The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-08-28
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THE ROAD AGENT.

My route, which was the only road be
tween the towns of Ireton and Chester,
lay for thirty miles through an almost I'M
broken wilderness. The track had been
badly cut to pieces by recent rains, and
my progress was much slower than was
either safe or pleasant. Sunset found me
still many miles from my destination. and
l began to reflect on the probability of a
nights lodging in the woods in no COM
Portable frame of mind.
My horse stumbled so constantly in the
increasing darkness that l was forced at
length to allow him to pick his way at a
slow walk. had arrived at a particular
ly rough part of the road, and halted to
make sure that no pitfall lay hidden in
in the obscurity beyond, when a form
sprang out of the bushes and stood beside
me. In the dull light | could perceive
that it was a small, slightly built man,
clad in shabby garments with broad
slouched hat concealing his face, and that
he held pistol in unpleasant proximity
What do you want?" I asked with
what composure could muster.
'Your money!" was the answer. "Fling
it down into the road and ride on"
The voice was singularly sweet for a
mana ruffian at that-and there was a
tremor in it that belied his threatening
air.
1.-The man is coward" said to my
self; then aloud, Suppose refuse to
comply with your very reasonable request,
what then2"
81 shall blow your brains out" was the
reply. Throw me your money, and be
quick about it,"
raised nv hand from my side as if to
comply with his demand; but instead of
doing so suddenly lifted my ridingwhip
and brought it down upon the temple Of
my waylayer. The blow was a powerful
one, and he rolled under my horses feet
without sound. Springing from nv
saddle to grapple with him, | found him
PROSTATE and insensible, with the blood
flowing copiously from an ugly wound in
the forehead.
In the act of lifting his head upon nv
arm, his hat fell of, and coil Of luxuri-
ant brown hair fell over my arm. Much
astOnished at this, bent over the life.
less body. and beheld a pale, beautiful
face, with small, delicate features, whose
expression, even in Inconsistencies, was
that of mingled sadness and despair.
My assailant was woman, young and
bearing traces of refinement about her,
despite her rough male attire.
After little search ! discovered the
weapon with which she had threatened
me. II was an old pistol, broken and
unloaded. With an impulse that l did
not stop to question, | thrust in my
pocket. Then l examined the wound
had inflicted. Il was slight one, but
would leave a lifelong scar upon her
temple,
What should such q woman be doing
in this desolate region2 What crisis Of
misfortune had driven her to an act SO
dangerous and unwomanly? There was
not time to reflect upon the matter, for she
stirred slightly, and faint moan of pain
came through her pale lips.
With q sense of deep remorse for the
violence / had done the poor girl, bound
up her wound with my handkerchief and
slipped a good portion of the money had
about me into the pocket of her coat. L
felt that her need must be desperate in
deed.
After a moment her eyes opened, and
she eazed wildly around.
"What has happenedp" she said, con.
fusedly. Where is my fatherp"
Then she gazed at me wonderingly.
"Oh, / remember" she cried, IN al
heart-rending accent. "Oh, sir, if you
knew why did it! Let me go to my father
pray, pray, let me gc!"
'You shall" said /, soothingly; 81 will
take you to him, for you are not able to
walk alone. Poor child! it was a mistake,
and was very brutal. Say no more, but
lean on me-"
She obeyed in silence, and flinging my
horses bride over my arm. led her down
the road until she paused before q misera-
bic hut, whose battered aspect and un-
lighted windows gave sorrowful evidence
of the poverty Of the inmates.
As released her she suddenly seized |
my hand, and, gazing up into my face
broke into a passion of
tears.
81 understand ycu," said. mo one
shall ever know what has occurred to- |
night from my lips. No wrong has been
done, except through my violence; and l |
hope that You will forgive. Now 60 to |
your father"
Waving my hand in farewell, sprang |
upon my horse and rode away.
Cautious inquiry in the next town clio
tied the fact that the hut had seen was |
by an old man of the name of |
and his daughter Julia. They |
had come from the East some three years
previous. and had evidently seen better /
days. Even now, misersbly poor as they |
we're, they preserved q dingy, aristocratic
seclusion, 50 that their neighbors knew
little about them and cared less. How
hey lived my informant could not guess.
The father had been in feeble health for a
ong time, yet the daughter, a fragile, DEL
cate girl, had found the means to support /
MIN.
i had learned one of those means
md went awav from the town with a
leeper respect for Julia Windsor than /
lad ever felt for woman.
Two years later found me permanently
established in New York. | had nearly
my adventure with the road
gent, and should have forgotten it al.
ogether but for the old pistol which still
One evening, during a reception at the
house of a friend, observed among the
,uests . lady whose fsee seemed Strangely