The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-03-05
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

TRUTH STRAIN GER III AN FICTION.
In the autumn of 1917, while the woods
were bright with yariegated hues which
| follow the light touches of early frost,
mountain traveller was quiet ~ pursuing bis
way through dark, broad, lonely forest, in
the western part OF the state of New York.
He had ridden three miles since seeing
human haitaGon, and had yet two miles to
go before he could get sight Of another.
He was descending a hill into a gloomy
valley, through winch flowed shallow but
swift running stream ; and on reaching the
water he permitted his Thirsty beast to stop
and drink.
Al that moment man came out from a
cluster OF bushes into the road or horse
path, on the other side OF the stream. This
man was dressed like a hunter, aud carried
! rifle on bis shoulder. In bis general APP
pearance there was nothing that Indicated
hostility or wicked design. He was me-
dunn III size, com paCtly built, with Intel,
lectual features and certain air OF genlil
ty-sceming rather as one abroad from some
settlement Tor day 5 sport than profess
slonat hunter. All TINS The mounted lraq-
eier noted before he crossed the stream to
! continue his journey, and when they came
| together pleasant salutatloL was exchang-
! ed.
Fine weather for travelling, sir - re-
marked the man with The gun.
And Tor hunting also, L should suppose, )"
! replied the other on lhe horse.
I es, there IS game enOu5 H., returned
the otfer, but L am not a good hunter,
and can only show one bear Tor my day 5
| work thus lar, and that Is almost useless 10
me, because L have 40 means OF taking il
away. L w0uId willingly give dollar for
The use Oh horse like yours Tor "a couple
OF hours. Ii you could spare tive minutes
| or so, L would Ike you 10 see the bear Ii
Is only just Dack behind these bushes, some
two hundred yards nom here"
Il Will not ouly look a. ii" replied the
| traveller dlsmountlns aud fastening his
horse, but If not 100 heavy, 1 will iake It
along lor you, seeing l am going your
way.
Tue hunter thanked lin in most cor
| dial manner, aud then, as ii TO make him-
! self agreeable aud keep up The conVersa>
! ton, lnqun ed where tue other was from
| Whlther J0ulnayIng, and SO forth and
learned III reply mat the later resided In
Albany, WAS merchant IN good business,
aud Vas travelling pa,tiy with u view OF
| making an extensive land purchase, Tor iu-
| lure speculation.
Well, mere we are ~ exclaimed the
hunter, as The Two emerged from the dense
lhlcket, through which they had slowly
lolceu tuelr way, into the open wood, here
We are, aud now L viii show you as line
and lat beast as you ever saw. Observe
where L point my ride.
| lie stepped back some eight or ten feet.
deliberately raised the piece 10 his eye, and
| n4 ~ 10 III Is, IN h,
the traveller. There was fash, loud re-
port, and the victim fed like log, his face
cove with blood.
This might, or might not have beeu the
hr clue committed by the man with me
rlde. But as the traveller fell the nHe Slip
ped from his hands, aud he shook olentiy
nom head 10 loot; yet he sprang to his
vIctn and hurredly robbed him OF "a purse,
a pocket book, a gold watch and chain,
! some curious seals, a diamond breast pin,
and diamond ing winch he Iarlly tore
/ nom his huger. nen lie dragged the
| body lato the thlcket, picked up his rife,
| plunged maqiy Though the bushes mo
The &c ad, m0unted the travellers horse. and
rushed away Dom the aWinl scene.
We must now suppose lapse Of twenty
years.
In The spring OF 1887, there lived in the
city OF New y ork banker and a million
ARE, whom We shall call Stephen Edwards
| lie owned Il paIalIal residence, splendIdly
furnished, III the very heart OF the town,
and he ana his vile were among the lead
ers OF the fashionable world. They had a
beautiful daug hler, just turned off sweet
! sixteen, who Was about 10 be married to a
! foreign noDleman, aud great preparations
Were being made Tor the happy event
One day, aDot this period, as the great
! banker stood conyerong with a gentleman
| from another city, VINO called TO SEE him on
| business, he observed the latter suddenly
4 turn very pale and begin TO tremte.
My dear sir, he sad 10 the usual tone
or Oh maud sympathy, what Is the matter?
| Are you Hi?
- little faint sir, but nothing to cause
alarm, replied The other huIredly. Il am
subject TO similar spells. Iii you will be
! klud enough to excuse me tor ten minutes
/ SO, VIII lake a short walk, aud return
, III better condition"
Ia ten minutes he did return, said he
Was quite well, calmly p oceeded TO finish
his business with the banker aud then re-
! sreclully took his leave.
/ 1t was, perhaps, week after this, that
one night the great banker was sitting be-
lore The 1lfe IN the library, when the serv~
ant came IN and presented him letter. He
/ took 1t with yawn, opened it In the most
lndolent and indifferent manner possible,
/ but he had not read dozen words before
he came up with a start, turned deadly
pale, aud tIembled 80 that the paper rat
/ tied. He finished the noie-for il was
rather note than a e,ter-worked one
hand nervousIy at his throat aud with the
other clasped his forehead and temples.
For minute or two he seemed choking
into calnIness by an an iron will some ter
rible emotion, aud he SO far succeeded as
TO address the waiting servant in au ordl>
. nary tone.