The Peddler Spy

s he disappeared. "Two days, umph. Where will you be

th in previous bargains, but did not fail to buy; indeed, Boston Bainbridge was gifted by nature with that shrewdness in a bargain which is characteristic of that famous

e pretentious than the others, situated upon the river bank. His knock brought to the do

id he; "don't make

e girl, quickly. "I will not join any

o me, my dear, that you don't seem g

to come here? You were in trouble enou

, wha

esides a broken head will be yours if you stay. Take up you

pped his pack,[28] drew her down upon his knee, and kissed her with hearty good-will. She struggled

ched with the Teutonic element to give it a zest, "I hope you be

t of Boston to kiss her again. This she resisted, as in du

pon that which you would have sent me awa

be, if only poor Katrine brought you here

help me, Katrine. But first, tell me what you meant by

r neck, t

't much,

ldn't risk it so many times eve

en't tol

t tell,

am not going to run

; you will be

mind telling you that I have been before the commandant to-day, and was pretty thoroughly s

ston; but it is no use. I won't-I

's pretty strong. Pray, before you refuse any thing, wait t

2

Katrine, "I don't think you

do

ha

ht, or as something holy and pure, entirely beyond my reach. As a lovely piece of God's handiwork, I a

ed Katrine

o tell; you mig

away from him. "Don't touch me ag

ied the other, "I'll tell it now

ing her fingers in her ears-"I won't

th a malicious twinkle in his eyes, "and you don't

ith a quiver of the l

ou are dying to hear it. Yes, I will; her name is-

Bainbridge. The girl

Boston. "You don't want to hear it; t

her othe

ede

o you; but, after all, I am glad you said Katrine, and I am glad you said Veeder, for I don't know wha

dictory epithets, Katrine

3

before, my dear," said Boston. "I can't a

e about t

he

gs, which may make her father angry; he is none too kind to her since she saw dat young lieutenant,

n; but, this I will promise-through my means, no harm shall come to the gal. I like her

at this moment in a merry so

the heart to do her a wrong?

ite forehead, and confined at the back with an antique comb; her dress was suited to the station in which she was placed, partaking something of the Indian character, and giving free play to her limbs, a broad hat, which she had been wearing in h

here! Have y

d in some

ton, "I never keep a lady wai

out her ha

t be fr

e would give me both Jerusalem and Jericho if he knew I had i

u d

you, Katrine. What a famous little house-keeper you'll make, having

revealed a letter, which he took and handed to Theresa. She turned away to t

ing to Boston, who was engage

and that runs him down some. But he is hearty. Just send him

rite an answer to this. You must remain

at down by the casement. They quarreled, and "made up" again, se

father took me to-day, and made me

did not show h

and gave him one of my own making up. Sounded natural enough

lie send any suc

id, if I were to spend a week in meditation on

e his messenger," said Theresa, with

oolly stroking his beard. "There ain't another man[32] in the fiv

enting quickly. "I know you are faithful and true,

on. "Looked as if he wanted to eat all

angry

ant no one to be angrier with

open your pack and let me get what I n

know that, though I will beat Dutch me

ister," cr

t have it. Let me trade with Miss Theresa in

do some

, or the dress I am going to sell y

en the commandant entered. He looked

ly your trade here,

days to trade, and you didn't say where I should go in particular. You d

intend to pa

some of my wares in consideration. I've picked up a good many furs since

, looking up from the pack, which she w

d Paul Swedlepipe wouldn't take 'no

for the horse,"[33] said Van Curter, wi

on it in the light of a praisewor

a dozen horses, and you may have the b

spurs. "Now look at that," he cried, in a tone of exultant admiration. "Did you ever, in your born days, see sech a pair of spurs as that? No you didn't, so you needn't say it. I don't

the spurs and loo

take it for granted that there is such a thing about it, since a Ya

don't say any thing. You will have it that there is a cheat in every

er laugh

the spurs, and at your price, too, if you w

take the

es

r, it won't be necessary to te

t is the

y gui

"Do you mean, seriously and gravely, to ask me

at was-in the spurs or the price.

3

ey. And now take away your pack, or

up the cash in his breeches-pocket, "until the lady ha

eresa, and come with me. I wish

He gave such a moderate one, even for him, that Van Curter

, Bainbridge," he said. "Here

k at the peddler, who had stooped over his pack, and was

l bring from Boston whe

trine, with a

and a mi

Katrine, in sublim

his dress made up against that time." With this he kissed her again, arranged hi