The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-02-26
THE nARoNEss AND RonnERs

road, was Baron IGs accustomed 10
spend the summer. His mansion, built
on an eminence, was a spacious build
ing, both within and without, and ex-
hibited a good style of architecture ;
and it was about two hundred PAGES
from the village.
Business obliged the Baron to take a
journey of few days. His wife, but
twenty years of age, and very beauti-
full, remained at home. He took with
him two of his servants, and two others
remained with the Baroness. No vio-
lation of the public security had ever
been heard of in that part of the cOun-
try, and as the Baroness 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
into bed, she heard an alarming noise
in an apartment near her chamber.
She called out but received no answer !!
She was at a loss to conceive what was
the matter, and hastily putting on her
garments, went to the door to discover
the cause. A horrible spectacle pre-
sented itself. Her two servants, half
naked, were extended lifeless on the
floor. The room was full of strange
looking men, the Baroness chamber
maid was kneeling before one of them,
and instead of the mercy she implored, 4,
she received the fatal stroke. No SOON
er did the door open than two barbar-
ians, with drawn swords, rushed to-
wards it. What woman or even man
would rot have been struck with the
utmost terror, and given up life and
everything as lost? A loud shrek Of
despair, a flight of few PAGES would
probably have been the resort of many.
The Baroness, however, conducted
herself in a different manner.
"And you have come at last ~ eX-
claimed she, in a tone Of apparent
heartfelt joy, and advancing towards
her assailants with haste that highly
astonished them, they lowered their
uplifted weapons.
''And you have come at last !" re-
peated she, "such visitors as / have Of
ten wished to see."
"Wished ~ muttered one of the as
sassins, "What do you mean by that
But stay-I'll-"
He had already raised his cutIass,
but a comrade averted the stroke.
''iStay a moment, 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 have reason to repent it il
you will listen to what have to say"
"Speak! speak !" cried the whole
company.
"But be quick !" cried one of the
fiercest, ''for we shall not make much
ceremony"
Nevertheless l hope you will grant
me hearing; for although l am the
wife of the richest gentlemen in the
country, the wife of the meanest beg
gar cannot lie more unhappy than l
am. My husband is one of the most
jealous and niggardIy 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. am scarcely twenty-one,
and | tiatter myself far from being ug-
ly. If any Of you choose to take me
along with you, I'll accompany 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 well stored mansion but it is
impossible that you should be acquaint-
Ell with all its secret corners. These
L will now show you, and if / don't
make you richer by siA thousand dol
lars, then serve me as you did my
chambarmaid,"
Robbers of this kind are certainly
villains, but nevertheless they are still
men. The wholly unexpected tender
ness of the Baroness, added to the
more than ordinary beauty of the fe-
male, altogether produced powerful
effect on these men, whose hands were
yet reeking with blood. They then all
stepped aside, and consulted together
in low tones for some minutes. The
Baroness was left quite alone, but she
betrayed not the least wish to escape
Lets dispatch her, and the game
will be all up.V She, however, scarce
| ly changed color, for the opposition o.
| the others did not escape her acute ear
One who was probably captain o.
the banditti now approached her. liz
| asked twice or thrice whether he NIGH
rely on what she Said-Whether she
actually wished to be released from thC
| tyranny of her husband, and to &C
! with them-and whether she was viii
ling to resign herself to one of them, t
himself for instance, during the peace
full days they could enjoy. Having re
piled in the affirmative to all the ques
tions-having not only suffered tht
warm embrace of the robber, but re
turned it-for what will not necessity
excuse? He at length said:
"Come along then, and lead u
around. The ID trust you ladies 0
rank but we will venture for once
But let me tell you, that if you wer
twice as handsome as you are, thi
weapon should cleave your skull tn
moment / saw the least disposition t