Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-05

July cuUtIeu LIS UOOh, tueIc WIS 10
such persons as Monsieur Bichat or Mou-
sieur Richat, and when he pointed out the
right place and found the very offices, an
old lady was seated in the back room
directing circulars, and in the front room
an old gentleman was painting Autographs.
Paul tried hard for several days to get
employment, and then, as his money was
nearly gone, he determined to go back to
Bourgogne and see whether an old college
friend couldn't help him in some way He
had money enough to carry him as far as
Dion, and then ne would have to tramp it.
He reached Dion in the afternoon and
started at once for the country il the direc-
ton of Chalons.
When night overlook him he had trav-
eled some distance. He was tired and saw
no place where he could procure shelter.
Presently he saw an old ruin on the oppo-
site side of stream. That would be better
than nothing, and he stripped and crossed
the water, which was not much above the
waist. When he had dressed he went to-
ward the ruin. There was not much of it.
1t was evidently the remains of an old
abbey or chateau, and a carpenter had
worked there recently, for there wa; a
bench and shavings lay upon the floor.
Paul made himself bed on the bench
and soon fell asleep. He awoke suddenly,
as he supposed, about midnight. He
heard voices in conversation. Turning his
head in the direction, be saw light and
several forms collected around Il. He lay
motionless and watched. Presently he
saw man climb to the top of the wall at
the end of the ruin. The lantern was
handed TO him and he disappeared. In
few minutes he returned and then he and
three others, as Paul could now distinguish,
left the place.
Paul lay thinking what he should do,
and fell asleep He awoke just as day was
breaking. He arose and thought of what
he had witnessed during the night. He
went to the wall and examined ii. 1t was
very thick and substantial, despite its evil
dent age. He climbed to the top with ease,
and saw what looked like chimney hole
He lowered himself down gently and found
that he was on firm ground. He saw he
was in a cell about fifteen feet square. The
light was very dim, but as he grew used to
it he could distinguish things. On the
floor were saddlebags. pair OF stirrups,
large goblet, small trunk and a leathern
bag. The bag was leaning against the wall
Paul took hold of it and found it was very
heavy; he opened it without difficulty. 1t
was full of gold and silver coins then in
use in France.
Paul climbed from the cell with the bag
in his grasp. In the valise he carried there
was room enough for the bag, and therein
it went. Then Paul started away along
the bank of the river. When he came to
a bridge he crossed there was road, and
along it Paul went. As he turn ed a curve
in the road he saw man trudging along
with pack and woman following.
When he overlook the woman he found
she was lovely girl of not more than sew
enteen. He bowed politely to her and
wished her good morning. He fain would
have walked by her side, for she was very
sweet to look at. Her garb was humble
but clean, and her air had charm about it
such as Paul thought be had meyer seen IN
the bearing of any woman.
When Paul overlook the man he spoke
to him in friendly tone, and the peddler
asked whittier Paul was going.
ITO the nearest place where / can find a
said Paul. "And you ?"
. l and my daughter are looking for that,
also,' said the peddler.
So Paul walked on with the old man,
and then he hung behind and walked the
rest of the way to the nearest village with
the peddler's daughter. Only she told Paul
she was not the peddler's daughter and of
no kin to him, the fact being that the ped
dler had married her widowed mother.
They came to village betimes. and had
breakfast. Paul went into a retired place
and examined the contents of the leathern
bag. 1t contained over 1900 francs. The
money was not his, that was certain; but
he made up his mind to use it.
He was in love with Annette, the ped
dler's companion, and resolved not to leave
her. He removed the money from the bag
and placed it in his own valise. Some of it
he took out for immediate use. He paid
for the breakfast like lord, and brought
away meat and bread and wine from the
inn sufficient to last the three whole day
if needs were. Then the peddler went
around the village to sell his wares, and
Annette was to do the same with the small
fancy articles she carried.
After the peddler had started, however,
Paul persuaded the girl to stroll around
through the woods with him, and in order
to deceive the peddler, insisted on paying
Annette three franks for bauble, so that
she might have some money to show the
old man as the result of her diligence. In
the woods Paul told her how he loved her,
and asked her to quit the peddler and 60
with him.
/ am rich," said he and he showed her
the gold and silver in the valise.
As for the girl, she was as much in love
with Paul as he with her. So they agreed
that they would wait for the peddler at the
other end of the village, as they had agreed,
and when he stopped at noon to eat and
smoke and take nap they would 90 off
into the world together. When the ped
dler joined them and Annette handed him
the three francs he was nightly pleased,
saying that she had done better than he by
over franc.
At noon they came to sweet, shady spot
back from the road, and thiiher they went
TO eat their midday repast. Paul piled the
old man with wine, and when he had
taken and drank his fill and smoked his
pipe, he found snug spot and lay down
and slept. Just as the pair were about to
glide away and leave the peddler in the
lurch, he awoke, swearing at the gnats
which had disturbed him. Paul sat down
beside him and chatted, and took out his
leathern bag and said:
See, here is present for you. You may
find it useful, or sell it, if you meet with a
good customer"
The peddler didn't much fancy the gift,
but on opening it he found a gold coin
sticking in the corner and that induced
him to take the bag, with many thanks.
Then he lay down once more, and was soon
snoring. Paul and Annette cautiously
crept into the wood and were miles away
when the peddler awoke. But Paul, in a
frenzy of love, hadn't observed the way
they had taken, and so was afraid to seek
the highway, lest they should come upon
the peddler. So when night came on, they
took their supper at the messy foot of
tree, and passed the night within the
shadow of the forest
As for the peddler, when he awoke, be
was wild. AT first he thought that the girl
and Paul would soon return but as hours
passed away, and there was no sign of
them. he grew frantic. Then he found
Annette's basket under The skin OF his
pack, and he knew that she had deserted
him. Presently body of horsemen came
along the road in front of where he had
slept. They were riding slowly, and look
ing this way and that. as though looking
for some one. When they caught sight of
him they rushed their horses at the hedge,
cleared it, and were upon him in minute
He turned pale with surprise and fear
What did they mean ? They soon let him
know. They dismounted and seized him.
Tha,, f1 on, oaarch al hiv,, orl he ,0aalr T..