The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-01-11

hen horses Of various breeds, sizes and
shapes; coils and ponies, grouped in a
place set apart for the purpose.
Tins, pans. crockery and wooden ves-
sels attracted the house yives to the GEN.
ter of the market, and toys, and sweets
stalls kept their venders perpetually on
he alert SO attractive were those wares
10 he lildren OF the community.
Susln having met Thomas, and given
Jerry into his charge, entered the mar
ket, and did her best to effect the sale Of
her ponl'rv; while the hrming-man IN
dertOok The vending of the cows. SUBJ
mitting his bargains to Susan's judgment
before concluding them.
The day soon came to close; all their
marketings were attended with good
Success. and Susan having made her pur
"hases at The diapers an old. old friend
IF her aunt's. at whose house she usually
ldined on these occasions-concealed her
money, to the amount of thirty pounds
in gold and notes, in the secret pockets
of her stays, purposely made to stow
away these treasures and mounted Jerry
for her ride homeward. Very blthe
/ was Susan at the result of her dav's
work. The COWS had fetched capital
price. and the heifer alone remained un-
purchased. Her poultry was all soldand
not a pat of butter remained in her
basket.
Susan determined to return by lane
which wound circuitously from the town
of Hazleion to the borders of Dingle
farm. By this she would avoid the So
ciety of several half tipsy farmers and
rough horsemen, whose proximity was
very undesirable. Jerry stepped out as
was his wont when he scented his stable
in the far distance; and Susan hummed
10 herself as she looked on The beauty of
the evening and the scenery arounp
Birds were singing their soft evening
LAYS; shadows fell darkly across the road
from the overhanging bows the las
rays of the sun cleaned brighilytbrough
every gap in the hedge; and heecy
clouds, tinted with the gay colors of
parrots wing, fioated away eastward in
the pale blue sky.
Susan had not proceeded two miles
when the sound of a horses hoofs struck
on her ear; and, as she turned to look up
the lane TO see who it might be, her
well dressed acquaintance of the morn
ing rode up to her side and greeted her
with polite bow.
"Well met Susan! Whv. you're late
from market | hope you've been sue
cessful."
Pretty WE'LL curtlv replied the girl
who was inclined usually 10 be reserved
to strangers.
"Why, you've an empty basket, ]
perceive. Do you know I was not 50
far off as You might think; ,I"saw you
while Won were making YOUR bargains"
said the gentleman, looking straight at
Susan with knowing look.
Well returned she, raising her eye
brows, al had a notion that caught
sight of YOUR face once; but, seeing il
belonged to "a man in a smock-frock, of
course took no heed
The stranger laughed a there was
something in his manner made SUI
SAN feel uncomfortable.
He proceeded to ask her numerous
qrIestions. to which she gave at lass only
nonosyllabic answers; FOX the courteous
manner of Mr. Hamilton St John, which
had so attracted her in the morning had
given place to an unpleasant familiarity
of tone, that grated upon the girls sense
of refinement; and she hoped that her
disinclination to converse would present
ly induce him TO ride on. and leave her
He soon remarked on her taciturnity.
and asked her why she was so silent.
81 don't care to talk much to stran
gers" she replied.
"Bu: / have told you my name, and
you may judge when you see a gentle
man. said he.
HOY do know that you are gen
tleman?" asked Susan bluntly. Il
think its very bad manners to ask so
many questions. At all events, it's not
the way simple folks are tanght."
Who do yon think l can be. then.
Susan, my dear?" inquired the horseman
insinuatingiy.
"You may be highwsyman for
aught | know" courageously exclaimed
the girl.
Her companion laughed loudly and
long; and Susan in angar, and d.spera-
ton at his pertinacity, endeavored to
urge poor old Jerry to better pace.
What good guesser you are. my
dear,' cried the horseman. Suppose
take you at your word, and ask you
after the fashion of real highwa, men, to |
let me look at your purse
Il don't carry a purse" replied the
girl, now somewhat alarmed. and beliey-
ing that her suspicious as to his strange |
behavior were not without foundation
"Do you see this?" said the man in a
jeering tone, drawing a small pistol from
his breast pocket. sits little instru
ment l carry, TO induce people to tell
the truth. Perhaps it'll make you do 30.
Cume, ont with your money he added
IN rough voice. catching hold Of Jerry's
bride a; Inc same mJment.
Susan was a spirited girl, but she
turned pale. They had arrived at part
Of The road where it sans between HI ;h
hedses and rising ground on either
side hid it entirely from view.
It was becoming dark and. as Susan
looked right and LEFT, she heard nothing
tut the faint breeze among the trees.
and the chirp of The grasshcnper in the
long reeds at the roadside, i all idea
Of assistance from c..snal Passenger she
knew TO be almost hopeless. Though
anite faint with terror she rallied all her
courage. and determined 10 brave out
the astemp: of he man to rob her other
money
For one moment hope revived. The
stranger dismounted and passed his bri
die over the low. overhanging bough Of
an elder tree. and Susan took the oppor-
tunity to whip Jerry into something
IL, .-... L.. nhx had rat r,rncoadad |