, 1877-12-09

Susan was spirited girl, but sne turned pale
They had arrived at part OF TIC road wnesc ,l !
on either side hid it entirely from ricw.
1t was becoming dark, and as Susan lootlec
| right and left she heard nothing but tue talnt
breeze among the trees, and the chlrp OF tht
and all idea Of assistance from Il casual passen
ffhougn quite faint a ~ with terror, she
rallied all her courage, and deter.
rob her OF her money.
| For one moment hope rcvlVcu Inc stran-
ger dsnounted and passed his bride over the
low orcrhauging bough of an clGer-tree' and
Susan took the opportunity to whip Jerry into
something like a trot; hut she had not proceed
cd many yards when t1lo man came running af-
Ter, easily overlook her, and, laughing der1sVe-
II, led hcr horse back to tho snme spot, where
he again asked her to deliver up her purse to
bis care.
"Bcttcr do it quietly, Susan, my dear" he
urged II shall take It by hook or by crook, -
Susan still sloutly refused, declaring with
many assertions that she carried no purse.
swell, then, We must trr what can be anEe
by searching. LIS tiresople process, nut I'm
very patient, and not pressed for time to-niGht -
lie lifted Susan out Of her saddle as easily as
il she had been haby, unsaa1lcd Jerry, turn
| ing him loose to Craze as he pleased, and COM
ing but few parcels of tca calico, and ribbon,
| which he carelessly threw down in tho road, he
next begged the terrified girl to remove her hat
and cloak, an. coming close to her, began 1cel-
! ing for 1lcr pockets.
Su5an's Indignation knew no bounds; hut the
| robbcr only laughed, and told her .isc should
| take erery means to extract the gold from her,
aud. taking out a large clasp-knfc, he said:
sits such pity to cut this pretty bodice
nsundcr; but mnst, ii you are SO obstinate.
Bless You. do you think I've been ycars on the
road, and don't know the ways Of you pretty
little maids! The money that WAS paid Tor the
COW is somewhere about, and l
am pretty certain it's in particular
YOUR laces, II yon try my patience too long,;
and lie began to insert the knife into the lace OF
| her bodice.
susan, trembling lest she should lose her
money. and assured him that if he would retro
out of sight for few minutes she would get
her pocket, and give it into his hands.
| The robhcr declared that he could not do
that, nut that he had no objection to turn his
back. u don't want to distress you, my
| dear" he said; but he pulled ont his pistol at
| the same time, and stood waiting.
The poor girl proceeded to take off her dress.
and, after some difficulty, removed her stars,
aud, donning. her cloak hastily, threw them
down before the hishwayman.
| ing the pocket, soon ri1ed it or
its contents; and then picked up
| be sewn up in them. As Susan stood shaking
! and iHcsolutc sudden thought seized her.
| Catching up JcrrT's saddle, which lay OH the
ground at her sile, she threw 1t over the hedge,
cxclaiming, "You shan't have it ali, at any
ratc.''
The thief, of his guard for the moment, and
thinking that the saddle might contain the
| greater part OF the spoil, threw down the dress
| with an oath; and, cursing frightfully, clam
bered into and over the hedge to recover the
saddle. Une Of his pistols fell from his coat to
| the ground; Susan threw it over the opposite
hedge, and, releasing the bridle OF the robbers
horse. climbed nimbly hy tho atd Of the stirrup
large pistol holster, and, giving the animal the
reils. .ealloped up the lane ut tremendous pace.
4 loud curse, and tue crack OF pistol, which
only caused the horse to increase its speed, fol-
| lowed: but the bullet missed its aim. Susan
| heard it whiz past in dangerous proximity to
| her car, and it then lodged har;nessly in the
! trunk of an old oak by the waysidc.
| Away few Wild1re like the wind, with Susan
| on his hack, and her courage rose cverr moment,
| rs she remembered that old Jerry had wandered
| grazing up the lane, and that it would be i'm
| possible for the thief to ovcrtake her on the
| wel-brcd animal she rode, even il hc attempted
| pursuit For an Instant, gathering OF hoofs
| made her look hastily back; but the noise was
| onlv numbering attempt on the part of old
| Jerry to follow, and keep up with her. Susal's
| hurried ride of aud the shot Of the pistol
| had disturbed his calm gTazings, and he
Llrneu Win 4 clumsy S[lTI DelOtE Tue T0uDcT
| could lay hold on him: and, unincunlbercd By
Susan, baskets, or saddle. trottc:l OF at novel
and excited pace after her. Certain now OF
safety, she urged the beautiful animal she sat
to its utmost speed, and dashed desperately
homeWards
"Why, here's 90, mothcr!,, cried Ben,
rushing into the farm Kitchen full tilt. ''Hcre's
Susy tcaEtng down the lane like mad! I never
thought Jerry could go SO fast. was Oh the
hayrck, and saw her coming. She's some
4sSusan in white! it must have been her
ghost,'' said poor supesstit!ous Mrs. Dale,
putting down acr dishes. and turning pale with
apprehension.
the yard soon uiycsted her mind Of this absurd
notion; for ratt!ng up to the entrance, hardly
rcined in ut the house-door, came tic darT-bay
horse, aeckcd with foam, having galloDeo for ut
least five miles at the top OF his speed, with the
excited. hulf-c1ad girl upon his back.
It was the work OF moment for Ben to seize
the bride, anu hold the animals head, while
Susan dropped, rather than dismountetf, into
her aunt's outstretchcd arms, aut, overcome
by her previous emotion, burst into tears.
"GoodDcss gracious" " cried the good worr-
an, altogether scared, "what ever does it all
mcan?"
moneys gonc!" and she sobbcd still more
t'Poor girl! u said Ben affectionatcly, seeing
the girls almost fainting condition s'Come iu-
doors, Susy."
l1CT nllHt lCn LET 1HL0 LHG k1LcnGIl, anu 3Cu%
though as curious MS kitten, knew enough
about horses to sec that tho one he
held must not be allowed to stand with
his TANKS rcekug from recent exercise; 60 he
led him of to the stablc and, having fastened
and covered him well up, hc returned to the
house quickly as his }etss could carry him. =
At this moment all were startled, as old
Jerry came bunSlinr into the yard with c1at-
tesing, ungainly gallon, stripped OF his usual
accoutrenlcnts He made hts own afay to the
stable; ami Ben, entering the kitchen, found !
Susan sitting by bis grandfather it, tie chimney
corner, while she recounted the adventure she
had met with.
" Ben was right, you sec, and I did meet q
hfchwayman,'' she sad as her spirits began to t
return. ~ But I'm SO gricycd to have lost your
uloucv.n
"What does it matter, so long as you're safe,
my dear!" said old Mr.. Dale, patting her
hand.
WHY, the horse you were riding is worth !
more than what you've lost, I'll be bound,'
cried Bcn. "1t's beauty, grandfather! What /
brarc, clever trick YOU played in riding of on
him, Susy! But why WAS he so ycxed about the |
saddle! Why, OF course he thought there was |
mQney in it.. That's where robbers hide their |
plunder. I'll be bound there's something i'll |!
his saddle. I'll go aud fetch it. Hurray!'
OH ran the lad, and, calling one of the men, |
desired him to unsaddle the animal and groom |
him down Immediately.
The saddlc, when removed, proved too heavy |
Tor Ben to carry into the house, and old Mr. |
Dale, who had followed him to see the horse, |
.1~tt