The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-08


right, he stepped into the house and brought
out his small riding whip and placed it in
her hand, and giving her hundred charg.
es to take care of herself and be careful
that she did not get fall, he stepped up on
the horse block, and stood and watched her
as she turned into the road and assembled
the hill, till she was entirely out of sight.
Debby trotted on leisurely over the long
road she had TO travel, but she was too full
of pleasant thoughts and bright anticipa-
tions, to feel weary at the distance, or lone
ly in the solitude. The road was but lit
tie travelled; and she met but two persons
in the whole distance, one as she was de-
scending hill about a mile from home,
and the other in tho long valley of dark
woods about mid way IN her journey. Had
she been of timid disposition, she would
have felt good deal of uneasiness when
she saw this last person approaching her
His appearance was dark and ruffianly they
were two miles from any house; and in the
midst of a deep, silent wilderness. But Deb
by's nerves were unmoved; she returned
his brow and kept on her way with perfect
composure. y
She reached the end of her journey in
due time, hitched her horse in the shed in
the village hotel, and enquired of the waiter
at the door, the way to the bank. As he
was pointing out to her its location, she OBJ
served tall, dark looking man with black
whiskers and heavy eyebrows, looking
steadily at her. She, however, turned away
without noticing him anyfurther. and went
directly to the bank. When she reached
the door she found it closed, and learnt
from the bystanders, that the bank, from
some cause or other, was shut for the day.
In her exceeding disappointment, she stood
silent for some time, uncertain what the
should do.
SIS it anything, Miss, that 1 can help
you about" said gentleman at an adjoin-
ing shop door.
Debby replied that she wanted TO get a
bill changed at the bank.
"Oh, I'll change it for you," said the
gentleman, ''if it isn't too large; come step
in here"
She accordingly stepped INTO the store.
and giving him many thanks, handed him
the bill.
sob, hundred dollarsl" said he'll can't
do it, haven't half that amount in the
store. But guess if you 60 across there
to the apothecary's store he will be likely
to do it,"
Debby thanked him again, and went "a
cross to the apothecary's. Here she made
known her wishes, but with no better sue
cess. The apothecary looked at the bill,
and opened his pocket-book, and then dis
covered that he had paid away all his small
bills that day, and could not change it. As
she turned to 90 out. she encountered a
man behind her, who seemed to have been
looking over her shoulder. She looked at
him, and recognized the tall man with
black whiskers, whom she noticed at The
hotel Leaving the druggists shop, she
observed a large dry goods store, and she
thought she whould try her luck there
Still she was unsuccessful. As she was
leaving the store she met the man with
black whiskers again. He looked smiling
ly upon her, and asked her to let him see
the bill. for he thought it probable he could
change it. After looking at it, he returned
ii to her again, observing. if it had been a
city bill, he would have changed it, but that
he did not like to change a country bill.
Having tried at two or three other places
without effecting her object, Debby found
she must give it up, for she was now told
it probably would not be possible for her TO
get it changed till the bank should be o.
pened the next day. Nothing further re-
manned therefore that she could do, and
she concluded to return Immediately home.
As she rode out of the hotel yard, she OBJ
observed again the tall man with black
whiskers, standing at the corner of the
house, and apparently watching her move.
ments. She could not but think he had
considerable impairment curiosity, but she
rode on. and was no sooner out OF his
sight than he was on; of her mind, for her
own perplexing disappointment engrossed
all her thoughts.
She passed over the first two miles of her
homeward Journey almost unconscious of
the distance, so busily was she turning O.
yer in her mind various expedients to rem
edy the failure of her present undertaking
Sometimes she thought she must return TO
the bank again the next morning; but the
Journey was rather more of an undertaking
than she had anticipated, and she shrunk
little from the idea of a repetition Of it,
She thought of several of their neighbors,
of whom she presumed it might be posi-
BILE to borrow a few dollars for short time
But then she knew her father was so stren-
uously opposed to borrowing, that he would
on no account allow it to be done; and
would never forgive her should he find out
that she had done so without his knowledge
or consent. She might get trusted for
most of the articles she wanted, but sever
al of them of the most importance were at
Henry MilIer's store, and she gould not
ask to be trusted there if she never obtain
ed the articles.
Her reyeries were at last broken off by
the sound of horse coming up at rather
a quick trot behind her. She looked over
her shoulder, and there was the tall man
with the black whiskers. mounted on
large and beautiful black horse, within
60 ,,,-Js &c bar She shuddered little