Spirit of the age., 1861-06-12

/ arms Of Morphe is enjoying the sweetest re-
| pose and reveling amid the most delightful
scenes Of dreamand The gentlemanly de-
| pertinent of his host caused him to take no
thought concerning his pistols, which re-
mained ON the table where he first laid them :.
nor did it appear next morning that they
were needed through the night. or could
have been ofany possible use. Our traveller
arose refreshed, botn mentally and physical
ly, and felt prepared to prosecute his Journey
with increased speed.
Not seeing the landlord anywhere about he
inquired of his good lady concerning him.
and was informed that he had gone out ear
ly in the morning on some urgent business.
She also added, by way Of remark, that he
N9B&!5 Rf q S9Ee @ss ssihh15NTcsd and Mr. Y
for the further Strengthening Of the inner
man, dispatched goodly portion Of the de-
lie Gus viands before him. Being ready for
travelling, he settled his bill and ordered his
hors When his horse was led out he dis
covered to his no small modification that he
was very lame He examined him closely,
but could detect no marks Of eX ernal vo-
lence After few moments spent in vague
and useless conjectureS as TO the probable
causes of the ameness, he determined to
make the best of bad predicament He
mounted him and plodded along as well as
he could. He had not proceeded far when
he came to a black smith. shop by the road
side The stalTart arm Of the sturdy smith
was welding the hammer, which rendered
the still autumn morning vocal with the
ringing Of the anvl. The traveller think
ing it probable that some disorder in the
shoes Of his horse might have produced the
lameness rode up in front of the shop, and,
after the saiutatiOns customary between
strangers, diSmounted and politely requested
the smith to examine, and, if possible, ascer-
tain what was wrong Without proceeding
to the required investigation, with a know
ing look, the smith asked him where he had
lodged the night before?
AT large and magnificent house on the
roadside, some short distance from here
pointing in the direction he came" the pro-
prietor of which appeared to be most ac-
complished gentleman" replied he.
"We1l," said the smith, :" | can tell you
what has made your horse lame without
much examination" He raised up the ap-
parently affected foot, and discovered a hair,
drawn from his tail, tied tightly around be-
tween the hoof and fetlock, which, by the
way, is said to produce lameness. When
this was removed the horse was as sound as
ever, to the no small joy and qualification of
the owner. The smith added that ne saw
many horses made lame in the same way,
and doubtless at the same place, and further,
/ that there was certainly some dark design
/ in it. He said that strong suspicious had
/ been recently aroused concerning the homes
y and CONDUCT Of Z certain Individual in the
continued he, you will do well to examine
carefully your weapons of defence, with
which presume you are provided, and see
that they are in good order for you will
doubtless need them before you proceed
much further" Knowing that he had at
tended to that carefully before, he deemed
an examination almost unnecessary, but
fearing that something might be amiss, he
wisely concluded to look. Some say that on
examination he found water had been pour
ed into them, others that cotfee-grounds had
been introduced instead of the powder
Which of these was done is quite immaterlaI
as either one would effectually render the
pistols useless They were soon, however
put in order Tor business and the traveller
after returning many thanks to the smith tol
his asSjstance and information, pursued his
iourneyA Prom the circumstances oftht
morning. he.was instnctiyely on the aler
for the dangers which he had every reasoT
to be leve, beset his path. But the necessl-
, for watching much longer was obviated D,
the sudden appearance, from the thlcke
of man dressed as an Indian, and arme
with a muSket =
The travellers money was demanded, &C
{ companied with a threat of instantaneou
r death in case of refusal7to give 1t up.
appeared Gerry relu uctaht to give up all h
r money. and thus beadeprived of his main d'
G pendence 50 far from home, and in the mid;
! of strangers too. He appealed to the gene
: osity ofAthe robber, but 1T seemed as If notl
J. inr short of compliance with his reque
h would satisfy him The traveller drew hi
a pistols to defend himself. At sight Of thel
. the robber barred his bosom and told him
h shoot He fred and the robbeI fell dead
: his tracks! Seeing what was done Mr.. 4
II Immediately wheeled about. and galloped baC
n to the place where he staid the night befor
,s Seeing the lady Of the house standing in Il
/. portico, he told her what had happened-th
: either an Indian or some one disguised
!. such attempted to rob him, and that he h
n killed him. She immediately exclaime
~ Ny God! my God! You have killed I
It 'rueh"n.ln hen the disguise was remoV
n, fl ON the dead bandit, be Was fDund to be t
&C owner Of the Stately mansion on the roa
to side. It was further discovered that he
I'll for long time carried on an extensive S,
Nv tem Of robbery on the credit of the lndiar
or and thus amassed a princely fortune I
ell feuless manner in which he exposed hi
il self to the pistols ofthe traveller was accol
in ted fol from the fact that he had long be
as accustomed TO render all which he could
an his hands useless, either by wetting
ry Charges or by Introducing some foreign 81
in stance in the place of the powder
an FLORUS