The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-10-19

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Specialize marriage portion to give with her
hand"
perhaps you will think more favorably
about it, said the lover. III speak with
you again"
.'-All right, Mr.. Masters
Harry aud Maude were very fond of each
other, and now talked over the matter very
seriously. Maude could not blame her
father, and did not like herself the idea of
going to Harry without proper portion to
contribute toward their joint partnership
ill domestic life
Never mind, Harry said the hand
some young girl ELLEN will soon he mar
ried: L have pretty good reason for know
ing"
"Ah, but then your father says he wants.
time to pick UP a marriage portion for you,
and that vii! take TIN ee or four yeais, per-
haps."
| That is a good while, is it not, Harry?"
said Maude, just blushing little, for fear
that it sounded forward and bold.
Its ages =! said the young fellow
"IhInk of wai'ing three yeaIs-why we
shall be old folks by that time ~
Not quite SO bad as that" said Maude.
IN sure my haiT will be gray by that
| time ~
Nonsense, Harry Now you are jok-
| ing"
| was never more in earnest in my life,''
/ said he, as he stole kiss from her pretty
! lips, and ran away, SO as not to hear her
chide him for his boldness.
"Maude, " said her father, coming into
! the house from tie barn, Il wish you
| would ride the sorrel mare into Easton,
| and get this hundred dollar bill changed at
/ the bank. The woIkmon have got done
| with the roofing of the barn and / want
| to pay lhem off lo-night.'
| Very well, father. Let John put the
side saddle on, and | will be ready in five
| minutes"
The sorrel mare brought up to the
/ door, and Maude was soon on her way at
All easy hand gallop toward Easton. She
! had excellent seat, aud was a good
! horsewoman. As she knew this well, she
would not have objected to have Harry see
! her just now but he had gone few mo-
ments before in an opposite direction.
When Maude got INTO Easton she rode
directly to the bank, but was unfortunate
| euOugh to find that it was already closed.
| AT er a few moments thought she resolved
! to try and get the note changed at the gro
! GERS, or at some of the other stores, and
| went immediately to do So. Fate seemed
against her, for 30 one had small change
enough To accommodate Miss Henderson.
A. one of the stores where she stopped,
a very gentemanly- looking person took out
! his pockctbOok and said he thought lie
could change it for lIer, aud she handed
| him the bill, but lie returned IT, saying, at
| ter all, he had not 50 much small money.
| He seemed To regret this, however, and
even followed Maude To the door and as
| sisted her to iemount her horse,
She was forced to give up her errand,
she did not like 20 run about among stran-
! gers asking them to change her 4 bill, es-
pecially no one seemed able to do SO.
! She, thei efore. tnrned her horses head
once more toward home, Scarcely had she
| passed the outskirts of the town when she
was overtaken by the stranger who had
! spoken with her in the last store, and who
| at first Thought he could change her bill.
ie mounted upon a fine looking bay
horse, and saluted her respectfully as he
came alongside"
did you get your bin changed?" he
asked.
"No; small bills seemed scarce,'' she
replied.
DO you live near here ?'
| About five miles off,
''Quite ride"
''Oh, we don't mind five miles in the
| country"
You are an excellent rider
81 have ridden since | was six years
DID," she said ''but my sister Ellen is a
bet Ell rider than | am"
"You are generous to admit it, said The
! stranger.
"Why, ils only the truth, " she answered
frankly.
After they had passed over about two
miles, they came to very lonely piece of
| road, quite removed from any dwelling
houses. Still, as the stranger appeared So
gentemanly, aud had addi essed her SD po-
htely, she had not the least suspicion of
any evil intention on his part.
Presently, he said suddenly, Il will
hai.k you for that bill.
"What?" said she, half smiling.
"Please to give me that bill
"What do you mcan?' asked Maude.
"Just what say ~ he replied. suddenly.
Il shall do no such thing" she answer
ed firmly
Il am sorry to draw a pistol upon
lady," he continued, suiting the action to
the word, but must have that huudred
dollar bill at at once"
'sDo YOU mean to rob me ~
II must have the mouey -
1t was with difficulty she could believe
the man WAS in earnest but when he now
cooked his pistol and held it toward her
with one hand, while he extended the other
for the bill, she was forced to yield To the
necessity of the situation. She
bi ave hearted girl, and even now she did
not turn pale nor tremble i'll the least /; but
saw she could not help herself, and 50 made
| the best of it.
| just as she held out the bill to him a
sudden puff of wind blew it INTO ihe road,
andecairied it several yaIds from them. -
The stranger alighted to get it, and, quick
as thought, Maude struck her horse smart
blow, in order TO get out of the rSeber's
power. The sorrel mare was a spirited
little creature, and sprang Into smart
gallop at once while the strangers horse,
which had been standing beside her, also
started off at full speed in hcr company.
Bang went the robbers pistol after
them, having only the effect to increase
tie speed of the flying horses, DO b of
whom were now on the dead run. Maude
did not care how fast she rode, the sorrel
was as easy as cradle at that speed, and
in ten minutes she dashed into hei fathers S
yard. followed by the rideriess horse.
Her story was soon told, and her father
was with difficulty prevented from starting
| after the robber with his pistol and rifle,
but lie knew Sbat the scoundrel would nat