The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-03-13


self led to the house of his debtor, and
demanded the zwanzig.
"Ah, what pity!'' exclaimed the
young man. The year is bad one
for plums; they are all spoiled, and the
slivovitza is SO bad that we are COM
peeled to drink it ourselves. Have pa
tience until the next winter, and then
I will pay YOU"
81 shall be very cold. but l will be
patient" replied the blind man, and he
returned home. All through the win
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.
81 had a little grain" said the young
man, "but the Save has overlooked its
banks, and my grain is lost. 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, 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 almost without murmuring.
Before the end of the winter his old
cloak was like torn SPIDERS web.
Once more the autumn winds had
swept away the very last of the with
cred leaves, once more the hoar-frost
whitened the fields.
The old minstrel shivered and trem-
bled with the cold.
He had himself led to the house OF
his debtor, but the young peasant met
him at the door, saying: 81 haze lost
my wife, and | am ruined. | will come
and bring your money as soon as i
cam"
The blind man returned home, but
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 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. Il know that
you now have money"
Leave me in peace" answered the
peasant.
Il have suffered the cold of three
winters; have waited three years!'
| exclaimed the minstrel. II will wait
no longer
"Old fool" replied the young peas
ant, slamming the door in his face
'old fool, to run after a zwanzig for
three 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 man 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 rose up and barred the
entrance. II will not let you enter, y
he said to the bridegroom, until 70
have paid me what you owe me"
The assistants pushed him aside, and
the procession entered.
At night, just as the supper was
over, and the bridegroom was about
to lead the bride away to his own
house, the blind minstrel entered.
"Where is Franjop" he said.
Bnt the guests, who were merry with
wine, responded, mockingly: "You saw
him so well on the road and at the
church door, you ought now to see him
as we'll as we do"
The blind man CROPPED his way
along the ROOM. in the midst of loud
peals of laughter, and suddenly seiz-
ing Franjo by the belt. he shouted,
"Ah! this time l have you fast!' And
STOPPING down, he said in his ear, in a
stern, decided tone: ''Franjo, pay me
my zwanzig. Your wife has much
money. Pay me. You can do so
now"
Franjo replied by derisive laugh.
PAY me- repeated the blind man,
in threatening tone-"pay me, or /
will kill you"
"Ah, what good joke!-what a
good"
Franjo did not finish his sentence.
The minstrel, exasperated past endur-
ance, seized him by the throat with his
left hand, and with his right drew a
pistol, which he had concealed in his
breast, and shot him in the head.
Franjo fell dead at his feet. All had
passed in the twinkling of an eye. The
old minstrel did not attempt to escape;
indeed, it would have been almost i'm
possible for him to have done so if he
had wished it.
Without word of complaint or an
attempt at resistance he allowed him
self to be led before the Captain of the
company, who sent him under a strono
| o,,ard tn tho ef1f rnnior