The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-05-27
THE STRANGE PASSENGER.


before the sunlight has disappear
cd was stealing on, filing the crisp
air with a chilly gloom. Along {
highway leading from the city Of
P, Farmer Wilson was rafting
home with his great, comfortable
canvass covered wagon, thinking
OF the welcome that awaited him
ten miles further on. He had been
10 tie city to dispose Of his Christ
mas poultry, and having sold it al.
at fair prices, he had his huge
pocket-book carefully put awayin-
side his oycrcoat, a very consider
able sum, concerning which bis re-
Elections were pleasing indeed
Slowed away in the hind part Of
the wagon were several interesting
looking packages, no doubt con-
tafning presents for those at home;
Farmer Wilson, though saving,
was not sordid man, and lionG
knew better than he the pleasure
and wisdom of giving. His team,
invigora'ed by the keen, wintry air.
| and knowing as well as the driver
| did that their heads we turned to-
ward home, trotted steadily along
the solid pike till the base OF =
long and winding hill was reache ed
Their pace slackencd, and they
were leisurely ascending the ele-
vation when q quiet whoa from
the driver brought them to astand
A neatly dressed woman, who bad
been hidden till now by Q curve il
the road, seeing the approaching
Vehicle, paused as il came up, and
looking into John Wilson's eyes,
asked him in a respectful tone Of
voice if she might ride to the next
village, some four Or five miles fur
| ther ahead.
Certainly said the obligiug far
mer as be sprang from his wagon
and assisted the lady in Kindly
fixing her in the most comfortable
seat, the good man signilled to his
horses, which were getting slightly
impatient under the delay, that
they might proceed, and then glln-
cling at his companion. She was,
as he observed at first, rather tall,
with fair face. rather dimly seen
in the twilight, and hands WE'LL
shaped at least, If not small, IS
showed in the tightly-ftting glove,
! which Farmer Wilson, accustomed
to enormous mittens, thought rath-
cr poor protection against the cold.
However, she carried muif, into
which, after she was seated, she
thrust her thin gloved hands
They ratified on, the twilight
growing DINNER. though q cold
light still fingered in the air. His
passenger, Farmer Wilson thoue ht,
> seemed rather disinclined to talk, (,
SO he did not attempt c0nyeraa
ton, but drove on in silence, giaa
cing occasionally st her, and men
tally wondering who she could be.
Some lady from the city, probably
who was going up to spend Christ
mas with q relative in the village,
having left the train at the nearest
etatin7 anl truat;nr IL obt.ia fnr
thor cnnyeranca in aomo nassin, I,
vehicle
l 4 s,i.ht n,ovemont or rba uos
, senger caused the, farmer to turn
:, toward her Size was in tho SET al
changing her position; one toet
y xcas +hrpefzct1f from, ih sp,.!a f, II :
, OF her dress: It was oo;cklv with
drawn hnt not soon cnonoI, f., nra
r vent Farmer wilson froo ea,.ino
:. that i Lad an i ,hot Iaol,ad ro,,
!. dorfnllv lil,n > mans Eo,f Sns.
! nician baI alra,dv haen arorsol
in his nsnd notyith.tor3ir~ II.
cnlcayor to account for ncr 5.re-
cro, m tho rnad ot H., ,;n,s !
> dav aud WOW Tho .nat,ar vac ,.lof,
r oo3',,h
t Jyhe Ia1z, wss.,,o 1adv 9. al hn
G hiobwayn,an Who had .f';ro,
e h;mself in wo,nens dress ~,
: he,tar to obta;, . c!,anno IN rah
and perhaps murder some retnrn.
n jDr marlxce man who if was val
e res,sanoa world vorv l;kalv aav,
r with him a cnnsiderab,a sYt, =
II monov the nroaaele IF MI Chr:.,
.e mas sales. + was i tryiag nc.i
II lion. Farmer Wilson WIS nnarm
cd, and .ny attempt 10 orapal,
wiIh tie villain woul,, rrso!
. in an assault upon him wish som.
,s deadly weapon Moreover The hnr
n ses were spirited, and a straae ii
!, in the wagon would Droi}a6l
70 friehten them, and the a1,ti.iYna
/ danger of a runaway wauli be in