Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/44

36 difficulty. At last he related how it happened. "Mother," said he, "make ready for my departure; before I am hanged at this gate outside. I will leave the country rather than bring shame on my father. I vow, as long as I live, I will not take a wife in this world." This mother was sorrowful, grieved, disquieted about her only son, who was going away without being settled in life. For his sake she did not refuse him. She made preparations for his departure, and did not let herself be annoyed in his presence.

He took a melancholy farewell of his people and went on his travels full of despair.

The first day he went a long way, and when night came he took up his lodging in the house of a gentleman to pass the night with them there. The gentleman had a young woman of a daughter. She felt affection and love for the stranger. She asked him privately if he would marry her. He answered her tenderly, if he could do that he would obediently submit himself to a meeting with her, but that it was impossible for him ever to take a wife in this life. Anger seized her on account of getting a refusal, and she reflected that the man she could not gain she would destroy.

Thereupon she put valuables into his travelling-wallet without his knowledge. He took leave of them in the morning, and started on his journey. He had not gone far before she said to her father the traveller had stolen such and such things from her. The father sent a guard after him with orders to bring him back. They searched him well and found on him the very things. He was put on his trial, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged at his own gate.

They hanged him, and in that position he was talking to them throughout the day. "Thou art a marvellous man," said the father of the young woman. "There is something wonderful that concerns thee, seeing thou dost not die."

The traveller related to him his career from beginning to end. He listened to him to the end of his story. At that moment he let him down from the gallows, and he knew directly that it was a false lie the daughter had told him. He caught him by the hand and shook it heartily, and said to him, "I am thy god-father." Without any delay he hanged the daughter, and put her to death without reprieve.