The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-05-09
THEPEDDLER'SPERIL


The sun sank behind the western
mountain peaks, and the short twilight
of Southern latitudes came on apace.
After time the man ofthe house came
in. He was tall and thin. Two ferret
like eyes cleaned sharply upon the ped
dler from amid a shaggy tsngle of white
hair and beard.
He placed his long rifle in rack over
the door, unslung his shot pouch and
then seated himself and gazed gloomily
into the fire, without youchssfing either
greeting to the stranger or a word to his
own family. Nan, passing by, whispered
to the peddler:
Don't We mind uncle he's got one of
his bad spells on now, but if he amt
bothered it'll pass of by and by
The peddler nodded and began tale
concerning one of his adventures in
Texas. He was soon interrupted by
Amt Viney.
'Sit up, stranger" said she. ave amt
got much to eat, but such as it is you're
welcome"
The old man ate his supper in silence
after which he took his hat and abrupt
ly left the cabin. Aunt Viney saw fit to
explain.
Moses, my old man, hain't been ex-
actly like himself since the revenoo men
carried his son off five year ago last
April.
"'Stillin', s'pose?"
"Yes; nd top Of that he shot one Of
'em while they was tryin' to take him,
an they put him in the pen'tensh'ry at
Nashville for 10 years"
The peddler remained silent for a mo-
ment or two. But when the dishes were
washed and put away he again entertain
/ ed the two women by relating sundry
"reminiscences of his career, and also de-
scribing the wonders of certain great
cities he had visited.
After awhile Moses again stalked 81
lently in and took a seat in a far corner.
While the peddler talked he continued
to eye him closely, as if suspicious that
the stranger was not just what he should
be.
"Speakin' of the telephone" continued
the peddler, some folks in these noun
tains don't believe that people can talk
to each other, nd them a hundred or
more miles apart, but tel. ye it's a fact.
I've seed it done myself"
"Tve known Of men hollerin' across
from one mountain TO another" said
Aunt Viney obviously. "Mebbe they
could make themselves heard a matter
of two miles. But hundred-" She
shook her head disapprovingly.
'It's so all the same, though. I've sot
md heard 'em talkin' jas as We be now"
That's as big lie as ever was told,
exclaimed old Moses, rising and making
for the door.
lie seized his rifle as he passed, threw
menaeing glance at the peddler and
once more left the cabin.
''Old mans little touched in the head,
amt be ?" asked the peddler, who SEEM
ed to take no ohense whatever at the old
mans rude behavior.
Ever since John was took off he's
had queer spells that come over him
every now and then. l must say he's
more'n apt to be 'spishus of strangers
when they come around. He's always
thinkin of revenoo spies. Idessay that's
what makes him act so toward you. But
you mustn't mind him. l never knowd
him to succeed in hurtin' anyone
yet"
1t was Nan who replied, for Aunt vi
ney was making preparations to retire
for the night When the girl and the
peddler were left alone the latter seemed
somewhat curious about his son John,
who for many years had been under the
ban of the law.
"John was always good to Ubcle Nose;
and that's why he takes it all so hard now
81 s'pose, bein' as you're kin to 'em
you must felt powerful bad when they
took him Off"
He eyed Nan closely as he spoke, and
the girl blushed slightly.
81 amt no real kin to EN-" said she
any folks is all dead, md they raised me
from little gal but John nd me wa
always good friends.
"Nothin' more ?''
The girl looked at him reprovingly.
"It's about bedtime" said she coldly
"Shan't l show you where you're L
sleep?"