The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-06-26
SELECTED STORY.
The Robber Of HaIstead
Wood.

shades OF evening were fast setting in,
when borseman 5estriding noble s,eed
who seemed quite exhausted bv his DAYS
journey, en,etp', the aveahe leading
through lIalstead Wood and the ?ounp
man-for he seemed scarcely twer,v two
years Of age,--as be entered the forest,
now made gloomy by the darkness o. the
falling night, drew from his head his rich.
ly embroidered cap of velvet. and as he
wiped from his brow. the perspira,ion, he
murmured- .
But short distance, now, my good
s'e"d, and then ow journey is ended.
'Tis long time since left the CITY oemv
birth. and mv parents and swee, sister
God forbid that aught should have befal
len them during my ahsouce-w,ll scarce.
Iv know me. Bn, will give them q sur.
pr'se-ah That will te delightful :" and
rs he spoke, he again.plscpd his cap ub
on his head, and started onward at q
brisker pace.
8nt scarcely had he proceeded ten rods
when, from the ,hick"t on the right. a
man, whose face WAS covered with mask
rushed from his cpnces'men,. and ere the
Traveller WAS aware of his rresence seized
the hor.e by the h.id'c, and with pow,
erfnl jerk, nearly threw him upon his
launches; then leve'ing directly At ,he
strangers breast. heavy pistol, he ex
claimed
"lns,anllv deliver m tie money in
your possession, or your lie will pay the
forfeit I"
The Young mans eyes flushed with
passion TOR moment, then. .purring
his horse, which Caro spring forward,
he Ieapei with hounh from his saddle ::
and ere the r"ll'er. whose attention had
lean for an instant arsGed to fhe horse.
could prevent il, ~ hefor. his arm could
hs raised, one hand Of tie traveller was
fairly griped upon his throat, and the
other pinioning the arm which held the
pistol.
Fiercely did the rolher struggle in hi.
endeavors to free himself from the Young
man's hold. but it was all in vain; he
might as well have attempted to move
rock. Soon his face turned 10 n purple
hue, and as lie vainly endaavorei to utter
sentence, he opened his hand. and the
pistol fell upon the ground, and he turn
ed his eyes with an imp'oring look upon
his cap,or. Nor was :, unbesded. for ,he o
Young man unloos4l his hold OF the rob.
hers throat, and drawing from his pockp,
n Handkerchief he firmly hound the
hands Of the captive ard then taIinr
the loaded pistol from the ground he pla-
ced II within his own bosom.
The r6bher, "a his cap'or stepped from
him, sank upon the turf. and to the "a
constituent Of the Young man. hurieI mis-
lace in his bound hands, and burst into
Hood Of tears.
"Alas poor Marisn." he sobbed, "you
will now s,arve, and I, oh, heaven ] shall
not he near YOU y
''S,arve-Marian !" repeated the Young
man, whose as,onishment was crest by
all tha,'s good. | have a sister hy iha,
name. and she Of whom you speak shall
not sia,ve. Tell me, nv good man, why
did you attempt t" rob me You seem
no. like q common william"
"Nei,her am !" said ,ks rohher lifting
his head AT the words Of the Young man.
"Then, why, I again ask, did you ats
tempt my robberyi"
81 will tell you, as You desire il, and
God knows il is the truth. Two wear,
ago, ! was clerk in the employ Of a
wealthy, Influential firm in London. At
the mansion OF tie junior rartaeG, !-ohs
evening made the acquaintance Of bean.
tifal young lady, dangbtsr Of rich mer.
chant. Our intimacy ripened into love,
and We became pledged TO one smother.
Thus our affairs stood. when the father Of
Marian become acquainted with the fact,
and forbid me his house. ] was but an
humble clerk, lie said. and not q match
for her whose affections ] had gained -
But the siernneSs Of the father altered
not the feelings OF the daughter, for in
few weeks We eGectel an eIopsmeut,
and then Maisn became my wife.
"Her father. from that moment, would
never see her face and lie declared ,hat
not pound Of his wealth shoild ever lie
bestowed upon his unera,eful girl. By
his macbina,ion., also. I lost my situation
and six months since left the employ Of