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

road, said the stranger "for it is rattle,
lonesome riding alone.
l trust you'll allow me to be your pro-
tector through the woods"
Debby thanked him, but said, "she was
never lonesome and never afraid. Still in
lonely place it was always more sgreea-
bic to have company"
"Di6 you make out to get your bull chan
ged?' said the stranger.
NO." said Debby, 81 tried,,till was tir-
ed, but could not find any one to change
It. don't know but shall have 10 come
back again tomorrow for it is impossible to
get it changed in our neighborhood.
The stranger made himself very agreea-
bic in his conversation, and Debby began
to think that her fee lngs had done him
great injustice, and she tried what she could
to make amends by being social and a
greeable in her turn. A couple Of miles
more had been passed over in this way, not
unpleasantly, and they had now reached
the deepest and darkest part of the valley
through which the road lay. The heavy
weeds was above them, and not 4 sound
was to be heard except the murmurings of
little brook. over which they had just pas
sed. The stranger suddenly rode close to
her side, and seizing the rein of her bride
told her at once she must give him the hum
dred dollar bill.
Now this is carrying the joke too far, y
said Debby. trying TO laugh; Tin such
place as this, too, it's enough to frighten
one."
ats no joke at ALL" said the stranger
"we viii go no further till you give me the
hundred dollar bill"
Debby trem bled and turned pale, for she
thought she saw something in the stran'
gers eye that looked as though he was in
earnest.
''But surely you don't mean any thingl"
said Debby, trying to pull the rein from his
hand. sits too bad to try to frightcn me
so here"
"We mustn't daily about" said the stran'
ger,holding the rein tightly;"you see am
in earnest by this" drawing a pistol from
his pocket and pointing it toward her.
"Oh! mercy" said Debby, "you may
have the money, if you will let ne CO."
"The money is all want" said the
stranger, ''but there must be 10 more dal
lying; the sooner you hand it over the bet
ter"
Debby at once drew forth the bill, aud al
tempted 10 hand it 10 The stranger, but her
hand trembled so. it dropped from her fn-
gers Just before il reached his. and at that
moment little gust Of wind waited ii back
gently toward the brook. The stranger
leaped from bis horse and ran back two or
three rods to recover it. Debby was not
SO far gone in her fright but that she had her
Thoughts about her /; and seizing the rein Of
the strangers horse, she applied the whip
10 both horses at once, and was instantly
of upon a quick canier. The man called
TO her to stop in a loud, threatening tone,
and al once fired his pistol al her; but as
she did Tot feel the cold lead, size did not
stop or turn even enough 10 give him fare
well look. The remaining FIVE miles other
journey vas soon pissed over and az she
came out into tine settlement and passed the
dwellings of her neighbors, many were the
heads that looked from the windows and the
doors, and great was the wonderment at
seeing Debby riding home SO fat, and loa-
ding such fue strange horse.
Her father who had seen her come over
the hill, met her some rods from the house,
exc!aiming, with looks of establishment.
"WhaI upon earth have you here, Debby 2
Whose horse is that 2"
Why, Debby. what has thee been DO
ing {! said hIrs. Wilder, who was but few
steps behind her husband (; thee does nj
look well what is the matter z"
As soon as they We're seated in tina hous :,
Debby told them the whole story, and Mrs
Wilder's eyes were fIll of tears during the
whole recital. When she had rested a little,
and the gush Of feeling began TO subside,
Mr. Wilder felt so rejoiced al his daughters
escape that he began 10 feel in excellent
spirits. He led the strange horse TO the
door, and began to examine him.
"Wel!, Debby." said he, "since you've
got home safe at last, we may begin to
talk about business little now. The hum
bred doer bill is gone; but Pm thinking,
after all, you have not made very bad bar
gain. hats the likliest horse I've seen
this many day. | don't ,hink it would be
a very difficult matter 10 sell him for two
hundred dollars. AT any rate l'll teke the
horse for hundred dollars. aid you may
have the saddlefor the twenty dollars you
was 10 have out Of it.
sand the sadde-bags, too. / suppose"
Debby, feeling disposed TO join in the Joke.
"Yes, and the saddle bags, too,'' said Mr.
Wilder; mo, stop, well see what is 10 item
FIRST" he continued, untying the m from the
saddle. "Oh, there's lots of shirts, and
stockings, and handkerchiefs, and capital
good ones too. Yes, Debby, the saddle
bags are yours; these things come in very
good time for Joseph; you know"
"Debby colored, but said nothing.
Now, William" said Mrs Wilder, "thee
is "A little too full ofthy fun"
"No fun about it," said Mr. Wilder, re.
placing the articles in the leather bags.
Here. Debby take 'em and take care of
'em'
De5by took the sadde-bags to her cham |
Der; not little grslifed with the valuable !
ariicl es they contained. She empied the
contents upon the bed;-and upon examin- !