Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-04-05
SELECTED STORY
THE HUNTERS CRIME.

In the Autumn of 1916, while the woods
were in the bright and v.riegated hues fol-
lowing the light touches of frost, a mounted
traveller was quietly pursuing bis way
through dark, broad, lovely forest in the
western part of the State of New York.
He had ridden three miles since seeing q
single habitation, and had yet two miles to
90 before be could get sight Of another
He was descending hill into a gloomy val
lev, through which flowed shallow but
swift running stream, and on reaching the
water he permitted bis thirsty beast to
drink
AT that moment man stepped out from
cluster Of bushes into road or horse path
on the other side of the stream. This man
was dressed like hunter and carried his
rife on his shoulder. In his general ap'
pearance there was nothing to indicate hos.
tility or wicked design Tie vas of medi-
un size, compactly built, with intelligent
features certain air of gentility-seeming
as one abroad from some settlement for a
davis sport, more than professional hun
ter.
All this the mounsed traveller carefully
noticed before he crossed the stream to con.
tinue his journey, and when they came to-
gether pleasant salutations were exchanged.
"Fine weather for travelling sir" remark
ed the man with the gun.
Sand for hunting, also, / suppose, "
smiled the man on the horse.
Eyes, there is game enough" returned
the other, ''but | am not good hunter,
and can only show one bear for my days
work thus far, and that is algso7s seless to
me. have no means of 49, kawag. !
would willingly give dollar fqr the use of
horse like yours for couple Of hours =
IF YOU can spare five minutes or SO would
like YOU to see the bear; it is just beyond
these bushes some two Or three hundred
yards from here
II will not only look at it, said the tray
eler, d amounting and fastening the horse,
''but if not too heavy, will take it along for
you. as I am going the same way
The hunter thanked him in most eordi-
al manner, and then, as if to make himself
agreeable and keep up conversation, inquir-
ed where the other was from, and whittier
iourneyipg, and SO 70; tn ; and learned in re.
ply that the latter resided in Albany, was a
merchant in good business, and was travel
ing, partly for bis health and partly with a
view of making an extensive purchase of
land
"Well, here we are,'' exclaimed the hun,
ter, and the two emerged from dense
tbicket through which they had slowly forced
their way into an open road, "here we are
and I'll show you as fine and as fat beast
as YOU ever saw. Observe where I point
my rife"
He stepped back eight or ten feet, DELHI
erately raised hia gun 10 his eye aud point
ed the muzsle at the head of lbe traveller
There was flash, loud report, and the vie
tim fell like log, his face covered With
blood.
This night or might not have been the
Grst oriEe committed by the man with the
rife, but as the traveller fell the rice slipped
from his hand, and he shook violently from
head to foot; yet he ran to his victim and
hurr;edly robbed him Of his pocket-hook, a
gold watch and chain, some curious seals
and diamond ring which he fairly tore
from his finger. Then he dragged the body
into the thickeb, plunged madly through
the bushes into the road, mounted the trav
eler's horse and dashed away from the awfu
scene.
We must now suppose lapse of twent,
years.
In the Spring of 1887, there lived in tn
City Of New York banker and a million
aire, whom we shall call Stephen l4dwaras
He owned palatial mansion splendid.
furnished, in the very heart heart of town
and he and bis wife were among the leader
Of the fashionable world. They had
daughter just turned out of sweet sixteen
and she vas about to be married TO for
eign nobleman, and great preparations wei
being made for the happy event.
One day, about this period, as the grea
banker stood oenyersiog With g gentleman
from another city, who had called to see hin
GU business, he observed that the latte
turned deadly pale and began to tremble.
my dear sir" said he, in his usual ton
Of off hand sympathy, 'Whas is the matter
are you i'll r.
ga little faint, sir. but nothing to csus
any ALARM replied the other hurried!y'-
Il am subject to spells. If you Will b
kind enough to excuse me for ten minute
or SO, ] will take short walk and retur
bettsr.''
To ten minutes he did return, said he wa
quite v ell calmly proceeded to flush bus
ness with the banker, and then very rel
pectfully took his leave.
It was perhaps week after this that on
night tho bauker was sitting by the fll's !
the library, when the servant presented oil
: with letter He took it with yaWI
took it in the most indolent and inGliserei
manner possible, but had not read doze
+ words before he came up with start, turl
: ing deadly pale, and trembled so that tt
paper ratified. He read the note-for
was rather 9 nete than letter, he workt
one hapd neryously at bis throat ana WI
the other he clasped his forehead and temple
For ? minute or two be seemed to &c eho
ing into calmness, by his iron WILL son
81, 1, ,,oonod od