The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-05
The Lady and the Robbers.

mansion, built on an eminence, was perfect
" adapted to his fortune. 1t was a spaciou.
building, very elegant within and without
and exhibited good style of architecture
and it as about two hundred PAGES from
the village.
Business obliged the Baron to take Jour
ney of few days. His wife, who was but
twenty years Of age, and very beautiful, re.
mained at home. He took with him two
of his servants, and two others were left
with the Baroness. No violation of the
public scrutiny had ever heard of in that
part Of the country; and as the Baroness
did not belong to the timid portion of her
sex, the idea Of her danger was far from en-
tering her mind.
The evening after the Baron's departure,
as she was stepping into bed, she heard an
alarming noise in an apartment near her
chamber. She called out, but received no
answer. The confusion and screaming t.
creased every moment. Sle was at loss
to conceive what was the matter and hasti.
ly putting on her garments went to the
door to discover the cause. A horrible
spectacle presented itself Her two servants
half naked, We're extended lifeless upon the
floor.
The room was full Of strange looking
men: the Baroness chamber maid was
kneeling before one of them, and instead of
the mercy she impcred, received the fatal
stroke. No sooner did the door open, than
two barbarans. with drawn swords, rushed
toward it, What woman, or even man,
would not have been struck with the utmost
terror, and given up life and everything as
losts
A loud shrek of despair, fight Of few
PAGES, would probably have been the resort
of many. The Baroness, however, conduct
ed herself in different manner.
60 And YOU have come AZ last" exclaimed
she with tone of heartfelt joy, and advanc
ing towards her assaants with haste that
so astonished them that they lowered their
uplifted weapons
And you have come at last" repeated
she. "Such visitors as you | have long
wished to see"
Wished" muttered one of the assassins:
" what DO you mean by that? But-stay,
IN
lie had already raised his cu,lass, but
comrade averted the stroke.
"Stay moment brother" said he, "let
US first hear what she would have"
Nothing bu' what is your pleasure,
brave comrades. You are men after my
own heart, and neither you nor shall have
any reason to repent if you will listen to
what | have to say"
Speak. speak" cried the whole com
pany.
But be quick" added one of the fiercest
a. for we shall not make much ceremony.
Nevertheless hope You may grant me
a hearing. Know this, although | am the
vile of the richest man in the country, yet
T, oF tho h,.syar hs.
more unhappy Il an | am. Ny husband is
one of the meaneSt and most nigcardiy fel-
lows on earth. hate him as hate the -,
and it has long been the fervent wish of my
hcarl 70 get ont Of his clutches. a~d at the
same time pay off old scores. Al my ser
wants were spies, and that fellow whose bus
mess YOU have done so completely, was the
worst of all. am scarcely twenty one, and
fatter myself far from being ugly. If any
Of YOU choose to take me along with you,
I'll accompany you TO the woods or village
ale house Nor shall any of YOU repent
having spared my life. You are in well
stored mansion, but it is impossible you
should be acquainted with all its secret cor
ners; these l viii now show you, and if
, .. make you richer by six thous nd dol
maid.
Robbers Of this kind are certainly villains;
they are men.-The wholly un-
expected offers and the more than OF dinary
beauty of the female, altogether produced
powerful effect on men whose hands were
reeking with blood-They all then stepped
aside, and talked together some minutes.
The Baroness was left quite alone, bat she
betrayed not the least wish to escape. Let
dispatch her, and the game will all be up"
L. l1y-
the opposition Of either did not escape he
acute ear. One who was probably the lead
er of the banditti, now advanced toward her
He asked her twice or thrice whether he
might rely on the truth of what she had
she was ready to resign her
self to one Of them, himself for instance
during the peaceful days they could enjoy.
Having replied in the affirmative to all these
questions, he said:
"Come along then, and lead US around.
The ID trust you ladies of rank, but we'll
venture for once But let me tell you be-
forehand, that you were twice as hand
some as you are, this weapon should cleave
your skull the moment we saw the least dis
position in you to betray us"
"Then it will be safe enough--and if this
were the only condition Of my being put to
1
Jew himself"
The Baroness smiled when she pronounc-
ed these words, and hastily caught up the
nearest lamp as though she had been as an
xious as any of them to collect the plunder
and be gone-conducted the whole compa-
nv through every apartment, opened every
door, every drawer and every chest, assist
ing in empting them and packing up the
valuables; looking with the utmost indiffer-
ence at the mangled bodies, spoke with the
familiarity Of an old acquaintance to each
once of the horrid troop, and willingly aid
ed with her delicate hands, in the most la
borious occupations.
Plate, money, Jewels and other valuables
were now collected together. and the cap
tain of the banditti was giving he order
for marching, when his destined bride took
him by the arm.
"Hi not tell you," she said, "that you
would not repent making a friend of me,
and sparing my life. You may indeed have
everything in places you find open; it is
pity that you cannot come at treasures that
are concealeds What! do you suppose
that among Golfers so full there are no Sc
cret places? Look here, and then you will
be convinced to the contrary"
She pointed to secret spring in the Sa-
ron's desk. They PRESSED upon it and out
fell e120O.
"Zounds!" cried the leader of the rob
bers, snow 1 see you are an incompatible
woman, and will keep you for this as
Duchess"
.And, perhaps better STILL" she replied,
laughing, "when tell you one thing more.
am well aware that you must have spies
uho informed Won of the absence of nv ty-
rant-but they did not tell you OF the four
thousand gulders which he received yes
terday."
mot syllable, where are .hey?"
"Oh. safe enough, under half dozen
locks and bolts. You would certainly not
have fonnd them and the iron chest, had it
not been, for me. Come along, comrades,
we have finished up stairs, now we'll see
" - a-..--Il