Mountain Democrat., 1857-04-18
The Indy md the Rohr,er.

4
X. accustomed to spend the summer. His
mansion, built on an cmincnce, was per.
fcctly adapted to his fortunes 1t was a
spacious building, both without and with
in, and exhibited good style of archi-
lecture; and it was about two hundred
PAGES from the village.
business obliged the Baron to take a
journey ofa few days. His wife who was
but twenty years of age, very beautiful,
remained at home. lie took with him
two OF his servants, and two others re-
mained with the Baroness. No violation
Of the public security had ever been heard
OF In that part of the country; and as the
baroness ttid not belong to the titni,l per-
ton Of her sex, the idea Of danger was
far from entering her mind.
The evening after the BarOn'S dcpart-
ure, as she was stepping into bed she
heard an alarming noise i'll an apartment
I t-'searl4er-e chamber .-SAo-e:l!ed- out hut
received no answer. The confusion and
screaming increased every moment She
was at loss to conceive what was the
matter, and hastily putting on her gar
mentS, went to the door to discover the
cause. a horrible spectacle presented
itself Her two servants, half naked,
were extended lilclcSS on the floor.
The room was full of strange looking
men the Baroness', chambtrmaid was
kneeling before one of them, and instead
of the mercy She implorcd She received
the fatal stroke. No sooner did the door
open, than two barharianS, with drawn
swords, rushed toward it. .----
"And you have come at last" cXclain-
cd she, in tone of apparently heartfelt
joy; and advancing towards her assail-
ants with haste that highly astonished
them, they lowered their uplifted wcap-
onS.
"And you have como at last ?" repeated
she; "Such visitors as You | have long
wished to Scc!!'
Wished muttcrcd one of the assas-
sins, what do you mean by that: But
stay-l'l!-
lie had already raised lis cutIas<, hut
a comrade avcrted the stroke. "Stav n
moment, brother said he, and let us
hear what she would have"
Nothing but what is your pleasure,
bIdNC SolIIid'lCS. on are men alJCr nv
own heart; and neither You or ! shalt
have reason to repent it, if you will listen
two minutes to what have to say."
Speak! speak," cried the whole COM
panv.
Z" But he quick" added one Of the
ticrccr, 40" We shall not make much ccr-
| CmOny."
"Ncvcrthclcss, hope You will grant
me hearing; for although am the wife
of the richest gentleman in the country,
tho wife Of the mcrcst bcggar connot be
more unhappy than | am. My husband
Is one Gf the most Jealous and ni.gardly
fellows on the earth. HATE him as hate
the, and it has long been the tervcnt
wish OF my heart to get rid OF his clutches,
and at the sanie time pay off old scores.
III my servants were spies and that
fellow whose business you have done so
completely was the worst of'thcm all.
am scarce twenty-one, and flattcr my
self far from being ugly. lfany of YOU
choose to take me along with you, Ill
accompany you-td~the woods, or the vii
lagc alc=housc. Nor shall any ofyou re-
pcnt having spared my life. You arc in
a well-Storcd mansion; but il is imposSi-
bic that you should be acquainted with
all its secret corners. These will show
You, and if don't make you richer by
six thousand dollars, then serve me as
my chambcrmaid."
lets dispatch her, and the game will
he all up
She, however, scarcely changed color,
for the opposition of the others had not
escaped her acute ear.
One, who was probably captain Of the
bandtti, now approached her.
He asked her twice or thrice whether
he might rely on what she had said
whether she actually wished to be re-
leased from the tyranny of her husband,
and 60 with thcn-and whether she was
willing to resign herself to one of them,
to himself for instance, during the peace
tul days they could enjoy. Having an
Swcred in the affirmative to all these
notwithstanding not only suffered the
warm embrace Of the robbcr but returned
for what will not necessity cxcusc?-
he at length said:
Come along, then, and lead us round.
The d trust you ladies of rank, but
we'll venture for once. But let me tell
you if You were twice rs handsome MS you
are, this weapon should cleave your skull
the moment | saw any disposition to be-
tray us"
''Then it will he safe enough; and if
this were the only condition of my hcing
put to death, should outlive you all, and
even the Wandering Jew himself"
The Baroness smiled when she pro-
nounccd these words, and hastily caught
up the nearest lamp, as if she were eager
as any Of them to collect the plumber and
begone. She conducted the company
through every apartment, opened every
door, every drawer, every chest.
Plate, money, jewelry, were collected
together, and the captain of the banditti
was about giving the order for marching,
when his destined bride caught him by
the arm. "Did / not tell you," said she,
chat you should not repent making
friend of me and sparing my life? You
may, indeed have everything in places
you find open; but it is pity that you
cannot come at places concealed What!
do you suppose that among Golfers SO full
there are no secret places? Look here,
ndyOu will becOnvinced to the contrary"
Shelpointcd to secret spring in the
Baron's desk. They pressed upon it and
out fell twelve hundred dollars.
Zounds!" cried the leader of the rob-
bers, ''now see that you are an incom-
parable woman. I will keep you for this
as n duchess"
"And perhaps better STILL" said she,