The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-09-14

Il
ths chsrcoalftHrner's bat in view. AS he
first caught sight OF il, he thought he detsc
ted a-man's facei pressed sgainstone OF The
windows. OF This, however, he could no
be certain, as rae face Iii such il was, in
istandy disappeared AT the sound of hil
the doorway, and gazing cutiousiy'at him
iwsited I'LL he rode up. The horsemsn cod
not help thinking that the woman was q
most fitting com Panion for her husband
The expression of her counienance was
even more yillainous. The stranger, how
ever, did not stop to criticise her appear
ancs, but saiuted her, saying sa
'Isbelieve, madam, that you are the wife
of the charcoal burner, whom met up the
road ? l. eire
The woman replied in the affirmative.
Then viii tell you that | am bound for
p, which | wish 10 reach before night
| fall. He told me of lane which was much
shorter than the regular road, which, be
said, you could point ont 20 me-
sCeraiuIy. If this is all Monsieur wishs
little way up, tha, large tree which towers
above the rest Just beyond hat is large
rock, and The lane enters The road on the
other side OF it. As it is very narrow and
gtowu up with bushes, you would hardly
notice IT, But with these directions you can
hardly faiI' aie
Never you fear shall not miss the
road'
rs that an Monsieur wishes q
Il 5elieve so bui stop a minute. I Of
Tered your husband piece of gold, but he
refused to take IT. Perhaps you may be
more sensible
The old woman greedHy took the prof.
tered coin, saying
pierre is too sensitive. We might both
starve befors he would take cent?
4 1see you differ from him litle, re-
turned the horseman, laughing. He then
put spurs TO his horse, and rode on. n q
few minutes be reached the large rock al
Iuded TO, and could then perceive the en-
trance to narrow lane srtfulIy concealed
by bushes. He soon made his way through
them, and whes once in the lane, found il
hnle wider than he expected 1t also be-
came free of bushes, as he proceeded. He
stopped moment 10 examine the priming
of bis pistol, muuerius
My worthy friends are rather sharp
Thsy do not do their murderiug in the open
road, where spilled blood might lead 10
their detection, BOT inveig!e the unfortunate
traveller into the dark lane, where he may
be SAFELY puI out of the way and none be
the wiser OF II. At any raie, am fully pre-
pared for hem, aud they will not put me
out OF the way without struggle.
Having seen that his arms were ready for
ise, he rode slowly forward keeping care
fui watch on each side of lhe road, that he
might not be surprised. As long as the
woods kept open as they were, hs had no
fear as there waaHo good hiding place for a
man. Ere long The woods began 10 get
thicker aud more sonlbIe. Little hillocks,
covered with bushes, be came frequent, uu-
iii al last they became long range skrIing
at each side of the road. The horseman-
fell that the lime which was TO Try him was
near at hand, and he dropP ed the reins uu-
I'll his hand covered a holster pistol, which
he firmly grasped though in such manner
as person would not notice, and he then
assumed an air of carelessness, though his
watch was keener than ever. At length he
came 10 place which he felt certain con
IaiDed the enemy. Nature seemed 10 have
adapted this place for the purpose OF con.
cealment. The rocks which skirted the
road al this place wers about breast high,
and so perpe ndicular as to have The ap-
pearance of a wall they were covered
with growth of bushes SO thick as TO be
nearly impervious. The tall trees on each
side of the road iwined their tops together,
forming natural roof OF leaves and branch
es and rendering the place as dark as mid
night. gss1s ..rss 4etlos
Il was scene sufficient TO appai the
stoutssi heart, bot the horseman, although
he knew that the next moment might be
his last, rode forward with as careless an air
as be might have worn had he been travel
ling the streets of populous city. His
hand still graspsd the butt OF his pistol, and
his keen eyes still searched each eoveri.--
Suddenly pistol shot rung out upou the
air, and mis- hal fell TO The ground, with
bullet hole through it, noi more than an
inch above whefe-his head had been. In
sianlIy turning 10 the direction OF the sound
be beheld slight wreath OF smoke curling
up from behiad bush, and without mo-
menl's hesitation he leseIled his pistol aad
fired. The aim was terribly fatal. A wild
shrek rang upon the air. and the next mo-
the charcoal burner, as he had expected, but
his wife. The blood was flowing copiousIy
from her forehead, and presented horrible
spectacle. She tottered 10 the edge OF the