The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-12-13

reason tAat none of them have vet got ma
RED? | SHOULD not wonder if the glitter {
Their thirty thousand dollars had not somt
what blinded my uncle. 1t would not su,
prise me if one Of them squinted, and anc
ther had red hair. But there is no harm i
going to see."
mus connuning wi h myself | role,
Pleasantly along the level road, in the warn
autumn sun. through mile after mile of dev
spangled orchards. Those were my roman
tic days, and nothing would have pleased mt
better than to have met with an adventur,
or TWO by the way. These were denied me
but, upon the other hand, an abundanc,
awaited me at the place of my destination
1t was between nine and ten in the fore
noon when | reached the neighborhood o
the rich counsellor's fine domain The
morning was so fine, the country 80 bcaut
iui, that determined to leave my gg at q
roadside inn, about quarter of an hours
drive from Wiesenthal, ana to proceed thi.
thcr on foot. Perhaps, also, if the truth be
told, was not sorry to stop at the inn to ge,
rid Of the dust Of the highway, and arrange
my dress a little. had certainly no desire
to please any Of the three Misses Frager,
but that was not reason for appearing to
disadvantage before them The disorder OF
my toilet repaired | set out on my walk,
and soon came ia sight OF the counsellor S
villa. small Birch wool lay before me.
through which | had to pass, and lhcn |
should be in ttfe gsrden, whicf, Stretched up
to the house As | proceeded looked
about me on all sides, thinking light BY
chance dcscry one Of the three from &, '.ich t
! was my uucle's Will but'not my intention,
/ that should se'ecta wife. The only wo-
men saw We're Two peasants tOiling in u
field. was about to enter the wool, when
at some two hundred PAGES from me, the
slender igure Of woman, attjrei in Il fan
taStIca' costume, between a riding habit and
huntng-cOat, and beaiing double barrel
led gun in her hani, stepped out from
among the foliage. Leaning upon her wea-
pom, She seemed enjoying the charming
landscape.
"It that BE one Of Frager's daughters"
thought | tI myself Uncle Reinhold was
not 50 far wrong. y fine girl she seems
Not wishia. to disturb the graceful apPa-
rition in her contemplation Of the scenery,
walked on as if had not perceived her. |
had taken TIA. few steps when female
voice, me- bdious but powerful, shouted
"Halt," Il hat cannot be aiiresscd 10 IN.
thought 70 myself, and walked on. Then
came sound like the cooking of a gun, and
the next instant, a bullet whist.cd, as it
seemed TO me, close over my head. The
hint suitced, and halted at once.
The woman must bc crazcd, thought |,
as | gazed at the reckless amazon, - ho
walked slowly towards me. had leisure %
observe her, and to admire her remarHab {
beaut". Her graceful figure was st Oft to
advantage by the clOse-htting habit, and ncr
blooming coun,enance by pro.us.ou ol far
cur,s. thought 10 myself what a pity It
was that so lovely form should b. that o:
mad woman. When she arrived within
twenty pace. Of me
"Wny did YOU not hale" she asked in
couiulauding tones, - hen | ordered you
really knew not what to reply to the iA
perious beauty; 50 varied the subject.
AT ! DO not mistake" | sa,i, II lcaTl Z
bullet whistle rather near me
Are you afraid OF bullets -
"Wel.-there may be cases
20: shame man should rever be
afraid, least OF all of lady. You thought |
should hurt YOU. Do yOI take mc for an
assassin or fot bad sho,: There is fine
app!s hanging over your head. Lay It on
your palm, sltretch out your arm, ami WI.
st.oos : o.ssg " u y3a o.c that d,I'i:'
IL an 10. fond OF such bets"
Afraid again -
Every man has lis moments Of weak
ness"
"Pol,rOon." :" scornful'y exclaimed this de-
mon IN peIticost>, raised her gun, snd le- .
yelied it at my head. /
For Gods sake" cried, but before the .
words were Out OF nv mouth came iae flash .
and report. | thought should have fallen .
10 the ground. 10 dead certainty the
monster had hit my hat
Take OIL your at" said she. | rnecha- .
nicaliy ooeyed. There was hole close TO the .
crown, | shuddcred from head to foot.
-" here are you going to: said the terri
b!e markswonan.
Not to anger her, replied, as eourtcous'y
as possiUeL
TO Niesenthal to Counsellor Frayer's."
'Beware Of his dau ,hters," sad tho fe-
male hend, with laugh that reminded me
Of the wi'd huntsman. And she disappear
Ell IN the wood L. may be supposed that
did not lnger long in so dangerous neigh
borhood The lady might take fancy to
load again. made the best of my way 70:
wards the house. wondering as | strobe
along, whether Wiescnthal was Turkish
province or whether we were back again IN
the middle ages. when people shot at poacc-
able passengers for pure pasume. Mhat
could this semi-aSSasSin be; W NaS she
goblin, wood demon, whose occupation
was 10 frighten men. or real hesh ana
blood? IF the latter, where had she &c
Iuired this preternatural de1tcrIty with ihe
,un, and the abominable habit OF firing at
ravclers' Handsome she undoubtedly
was. but when the devil disguscs himself,
ne does not assum. the uglieSt form. And
nv thoughts reverted to my pretty, gentle
Minnie. q less imposing beauty, but tar
r - 'r.n
Tell, whose warning against the counsellor
daughters also recurred TO my mind.
would not allow myself to suppose that the
;harpshooter was one of Frager's daughters;
but if she was, and her sisters resembled
Ter, there WIS no danger OF my falling in
owe with one of them. | should as soon
lave thought of becoming enamored OF a
Louave Hooked cautiously around me as
hurried Through the wood, every moment
,xpcc,inp to see the terrible double-bar-
.el peering through the bushes. Uncas IN
he forest of the Hudson, with Pawnees up
IN his trail, could not have reconno'tered
more carefully. At last emerged from the
rses, and breathed more freely as entered
he garden Nv wish had been for adven-
ures, and I was punished by its fu,iiliment.
Romance and danger were certainly COM
,ined in the one had just met with.
The worthy counsellor gave me hearty
reception. and made me welcome to Wies-
,nthal. / must be hungry, he said, after
ny drive, and calling servant, he bade him
BRING refreshments. Cold game. and bot
lie Of Steinberger were soon upon the table,
md truly wanted something to revive me
,fter my recent peril. My friendly host
pledged me in bumper, and lamented the
.bsence of his daughters, whom he was
most desirous to introduce to me. lie
,oped they would be back to dinner. l
,entured conjecture that they were on a
7isit somewhere. Not \ bit of it, was the
.eply; each one of them had gone her own
RnSlnpSS