Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-25

country merchant IN the nelgnDOrnOOd.
and happened, at that identical time, to
be looking for lust such young man as
David Swan. Had David formed way
side acquaintance with the daughter, he
would have become the fathers clerk,
and all else in natural succession. So
here again had good fortune-the best
of fortunes-stolen 80 near that her gar
ments brushed against him; and be
knew nothing Of the matter.
The girl was hardly out OF sight when
two men turned aside beneath the ma
pie shade. Both had dark faces set of
BY cloth caps, which were drawn down
aslant over their brows. Their dresses
were shabby, yet had a certain smart
ness. These were a couple OF rascals
who get their living by whatever the
devil sent them, and now in the interim
of other business, had staked the joint
profits of their next piece OF villainy on
a game OF cards, which was to be deci-
ded here under the trees.
But, finding David asleep by the
spring, one OF the rogues whispered to
his fellow
"Hist! Do you see the bundle under
his head ?" .
The other villain nodded, winked and
leered.
"I'n bet you horn OF brandy" said
the first, "that the chap has either a
pocket book, or else he has a snug little
hoard of small change slowed away
among his shirts. And il not there we
shall find it in his pantaloons pocket"
"But how if he wakes !" said the
other.
His companion thrust aside his waist
coat, pointed 70 the handle OF dirk and
nodded.
$50 be it " muttered the second vii
lain.
They approached the unconscious
David, and while one pointed the dag
ger towards the heart, the other began
TO search the bundle beneath his head
their two faces, grim, wringled and
CHASTITY with guilt and fear, bent over
their victim, looking terrible enough to
be mistaken for fiends, should he sud
denly awake. Nay, had the villains
glanced aside into the spring, even they
might not know themselves as reflected
there. But David Swan had never
worn a more tranquil aspect, even when
asleep on his mothers breast.
IL must take away the bundle" whis-
pered one.
"But if he stirs, I'll strike" muttered
the other.
But at this moment a dog scenting
along the ground, came in beneath the
maple trees and gazed alternately at
each of those wicked men and then at
the quiet sleeper. He then Tapped out
of the fountain.
"Pshaw !" said one villain, I'VE can
do nothing now. The dogs master
must be close behind"
Lets take drink and be of, said
the other.
The man with the dagger thrust the
weapon in his pocket and drew forth a
pocket pistol, but not OF that kind which
kills by a single discharge. 1t was a
flask OF liquor, with block-tin tumbler
screwed upon the mouth. Each drank
a comfortable dram and left the spot,
with so many jests and such laughter at
their unaccomplished wickedness, that
they might be said to have gone on their
way rejoicing. In few hours they had
forgotten the whole affair, nor once i'm
agined that the recording angel had
written down the crime OF murder
against their souls in letters as durable
as eternity.
As for David Swan he slept quietly,
neither conscious of the shadow of death
when it hung over him, nor of the glow
of renewed life when that. shadow was
withdrawn.
He slept, but no longer quietly as at
first. An hours repOse had snatched
from his elastic frame the WEAKNESS
with which many hours of toll had bur
dened it. Now he stirred; now moved
his lips, without a sound now talked, in
an inward tone, TO the MONDAY spectres
of his dream. But noise of wheels
came rattling louder and louder along
the road until it dashed through the
mist of David's slumber; and
there was the stage coach. He started
up with all his ideas about him.
"Halloo, driver! Take passenger -
shouted he.
Groom on top" shouted the driver.
Up mounted David and bOwled away
merely toward Boston, without so much
as parting glance at that fountain Of
dreamlke vicissitudes. He knew not
that phantom of wealth had thrown
a golden hue upon its waters, nor that
one of love had sighed softly to their
nor that one Of death had
threatened to crimson him with his
blood all in the brief hour since he lay
down to sleep.
Sleeping or walking, we hear not the
airy footsteps of the strange things that
almost happen.