The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-04-19
Stranger Than Fiction.

In the autumn of 1917, while TIT
woods were bright with the variegatet
hues which follow the light touche,
of early frost, mounted traveller wat
pursuing his way through 9 dark
broad, lonely forest, in the western
part of New York. He had ridden
three miles since he had seen human
habitation, and he had two to 60 be-
fore he could get sight of another. He
was descending hill into gloomy
looking valley, through which flowed
a shallow but swift running stream,
and upon reaching the water he per-
mitted his thirsty beast to stop and
drink,
At that moment man came out
from clump of bushes into the road
or horse path on the other side of the
stream.- This man dressed like hun
ter, and carried a rifle on his shoulder.
In his appearance there was nothing
to indicate hostility or n wicked de-
sign. He was of medium size, COM
pactly built, with intellectual features
and certain air of gentility-seeming
rather as one abroad from some set
tlement for days sport than a pro.
fessional hunter. All this the mount
ed traveller carefully noted as he cross
ed the stream to continue hia journey,
and when they came together pleas
ant salute was exchanged.
Fine weather for travelling SIR re
marked the man with the gun.
tAnd for hunting, also, I should sup
pose smiled the other on the horse.
yes, there is game enough remark
ed the other,' but am not good hun.
ter and can show only one bear for
my days work, thus far, and that is
| almost useless to me, because l have
no means to take it away. l would
willingly give 3 dollar for the use of a
horse like yours for couple of hours.
would like you to SO see the bear !;
it is only back behind the bushes
some two hundred yards from here
i will not only look at it, replied
the traveller, dismounting and fssten-
ing his horse, hut if it is not tco
heavy will take it along for you, see
ing am going your way
The hunter thanked him in cordial
NAM e and then, as if to make him
self agreeable and keep up the con-
versation, inquired where the other
was from, whittier journeying, ETC.,
and learned in reply that the latter re-
sided at Albany, was a merchant in
good business, and was travelling part.
ly for his health and partly with a
view for making an extensive land
purchase for future speculation.
well, here we are,' exclaimed the
hunter. as the two emerged from the
dense thicket through which they had
forced their way into the woods, sand
now l will show you as fine and fat
beast as you ever saw. Observe
where point my riae.'
lie stepped back some eight or ten
feet deliberately raised the piece TO
his eye,snd pointed the muzzle direct
ly at the head of the traveller. There
was fash and loud report, and the
victim fell like log. his face covered
with blood.
This might or might not have been
the first crime com mitted by the man
with the rifle. But as the man fell the
rifle slipped through his hands and he
shook violently from head to foot yet
he ran to his victim and hurriedly rob-
bed him of his purse, pocket. book. 3
gold chain, some curious seals, a dia-
mond breast pin and diamond ring
which he fairly tore from his finger.
Then he dragged his body into the
thicket. picked up his rife, plunged
madly through the bushes to the road.
mounted the travellers horse and
dashed away from the awful scene.
We must now suppose the lapse Of
twenty years.
In the spring of 1862 there lived in
New York banker, a millionaire,
whom we shall call Stephen Ed wards.
He owned palatial mansion, splen-
didly furnished, in the very heart of
the city, and he and his wife were
among the leaders of the fashionable
world. They had beautiful daugh-
ter, just turning sweet sixteen, who
was about to be married to a foreign
nobleman, and great preparations
were made for the happy event.
One day, about this period, as the
great banker was conversing with a
gentleman from another city, who
called to see him on business, he OBJ
served the latter turn suddenly pale
and begin to tremble.
My dear SIR said he, in his usual
10: es of off-hand sympathy,'what is the
matter; are you i'll
"A little faint, sir, but nothing to
cause ALARM replied the other hur-
riedly. Il am subject to similar spells.
you would be kind enough to ex.
cuse me for ten minutes or SO, l will
take a short walk and return in better
condition.
In ten minutes he did return, re-
porting himself quite vel. calmly pro-
ceedcd to finish his business with the
banker, and then respectfully took his
leave,
1t was perhaps week after this.
that one night, the banker was sitting
by his fire in the library, when a SER
want came in and presented him a let
He took it with a yawn. opened it in
the most indolent and Indifferent man
ner possible, but had not read a dozen
words before he rose up with a start,
and trembled SO that the paper ratified.