Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-04-03
The Highway Robber,

OF the hummlng bird tribe, and her
husband, the steady-going city lawyer,
regarded her with pleased admira-
tion.
"There, there, Sybil, you will
strangle me outright if you tie any
more scarfs around my neck. I am
not an Egyptian mummy, although
you seem to have some such impress
sions in your mind"
"Well, but Charlie, what will Mi
riam say if you take cold"
"Dose me With h ot foot-baths and
must be of"
"Did you put the money in your
inside pocket?' asked my brother
in-law.
"Certainly I did-two hundred and
fifty dollars of my own, and five hun
dred Of Mrs. Morey's. Upon my
honor the temptation to bid adieu to
my native land and depart for Cali
fornia-abscond, in SHORTS rather
a strong one"
ave will send a policeman in
charge" said my brother-in-law dryly.
at will be notifying to your rela-
tions, but that we must endeavor to
endure"
So, after a little more careless ban
dinage of this sort, jumped into my
little open wagon, pulled the little
plush-lined robe over my knees, for
the October evening was sharp and
frosty, although brilliantly clear, and
drove bri8kly away through the gold
and liquid sunset.
1t was a long ride that lay before
me-some seven miles into the coun-
try, through lonely, picturesque roads,
shut in by magnificent pine trees and
leafess oak forests, and as was
rather lover of solitude, the prospect
was by no means uninviting, and my
chestnut colored horse trotted sober
ly along the road as if he was quite
prepared for the evenings pilgrim
age.
| had stopped at the bank that
afternoon and drew two hundred and
fifty dollars for immediate use, which
was in my inner breast pocket, snugly
rolled away in an old leather pocket
book, and yet in another pocket book
was five hundred dollars entrusted
to my care by my brother-in-Iaw, fol
, Mrs. Torey a hard working old widow
lady, who dwelt just beyond my OWL
hor,o XUo+-~-, - ----.-n -,
, for her, and this was the result-a
gratifying surprise to the poor ole
creature, whose means were painfully
limited.
q AS | reached the entrance of the
= wooded road, or rather the spo
4 where the wooded road branched
I away from the more universally trav
eled main turnpike, the sun sank be
+ low the horizon, the refreshing cool
ness and the delicious air of twilight
e all scented with piny odors and tht
o musky perfume of fallen leaves, began
e to peryade my lonely path. Inyolun
: tarily | Stacked my reins and looked
O around the sweet, woody solitude
however. A single person sat on tn,
: trunk of a fallen tree just within til,
o edge of the woods-an old woman
: clad in a worn brown cloak, with
O quilted black hood on her head. A
J. the clear ring Of my horses hoof
\ sound on the road, she rose up;
tall bowed form, and RECOMMENDED
a weary gait like one a little refresh
o ed by rest.
As | overlook her, a vague feelins
. Of compunction entered my mind
some dim and unfeigned recollection
. Of my old mother, now long dea(
, and buried, foated across my memo
: ry, and | checked Baron instinctively
q awe are going the same way, will
= you ride ?" | asked.
, With some muttered formality ot
. thanks, the old woman hobbled to tn
~ side Of the wagon. | put out m,
E hand to assist her, but with an agilit
6 that was little short Of marvelou
q she sprang up to the seat beside me.
y "Why, you are very nimble 70
!. your years, good MOTHER" [ SAT-
n pleasantly.
"Not very, sir" she said in
r strange hoarSe voice. II am. old
g old and feeble"
, Old and feeble she might have beer
f but she was tall and largely made
/, with muscular arms and giganti
q IramU. L LnUuSllU UG nIUS 1IoIl 11Ics
= She would have been aptly represent
n ed by singular companion.
20 As we came into an opening wher
. the clear traces of sunset yet made
y brightness in the silent air, | stoope
- - suddenly forward ostensibly to pic
70 up my fallen whip from the floor o
q the wagon to which it had slipped
- in reality to obtain glimpse Of IN
= companions face.
~ Merciful Father, it was dark an
- the bearded face mana face ligh
"a ened by deep set black eyes, wit
at shagged elf-locks hanging over h
bo swarthy brow, and a mouth such g
N ought to belong to the brute ere;
ID ton, rather than to the countenanc
II Of man.
In an instant full and complet
sense of all the danger Of my stu;
tion flashed upon me as if sheet O
~, ou lightning had Illuminated the solitar
scene around us, | had been watche
ID at the bank-my errand thither ha
W. probably become known, and | ha
a. been waylaid with an evil intention
I' Ny blood run cold as / recognize