Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-11-21
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 81, 1862.
,hich, be said. you would poll. Oa, to

abo,o tho rest. just beyond that large rock,
and the lane enters tho road on tho other
side Of II. A.its worry narrow. and grown
Up with bushes. you would hardly notice IL.
but with the.e directions you can hardly
fall"
Never you fear; I shall not miss the
road"
lis that all Monsieur wishes 20
"I believe 90 but stop minute. OF.
iered your husband a piece OF gold, but he
refused 10 take IL. Perhaps you may be
moro s,n.ible9"
The old woman grecdily took the proGerej
coin. saying
Pierre !. too sensitive. We nigh, both
s,arye before he would take q cent"
IL see you differ from him ll,tlc." TO.
turned the hor'eman, laughing. lilo arain
put spur. to hi. bor-s and rode on. In q
few moment. he reached the rock alluded 10,
and could then perceive the entrance to
narrow lane. Ar,fully concealed by bushes.
| lie coon made hi. way through them. and
when once in the lane, found i,a little vi.
der than hs expected. !, also became free
from bushes a. he proceeded IL stopped
moment, to examine the primins Of bis pistol
mn,,crins-
My worthy friend. are rather sharp.
They do no, DO their numbering in the open
road. where spilled blood nigh; lead to their
detection. bat invcigie the unfortunate tray
eller in the dark lane where be may safely
be pu, on, Of the way. and none DO the
wiser for IL. a, any rate am fully pro.
pared for them. and they will no, pa. me
out Of the way wi,hou, a struggle.
Having seen ,ha, hi. arms were ready for
use. hc rode slowly forward. keeping a care
fol watch on either .ldc Of the road. tha, he
nigh, no, be surprised. h long s the
woods KEEP, open as they were he had no
fear. as there was no good hiding place for
man. Ere long. the woods began 20 get
thicker and more .ombre. lIillock- COW
cred with bushes. became frequent, until
they formed q long range skiriins a, each
side OF The road. Tho horseman felt that
the time to try him was near at hand, and
he dropped tho rein, until his hand covered
a holster pistol. which he firmly rrs'ped in
such manner rs a rer.ou would no, notice,
and then assumed an air OF carele.sne-s,
though his watch wa. now keener than ey.
or. A, length he eamc TO place which he
fclt contained an enemy. Nature seemed 20
have adapted lhi. place Tor the purpose OF
eoncealm.ni. The rocks which skiried the
road a, the place were aoou, breast high,
and 80 perpendicular a. TO have the appcar'
anes Of \ wall they were covered With q
a growth Of bushes 90 thick as TO be almost
impcryiou.. The tall trees on each side Of
.hs road ,wined their top. together. forming
a natural root OF leaves and branches, and
rendering is dark and dismal as midnight
IL was scene sufficient % appall the
u ,,outest heart, but the hor.eman, although
he knew that the next moment might bc his
last. rode forward with an air as careless as
he nigh, have worn had he been travelling
tho street. Of a ropulous city. His hand
still era,pcd the butt Of his pistol, and his
keen eyes .,ill searched each covert. Sud.
denly pistol .ho, rang through the mir,
and hi. ha, fell to the ground, with bullet
hole through IL. no, an inch from where his
head had been. Instantly turning in the
direction of tho sound. he beheld sligh,
wreath OF smoke cnrling up FROM behind a
bush. and without u moments hesitation be
le,elled hi, pistol and fred. The aim was
terribly fatal. Avid shrek rang upon the
air, and the next moment there sprans out
not the charcoal burner. as he had expect
ed, but hi. vile. Tho blood was flowing
coplously from her forehead, and presented
q horrible spectacle. sho tot,ered to tho
edge OF the wall Of rocks. and iell into the
road. q corpse.
:" Had | known i, was q woman" the
horseman mu,tercd. {" never would have
fired. Bu, 1t is too late TO moralire. What
can have become OF my friend, the charcoal
burner p
As he spoke he turned quickly round. aud
encountered the object OF his thoughts. 10
was lucky for him tina, he was 50 quick
the charcoal burner held cleaning knife
In bi. hand, already up'ii,ed to strike.
While the horscman's attention had been
engaged by the tragic end OF the woman,
he had silently crept up behind him, and
the would be assassin sprans forward, max.
ing desperate pass ., his breast. The
horseman still held tho discharged pistol in
hi. hand. and with it, long barrel managed
to parry OF thc blow.
lie then buried hIs spurs deep into the
horses sides, aud the eoadcd beast sprang
forward 80 violently as TO dash the rascal TO
the ground, and srrang completely over him.
dashins the knife from his hand, leaving
him stunned in the middle Of The road.
The hor.eman turned instantly. and. draw.
ing his remaining pistol from his holster,
waited for the other to rise. The latter
staggered to hi, feet, aud, leaning sgain's
she rock. at the slds OF the road, gazod sui.
isnly and re,engefully on his conqusror.
Thu. the strange couple regarded each other
ior soms time. until the horemsn broke the
silence:
"so, my friend" ho said, "yOur career
is ended at last.