Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-02

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frightened, sir" she replied, making an attempt
to spring into the saddle
The man swung his stick, Benny gave a start.
and with difficulty Mabel retained the reins.-
An angry flush sufused her fine features, and
turning to her tormentor, she said in a spirited
tone,
"What is your object, SIR, in preventing me
from mounting?"
LORI bless you, Miss, 'twant iny intention
to start him up so sudden.
place your stick where he will not see it
then, so that can be going"
"Sartin, Miss wouldn't prevent your
doing it for nothing, Thar, he's quiet now
hold tight rein, and you'll get into the saddle
easy enough"
Mabel gathered the reins once more, and was
about to spring, when the stranger gave Pc
culiar whistle, and again Benny started.
You are cruel, sir, to thus detain me against
my will. You must feel proud, very proud, to
act thus toward lady"
h"ihe uoho hoohihS w ihJuio youJ ho' -
he asked in hurt tone
" Is it no injury, sir, for you to detain me in
this manner? 1t is base insult, and were you
gentlemen you would not do it,
"l don't noways pretend to be a gentleman
but it's kinder hard for you to say / stopped
your going off. | offered to help you, but you
was so mighty high strung you didn't want
none O. my 'sstance. | reckon I'm good enough,
if my clothes is shabby
"That is nothing to the case, sir. You are
a stranger, and refused your offer of assistance
as had right to do. If you did not like it,
it was no reason why you should take the course
you have"
"I shall whistle jest when please and thar
amt man in these diggins that's going to pre-
vent it either" and he commenced the peculiar
whistle he had before used, the result of which
was to increase Bennys fright.
~ beg Of you to desist, SIR exclaimed
Mabel. " Cease, and hold him, if you will,
while mount
With all the pleasure in the world, Miss"
Mabel gave the reins into the strangers hand !,
and the latter. springing quickly to the saddle,
exclaimed,
Now, Miss, I've jest got few questions to
ask you, and you can't hey the beast till you've
answered EN-
" shall answer no questions, sir. | am in
your power, but have, at least, the privilege
left me of dong as I please about speaking"
"Meybe you hev, and meybe you hewitt
I'm going to see if you wont tell me few
things want to know"
He rode few rods, and having fastened the
horse to tree, returned to the spot where Ma
bel was standing.
1.-The first thing | want to know, is what
you got out of that tree," said he, gazing at
Mabel with an evil look.
81 1t matters not to you, sir, and l decline
giving you an answer
h" Want it letter." continued her inter-
rogator,
81 have told you that should not answer,
and | repeat it. 1t does not concern you
whether did or did not obtain letter from
the tree''
"Thar you're nightly mistaken, Miss. If
l was in your place, should answer sich an
easy question as the one asked you, and save .
deal Of trouble"
Trouble? What mean you, sir? " said
Mabel becoming frightened.
The trouble 'twould be for me to get that
ar thing you tucked inter your bosom if
should take 1t into my head to do it,
Are you devoid of all feeling of respect,
that you would treat woman thus?"
| reckon | shall be, if you don't answer my
question"
"And if answer it, will you permit me to
take my horse and leave this place?"
"Not till I've seen the letter.
"You will never see it, sir. defy you to at
tempt it,"
"You'd better fork it over, Miss, because
you soc it's kinder agn my natur to ill.treat q
woman, but shall see that letter, somehow or
other
"Try it, sir You do it at the peril of your
life"
"Eh! What's that?' uttered tho man
quickly, as Mabel said this.
=" said if you attempted the thing, it would
be at the peril of your life."
/ 4
letter will come by some means, fair or foul. -
=" Back said Mabel, in firm tone. g
have warned you to desist from this attempt
and it will bo we'll for you to heed my words. =
What kin woman like you do?" said
the man advancing. You've got the grit
Miss, but 'twont do you no good here'
He was now almost within her reach, and
Mabel drew herself proudly up. Her face wa,
deadly pale, but the firmly compressed lips and
rigid lines about the mouth told of the deter.
mination which nerved her. In her right hand
beneath whose transparent covering the deli
cate blue lines might be plainly seen--she helt
a small dagger, which she raised over her heat
as the stranger neared her. 1t had served he,
; father years ago, it might be of use to her now
g Ha, ha, ha laughed the man. I" Tha
ar thing wouldn't hurt mouse.''
He sprang towards her, and attempted t,
grasp the hand in which she held the dagger.
True to her purpose, the blow descended th
keen blade sinking to the hilt in the villain
shoulder. With howl of mingled pain ant
rage, he started back and drew it from his arm
] Springng forward, and throwing the weapon
7 from him. he seized her firmly in his arms.
Mercy mercy" shrieked Mabel, as tn