Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-31
STRANGER THAN FICTION.

In the autumn of 1917, while the
woods were bright with the variegated
hues which follow the light touches of
early frost, mounted traveller was
pursuing his way through dark, broad,
lonely forest. in the western part of
New York. he had ridden three miles
since seeing 8 human habitation, and
he had two to go before he could get
sight OF another. He was descending a
all into a gloomy looking valley,
through which flowed q shallow but
swift running stream; and on reaching
the water he permitted his thirsty
beast to stop and drink.
At that moment a man came out
from cluster of bushes into the road
or horse path, on tie other side of the
stream. This man was dressed like
hunter, and carried rifle on his shout
der. In his appearance there was moth
ing to indicate hostility or wicked de-
sign. He was of medium size, COM
.pactly built, with intellectual features
and 6 certain air of gentility-seeming
rather as one abroad from some settle
ment 1sr s. days sport than profes.
sional hunter. All this the mounted
traveller carefully noted as he crossed
the. streasa to continue his journey, and
when they came together q pleasant
salutation was exchanged.
Zine weather for travelling sir" re-
allied the man with the gun.
And for hunting, also, [ should sup
pose." smiled the other on the horse.
Yes, there is game enough" re-
turned the other, but [ am not good
hunter and can show only one bear for
my days work, thus far, and that is al
most useless to me, because I have no
means to take it away. / would will
3ingly give a dollar for the use of q
horse like yours for couple of hours.
IF you could spare five minutes or so
would like you to see the bear; it is
emily back behind the bushes, some two
hundred yards from here"
ct will not only look at it," replied
the traveller, dismosnting and fastening
his house. "but is not too heavy Twill
take it along for you, seeing 1 am going
your way"
The hunter thanked him in a most
cordial manner, and then, as if to make
himself agreeable and keep up the con-
versation, inquired where the other was
from, whittier journeying, etc.; and
learned IN reply that the latter resided
In Albany, was merchant in good bus
mess, and was travelling partly for his
health and partly with a view for max
ing an extensive land purchase for fu-
Grlre 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 wood, "and
ROW will show you as fine and fat q
beast as you ever saw. Observe where
II point with my rife"
He stepped back some eight or ten
feet, deliberately raised the piece to his
eye, and pointed the muzzle directly at
the head of the traveller. There was q
CASA and loud report, and the victim
fell like log, his face covered with
blood.
This might or might not have been
I the first crime committed by the man
\ with the rifle. But as the traveller fell
Nze ride slipped shrough his hands, and
he shock violently from heak to foot;
yet he ran on to his victim and hurri-
eddy robbed him of his purse, pocket
book, a gold watch and chain, some
curious seals, diamond breast-pin and
q diamond ring, which he fairly tore
from his finger. Then he dragged his
body into the thicket, picked up his
rifle, plunged madly through the bush
es TO the road, mounted the travellers
herse, and dashed away from the awful
scene.
1--WE must now suppose a lapse of
twenty years.
In the spring Of 1862, there lived in
the city Of New York banker and a
millionaire whom We shall call Stephen
Edwards. lie owned a palatial man.
sion, splendieily furnished, in the very
heart Of the town, and he and his wife
were among the leaders of the fashion
able world. They had beautiful
daughter, just turned to sweet sixteen,
who was about to be married to a foreign
nebleman, and great preparations were
making for the happy event.
One day, about this period, as the
great banker was converslng with q
gentleman from another city, who called
to see him on business, he observed the
latter turn suddenly very pale and be-
gin to tremble.
I" My dear sir" he said, in his usual
ton g Of of-hand sympathy, "what is
the matter2 Are you ILL.,"
CA little faint, sir, but nothing to
cause ALARM" replied the other, hurri-
edly. az ann subject to similar spells.
N YOU would be kind enough to excuse