Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-02-23
She reached the end of her Journey in

at the village hotel. and inquired of the
waiter at the door the way to the bank
AS he was pointing out to her its location,
she observed tall, dark looking man,
with dark whiskers and heavy eyebrows.
looking steadily at her. She, however,
turned away without noticing him any
farther, and went direct to the bank
When she reached the door she found it
closed, and learned from the bystanders
that the bank, for some reason or other,
WAS closed that day. In her exceeding
disappointment, she stood silent for some
time. uncertain what she should do.
ais there anything l can do for you,
Mss" said gentleman at the adjoining
shop door.
Debby replied that she wanted to change
q bill at the bank.
i ooh, I'll change it for you," said the
gentleman, "if it isn't too large--come,
step in here"
She accordingly stepped into the store,
and giving him many thanks, handed him
the bill.
"Oh, a hundred dollarsr' said he. 81
, cannot do it; haven't half that amount
in the store. But it you go across there
) to the apothecary's | think it likely
enough he may do it,
, Debby thanked him again, and went
, across to the apothecary's. Here she
5 made known her wishes, but with no bet
ter success. AS she turned to go out, she
, encountered a man behind her, who SEEM
ed to have been looking over her shoulder.
Z She looked up at him and recognized
the tall man with black whiskers, whom
she had noticed at the hotel. Leaving
/, the druggists, she observed large dry
goods store, and thought she would Try
t her luck there Still she was unsuccess-
= full.
AS she was leaving the store, she met
the tall man with black whiskers again.
> He looked smilngly at her, and asked
her to let him see the bill; for he thought
E he could change it. Alter looking at it,
E he returned it to her again, observing,
"ii it had been city bill he would have
7 changed it, but he did not like to change
a country bill"
$ Having tried at two or three places
e without affecting her her object, Debby
found she must give it up, ior she was
( now told it probably would not be posi-
| bic for her to get it changed till the bank
[ should be opened the next day. Conse-
1 quently, she concluded to return immedi-
ately home. AS she rode out of the hotel
= yard, she observed the tall man with
n black whiskers standing at the corner oi
= the house apparently watching her move
l ments. But she rode on, and was nc
/, sooner out Of sight than he was out of her
g mind. for her own perplexing disappoint
Y ment engrossed all her thoughts. She pass
: ed over theGrst two rides Of her homsward
journey almost unconscious of the dis
=, tance, so busly was she turning over in
$ her mind vorious expedients to remedy
d the failure of her present undertaking.
n She thought of several of her neighbors
: Of whom she thought it might not be i'm
possible to borrow few dollars for q
:, short time. But then she knew her faith
e er was SO strenuou>ly ol posed to borrow
= ing he would not allow it to be done
and would never forgive her should he
. find out that she had done it without his
knowledge or consent. She might gel
= trusted for most of the articles she wanted
< but some OF them OF the most importance
were at Henry Millers store, and SHE
would not ask to be trusted there, if she
= never obtained the articles.
t Her reveries were at length broken of
by the sound of horse coming at rather
T. quick trot behind her. She looked ovei
t her shoulder. and there was the tall man
0 with black whiskers. mounted on a large
t and beautiful black horse; within q fow
l., rods of her; she shuddered n little, at first
@ at the idea of having his company through
Q the woods, but rs he came up and accost
ell her with such easy and gentle manners
o she soon recovered from her trepidatior
Q and role on with her wonted composure
s Rather lonely road here, Miss, )" sat
:. the stranger, looking in the dark woods
i that lay in the Z lley before them. "HoN
8 far do you go, Vss"'
y "Se,en or eight miles," said Debby
II hesitating little.
> IL am happy to have company on tn,
It road" said the stranger, ''tor it is rathe
: lonesome riding alone. | trust you viii
If allow me to be your protector"
d Debby thanked him, but said she was
| uVNtl lOlCNOulC uuAl uSNti otiii, IL
g a lonely place, it was always agreeabl,
l. to have company.
IS "Did you make out to get your bill
n chauged?" asked the stranger.
e "No," said Uebby. Il tried till wa,
4 tired. but could find no one to chang,
: it,"
'e The stranger made himself very agree
n able, and Debby began to think that hel
y feelings at first had done him injustice
10 and she tried what she could to make him
e amends by being social in her turn. They
Q had now reached the deepest, darkest par,
a of the valley through which the road lay
= The heavy woods were about them, and
IS not a sound was to be heard except tho
d murmeringS of little brook over which
d they had just passed. The stranger sud
a denly rode to her side. and Seizing the
{, rens OF her bride, told her at once she
10 must give him the hundred dollar note
d Now, this is carrying the joke toe
e far, said Debby, trying to laugh.
1t 1T is no joke at ALL" said the strsn
ger, 1--WE will go no further till you give
e me the hundred dollar bill"
is Debby trembled and turned pale. fol
), she thought she saw something in tn,
,hat lnAE.l ,bnn.,h l..