Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-11-17

AYE, marry" cried the vender,
"many more than ! can tell. am
known from one end of the country to
the other by all languishing lovers!
Why, fair sir" with convincing homes
ty Of tone and manner, 1.-THE mobiles buy
Of me, aud have even been admitted
at the court. My love charms are
world famed! Step up, m'sieu's' only
4 shillingsr he called.
by the mass! had sure PROOF OF
their value within the month" he con-
tinued. addressing Josiah, but speaking
In loud voice so that all might hear.
"At Sterndorf, over the mountain, l
was delayed by the storm and had q
room In the tavern there next to gal
liant gentleman, an English noble, hold
ing high rank at the French court and
In high favor with the king, who had
missed his way and lay there Ill OF q
pest. All through the hours Of his fever
and pain he moaned sorely for his lady
love, who, he lamented, was pining Tor
his presence and whom he feared he
would ne'er see again. ! sold him one
of these heart shapes, an, msieurs,"
the peddler announced triumphantly,
holding them high aloft In his hand,
s'that day the storm abated, the next he
began to mend, and ere many days he
Jared forth on his Journey. And the
first thing / saw as approached your
village, good sirs, was this same gal
liant riding by the side Of most beau
teous lady, both merry an the light OF
happy love shining in their eyes. Stand
ing BY the wayside, Ipulled my hat on
to the ground at their approach. an Sir
Godfrey La Fabienpe'-he said the
name proudly-"with kind civility dom
ed his hat in return an gave me pleas
ant greeting.
"'With all respect and reverence, my
lord quoth I, the love charm hath
workedY
1.-THE lady blushed, and my lord
threw me gold piece.
"Thou chargest not enough for thy
valuable wares, good fellow he quoth,
80 will further compensate thee
can they rode away close together,
laughing gently, and SO great was the
love and happiness on their faces that
watched them with tears In mine
eyes until they entered the forest"
Josiah Taunston, who during this re-
cital had grown pale to the lips, with
trembling hands clutched the heart
shapes tighter.
who'll buy, m'sieurs! Loves magic!
Whoe'er buys a heart perforce must
soon buy a circletw the peddler cried,
not seeing his companions agitation.
Hast any charm that contains evil"
Josiah said in voice 80 low that he al
most whispered.
The peddler regarded him curiously.
Surely" he thought, "that sour WIS.,
aged wight needs not evil charms. The
devil Is close enough to him already"
But he answered suayely: ut doth
happen that 1 have small call for those.
Most folks are afear Of them. Once l
had a box Of crosses that were said to
be possessed of the devil, but they
brought me much sickness, sorrow and
bad luck, 80 l soon got rid OF them.
Gentlemen, step up! Surely there's not
only one among ye sweetheartfng!
Who'll buy my wares y he called out.
"Those crosses, manw Josiah inter-
posed impatiently. "Wert Of gold!
Where soldst thou themT
AYE, Of pure gold. Only the nobil-
ity bought Them" he replied proudly.
"'Twas in Paris I sold them. All, good
sir" to a timid young Puritan who had
approached, IAN thou wilt take gold
en- circlet thou canst have it for 8 shil-
lings. Cheap, dirt cheap, but I am
much In need of money"
But the man, shaking his head as II
the price were too much, walked away.
Master, wouldst thou like a silver
cross? Diable! There Is not much good
luck In themw the vender continued,
turning toward Josiah again. But, to
bis surprise, the mans place was emp.
ty, for Taunston, unnoticed by the
throng Of bystanders that was interest
Cd In the peddler and his wares, with
glistening triumphant eyes had passed
through the doorway and gone out into
the night.