Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1848-09-21

'Hc pun poSc W pIuHHcf HHu UuIueT' Ilt wore
serape; several folds of it tucked beneath belt
from which projected the hande-ofd knife. hi
legs were encased in lealhern trowsers or cheryal
Ii, opened at the sides, and partially fastened b,
gngling, and gobuIar buttons. A huge stray
sombroro on his shaggy head completed his attire
He had the mark of the devil in his face, and per
haps ought to have been exceedingly frightened
But remembered when man loses his selCpos
session, his courage like that Of Bob Acres, is surf
to ooze out of his fingers ends, and then all i
over with him, ! determined at once upon tn
course would pursue. was the first TO speak
"What do you want, friend!" said |, keeping
my eye upon the pistol.
"Yonr purse or your liie" was his instant re.
ply; and he placed his pistol still nearer.
"Wcll, sir, take the parse"
And, drawing from a side pocket stcel-ueted
purse--.,he gift Of friend containing some two
or three dollars in silver, and one two other ar
licles, tossed il towards him. lie caught it and
lowered his pistol | con(ess watched his mo-
tons with good deal of anxiety, in the hope OF
finding an opportunity of accomplishing wha!
determined TO do from the first, VIZ, wrest the
pistol from him, mount his horse, and put ahead.
therefore kept my eye upon him, every moment,
bnt at the same time, was careful to maintain, TO
all appearance, the most perfect Indifference in
regard 10 what was going on
The adrone proceeded to open the purse by
-, ia halt ,I,,
pistol. lie suddenly started, as if stuPg by ad-
der,
"What is t?" said l.
"Iloy Virgin" was his only exclamation, rs he
riveteG his keen eyes upon me-
1t seems that the very first article which fell into
his hand from the purse was one of those small
brazen medals, worn by every good cuhoic-par
CuIarly by the Aztec women around the neck,
containing on each side representation in relief
Of the Virgin, or one Of the apostles. lie turned
it over and over, carefully as If his slightest
touch would be proclamation, and nothing whatever
could induce him to NEEDLE with the purse further
1t appeared TO have some charm or spell within it,
in his eyes.
"'rhis yours are you Calholic;' he asked
"Il is mine, Senior"
He placed the little concgc in the purse again
and handed ii TO mo, scanning me all the while,
as if he would rcad my every thought.
"l!ayc you no more money! he continued,
again IeyolIing his pistol at me,
81 will search you"
His look vas more rerocious than beiote, and ii
was apparent (iom his whole demeunor that h.
was in earnest that the affair was no joke.
determined to keep as cool as possible.
"Your money or your Iifo' he repeated in no
very pure Caslon.
Who lddrone lncn ."''.'- n""oA nncralons by
thruslng his hama '',. my pockets, and finding
nothing Of any Importance, lao proceeded to feel
along the seam of my pantaoOns. As you may
know an express rider in this country, or any one
entrusted with important matters, generally sews
up his dispatch or whatever article OF value he
may have about him, in his pantuoons, shirt collar
or stockings; these adrones are always sure TO
search any such hiding place. Now, i, did 50
happen thar had small silk belt fastened about
my body, next the skin, which contained over a
hundred dollars ia gold. Thinking ! might posi-.
bly,, some time or other in my life, have occasion
for so ,rnng an amount Of the needlul, ! felt some
| little concern lest his fingers should become toe
familiar with the bel. in question. suddenly
stopped as if to pick something from the ground
and in doing so, endeavored, unObserved TO knock
the cap from the fellows pistol. did not sue
coed, however. The ladrone Immediately caught
me by the collar, and raising the weapon again hi
exclaimed, in thunder tone:
"It is lie! your money or your (e" and he
shook me as though he was in earnest. ncve
saw such deviIish expression upon the face Of I
human being.
| was on the point of disrobng myself to con
vince the Iadrone That had no other money thar
he had seen, when heard slight rustic near ,I'
adjacent hedge, aud in a moment young girl will
a basket ofroses on her arm, sprang INTO the stree
and placed herself directly between the bandit
and myself. II an angel had dropped from tn
skies at my feet could not have been more sur
prsed than at this sudden appariton, Turnim
in the direction whence she appeared, | observed
for the first time, a small hat, just below the pain
trees, on the other side Of the hedge. From lhi
the female no doubt emerged, md was probab
at the moment gathering the roses so prolusel
scattered among the aoes and wild cherry trees |
front She was as white as snow and as Tuir as
, lily She wore loose skirt OF peicoat, and he
, neck and shoulders were partially concealed b
her Haunting hoIera and her long curling tresse
She was barefooted, but her feet were of tn
smallest possible size, and her form was almo
(airy-kc. a brighter eye or a milder expression
4 have rarely seen out OF the imperial clty. l''
attire was III every respect neat, aud she SCENE
to me to have been born in a higher sphere OF lat
My attention was now riveted upon the gtI-sI
could not have been more than sXteen--who s
:, suddenly placed herself between me and the Il
drone The eyes OF the latter cleaned fire, ar
he seemed at loss whether to poin, his pistol
the new conner or myself
"Iuis! Ini, No! No! XII not the gcntema
-, Remember your vow!''-she exclaimed in mo
imprisoned Tone fastening her black eyes full u
on the tawny vsage Of the ladrone.
Taking one of the roses from her basket
! watched the issue for this exciting aud novel sce
with all the composure could muster
UMonuelyl Observation-Disclosures the band