The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23

planted acres of small 1rulCs anu
peach-orchard, now just coming ln1o
bearing, placing all under the charge
of a trusty man in his employ
His Western interest demanded long
and freoueut abs ences from home, and,
having fallen in love with Western HE,
he had, within the last year, built
nrettv house, and brought his family to
Waneta.
Had Agnes Haviland understood the
character of part of her route, she would
have looked long for messenger be-
fore she would have undertaken the
ride but she gave very little thought
her trim riding-habit of navy-blue.
perched her little plumed cap over the
feathery brown curls with their CLINT of
gold, and gathered up her long skirt to
hasten downstairs, but, on second
thought, turned back and took from a
drawer little toy of pocket-pistolw with
which she sometimes amused herself in
firing at mark.
In few moments she was canterine
down the carriage-way on her spirited
ron-gray, leading her fathers glossy
chestnut by the bride, Melissa Briggs
protesting to the last.
Have you stole a hoss? Coin to
run him off Injianny ?" The
speaker was old Capt Billings, and
Aggie dashed on, laughing.
For time the ride was delightful
Over smooth roads, past cultivated d
farms, the horses dashed on abreast,
seeming to grow more spirited and am
bilious for their chase across the green
country in the golden autumn air.
But now the dwellings were less
and less frequent, and by the time
she reached the belts of timber, she con-
fessed to herself a feeling of nervous
ness. The sun was getting low, and
the forest-road looked lonely. She had
traversed about two miles of woods
when the horses sprang aside, startled
by the sudden apparition of two men,
muddy and rough-looking with guns.
Aggie's heart gave q great leap, and,
thoroughly frightened, she urged the
horses on at flying pace but the men
only lifted their hats, one of them with
easy grace, the other bowling with all a
Frenchman's effusion.
"On1y hunters" thought Agnes,
ashamed of her cowardice.
'By Jove Fernand who would
have expected such vision as that in
this wilderness? She must be bound
for the plantation we came upon this
morning"
"No doubt, mon d7ai."
"Those were vicious-looking scoun-
drels we saw stealing through the tim
across here and see that she passes the
creek safely?"
"W Wiz all my heart" responded mon
sieur.
Coming soon to the little stream,
Agnes stopped to let the horses drink.
1t was a pretty place the shallow water
clear and impid, the banks covered
with close underground of bushes,
blaze of cardinal flowers in the marshy
islets.
Tired by rapid riding, she rested
few minutes, leaning over to watch the
tiny fish darting here and there, quite
unconscious of the ill-looking figure
lurking behind large tree near by, and
hidden by the bushes.
liant you stole a hoss, miss ?"
Aggie started, almost expecting to see
Capt. Billings, but beholding a most
Misunderstanding individidual instead
Looks powerful like it, he continued,
passing his arm through the chestnut's
bridle-rein and grasping the other.
You are mistaken, sir, " said Agnes,
quietly, 81 am on my way to my
fathers farm"
Cant believe you, my beauty.
Reckon I'll have to set you down yer
and take the hosses." W
Agnes, reused and fearless now, IN the
face of real danger. "Let go my
bride, or I'll fire on you '' drawing her
little revolver.
confident she would not fire without
further warning.
81 shall Lot hesitate if you don't
drop that bride p said she, taking aim.
But the words were scarcely spoken
when her arm was seized with an iron
grip, and another wicked face leered up
at her.
"Let go, you coward - cried she.
+" Pritty good grit" said he. "Bill,
reckon wen take the gal along with
the beasts"
Then chill like death came over her.
There was a sudden rush through the
underbrush, and Agnes captor felt a
pistol barrel pressed to his temple.
Sc Let go your hold, this instant, you
villain !'' commanded it's owner and
let go he did, not daring to stir; the
other turned to fee, but found himself
covered by Paul Fernand's rifle.
Stop, my PLEASANT friend" said
monsieur, and he complied.
Then Agnes disengaged the halter
straps, and the fellows were secured to
the neighboring trees, in spite of their
protestations that it was only a little
ioke-they didn't mean nothing.
The Freachman remained to guard the
prisoners, and the handsome young
hunter ga1loped on with Agnes to the
farmhouse. Mr.. Haviland and posse
of farmhands hurried back with him to
the scene of adventure, only to find
poor Monsieur Fernand overwhelmed
with chagrin, the prisoners gone, and
the unfortunate naturalist securely
bound in their stead. A paper was left
fastened to a tree bearing the classic
inscription, &c Ketch a weezle asleep >"
"Dey did vissTe two, tree times, :"
said monsieur. "Dey say dey haf one
dog someveres, but whiles I keep one
eye on dem, and one to dis wondairful
creature, like dry twig wiz legs I was
seize from behind, and two fellows tie
me and take my gun, and dey all go
everyveres-dis way and dat vey.
HeI0s :" mourned monsieur Sc dey vas
SO easy to be tie. am one idiot. I
should know dey have friends here"
My dear child I" exclaimed Mr..
Haviland, anxious1y, when he returned
to the cottage, ''have you quite recov
cred from your fright?"
:" don't think was very much
Il