Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1869-04-28
TIE BARONESS AND ROBBERS

4
without, and exhibited good style of arch
itecture and it was about two hundred pa
ces from the village.
Business obliged the Baron to take
journey of few days. His wife, bu
twenty years of age, and very beautiful, re
mained at home. He took with him TIVE
of his servants, and two others remained
with the Baroness. No violation of thu
public security had ever been heard of il
that part of the country, and as the Bar
oness did not belong to the timid portion
of her sex, the idea of danger was far from
entering her mind. The evening after the
Baron's departure, as she was stepping in.
to bed, she heard an alarming noise il an
apartment near her chamber. She called
but received no answer She was at loss
to conceive what was the matter, and hast
lily putting on her garments, went to the
door to discover the cause. A horrible
spectacle presented itself. Her two ser
wants, half naked, were extended lifeless on
the floor. The room was full of strange
| looking men the Baroness chambermaid
was kneeling before one of them, and in
stead of the mercy she implored, she re-
ceived the fatal stroke. No sooner did the
door open than two barbarians, with drawn
swords, rushed towards it. What woman
or even man would not have been struck
with the utmost terror, and given up life
and everything as lost A loud shrek of
despair, flight of q few PAGES would prob
ably have been the resort of many. The
Baroness, however, conducted herself in a
different manner ....
"And you have come at last !' exclaim-
ed she, ina tone of apparent heartfelt joy,
and advancing towards her assailants with
a haste that highly astonished them, they
lowered their uplifted weapons.
And you have come at last r. repeated
she, ''such visitors as have often wished
to see
''Wished y muttered one of the assas-
sins, what do you mean by that ?" Bnt
stay-Il-"
He had already raised his cutlass, but
comrade averted the stroke ''Stay mo-
ment brother, said he, 'and let us hear
what she would have.
Nothing but what is pleasure, brave
comrades. You are men after my own
heart, and neither you nor shall ever re-
pent it if you will listen to what have to
say"
'Speak speak !" cried the whole of the
company. .......
"But be quick ~ cried one of the fierc-
est, 'for we shall not make much ceremO-
n.y."
Nevertheless hope you will grant me
q hearing for, although I am the wife of
the richest gentleman in the country, the
wife of the meanest beggar cannot be more
unhappy than am. My husband is one
of the most jealous and niggardly fellows
on earth hate him, and it has long been
the fervent wish of my heart to get clear of
his clutches, and at the same time pay off
old scores. All my servants were spies,
and that fellow whose business you have
done so completely, was the worst Of all.
1 am scarcely twenty -one, and I flatter N.Y.
self far from being ugly. If any of you
choose to take me along with you, I'll ae-
company you to the woods or the village
ale-house nor shall any of You ever have
cause to repent having spared my life.
You are in a well stored mansion but it is
impossible that you should be acquainted
with all its secret corners. These I will
now show you, and if L don't make you
richer by six thousand dollars, then serve
me as you did my chambermaid
Robbers Of this kind are certainly vii
lians, but nevertheless they are still men.
The wholly unexpected tenderness of the
Baroness, added to the more than ordinary
beauty of the female, altogether produced
a powerful effect on these men, whose
hands were yet reeking with blood They
then all stepped aside, and consulted to-
gether in low tones for some minutes. The
baroness was left quite alone, but she be-
trayed not the. least wish to escape,
Lets dispatch her, and the game VIII
be all up" She, however, scarcely chang
ed color, for the opposition of the others
did not escape her acute ear.
One who was probably captain of the
banditti now approached her. He asked
twice or thrice whether he might rely on
what she said-whether she actually wish
ed to be released from the tyranny of her
husband, and to go with them-and wheth-
er she was willing to resign herself to one
of them, to himself, for instance, during
the peaceful days they could enjoy. Hav-
ing replied in the affirmative to all ques-
having not only suffered the warm
embrace of the robber, but returned it-for
what will not necessity excuse? 4? He at
length said: O8eTFf gU =tHaf'
"Come along then, and lead us around.
The d. trust you ladies of rank; but we
viii venture for once. But let me tell you,
that il you were twice as handsome as you
are, this weapon should cleave your skull
the moment saw the least disposition to
betray us. a. en- .