAautumn winds had
swept away the vey last of the with.
cred leaves, onceGon1re the hoar-frost
whitened the fieldsNG
The old minstrel sAtfered and trem-
bled with the cold. \
He had himself led To- Nhe house Of
his debtor, but the youngf tasant met
him at the door, saying: ''l't we lost
my wife, and l am ruined. I W. come
and bring your money as sodano l
can" :, B.A
The blind man returned home, !
with the firm resolution to submit to
no more delays.
The winter passed, the summer also;
autumn returned once more. The old
man had heard nothing from his debt
Or, when 10! one day he heard that he
was just about to marry a rich peasant
girl who had a dot of many zwanzigs.
The minstrel had himself immedi-
ately led to the young mans house.
"Pay me-" he said. II know that
you now have money"
Leave me in peace" answered the
peasant
Il have suffered the cold of three
winters; l have waited three years!"
exclaimed the minstrel. 81 will wait
no longer"
"Old foolT replied the young peas
ant, slamming the door in his face
''old fool, to u after a zwanzig for
taree years!"
The minstrel retired. But on the
wedding-day he stationed himself on
the side OF the road just at the entrance
to the village. and when the gay bride
groom passed, the old mar recognized
his voice. and shouted: PAY me what
you owe me, if you wish God to bless
your marriage!"
The young peasant laughed, and
brutally pushed him aside.
The wedding procession advanced
amid joyous shouts and pistol-shots.
Just as the bridal pair were about to
cross the threshold of the church the
blind minstrel ross up and barred the
entrance. Il will not let you enter
he said to the bridegroom, until yor
have paid me what you owe me-"
The assistants pushed him aside, anc
the procession entered.
At night, just as the supper was
over, and the bridegroom vas about
to lead the bride away to his owr
house, the blind minstrel entered.
Where is Franio9" he said.
Bnt the guests, who were merry will
wine, responded, mockingly: ''You saw
him SO well on the road and at tht
church door, you ought now to see hin
as well as we do"
The blind mar CROPPED his wa.
along the room, in the midst of loue
peals of laughter, and suddenly seiz
ing Franio by the belt. he shouted
.Ah! this time / have you FAST" Ant
STOPPING down, he said in his ear, in
stern, decided tone: "Franio. pay M
my zwanzig. Your wife has mucl
money. Pay ms. You a do 81
now"
Franjo replied by a derisive laugh
PAY me-" repeated the blind man
in a threatening tone-"pay me, or
will kill you"
"Ah, what a good ioke!-what
good"
Franjo did not finish his sentence
The minstrel, exasperated past endur
ance, seized him by the throat with hi
left hand, and with his right drew
pistol, which he had concealed in hi
breast, and shot him in the head
Franio fell dead at his feet. All hat
passed in the twinkling of an eye. TIL
old minstrel did not attempt to escape
indeed, it would have been almost i'm
possible for him to have done so if h
had wished it.
Without a word of complaint or a
attempt at resistance he allowed him
self to be led before the Captain OF tn
company, who sent him under stron
guard to the etat major.
His trial was short; he confesse
every thing. According to the pens
code there were many extenuating Gil
cumstances, but military Justice CO.
not take them into consideration. Tn
poor old blind minstrel was hung
Harper's Bazaar.