The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-11-20

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Nee ask fne 10 tell yoa 4 story. hfh'
- / kbow of 90 better way 10 whieb 70
spegd tbe long evening" before %, vi
90 - e. one .ooa8illon. Eseh muss Try
bis haud Al Il when | an shrougb.
We we're wes,heT bound ala rade
westtrn inc, aluott upoa the verge OF
eivlsiastlen. Ths day jast past bad aeon
$ stormy ore. aud we hsd got through .
- besi wc cou.a Now, - the darkHess
came Is early. ana the ionE evening
doomed 90 bsfore os. We esihersi abont
lae roaring fre q tage .as. which barn
brswy upon tbe heaal sai prepared
rass d away b stqr' ielHu- device
,o ehicb traycIers iA oag sbusl,pa art ai.
wa pmue % resort.
Taeo ota Who had been appesIed g ioF
u.e Gfst for was man Of some iuty
wears u sge. WHO had followed The occu'
patton OF peddler he bad The beet
turnout 10 The stable which thst part oil
The county hAd ever seen 10 his iine'
though be bad told ns that once be bad for
years carried pack on bis back But by
bis own exertions aud Industry be bad
risen above that now, and bad snug
sum laid W against The time when be
should give mp bis business, and take the
remaining years Of bis life 10 an easier
way. We gave our consent to bis condi'
lions, end he at once commenced bis
story.
Ills now nearly fifteen ears ago tina,
the adventure betel me which ! am
about to relate.
II was before gave up my pack for
horse and cart, though ] had already
made up my mind thst could afford l.
was travelling through a wiid.seclion o
country wilder, II possible, than ,hi'
about MS here. Between the selilement'
there we're long stretches OF forest. iilet
with wild beasts, aud now and then yot
came upon band OF stroiling savages
Besides these, there was the usnsl elias
OF villains, horse thieves and reneesdes
who would not hesitate to take man
life, II they thought IL TO their advantage
TO do so.
One night stopped at tavern whicl
. stood ir the midst OF little settle
ment OF not more than dozen leg houses
| had been the round Of them, aut
drove what bargains could, aud In th'
, morning ! was 10 20 .on at asearly Al
hour as possible, for learned that ! ha'
neatly score OF miles to go before
should reach the next settlement.
: In the evening there was assembled a
The bar room all Of The male denizens 0
the place, aud among them was one whom
J at once set down as villain. His look
plainly showed that there was little b
would hesitate 10 DO If in the end Their
was anything 10 gain Again aud Sgai'
caught him looking toward my pack
which had placed 10 one corner of th
I room, near the bar; and at once fei
, sure he was looking at me a. though cal
culating whether or no should be dan
Rerous antagonist in case he should ro
me oft. The more | saw of him th
less liked bis Looks, and felt relieves
when at last he left the room for home.
was up. betmes the next morning
aud as soon as had fuisbed m
breakfast | started. AZ lett the settle
ment behind, could not help glanciD
about me to make sure that the man c
whom had formed so poor an opinio
was not following me; but be was not I
= be seen. Hardly any Que wasstiring out {
doors and there was little Of life excer
about the tavern, or where the whit
Jfmoke ourel up above The ROOF Of cabins
Once WIlhlnt the forest, Hurried o
desiring tn put Us great distance as
could bs.Eeeawe 0nd lhe settlement !
as litae time as possible.
A feeHog Of danger oppressed me
which found impossible 10 shake ofl
| am not naturally timid or given TO pr'
sentiments, as many are; but npon ihi
occasion there was sort Of tear upo
me Of which | could not rid myself, II
as hard as ] might, lfIE 8
All The morning kept on 10 this wal
aud by noon ielt that ] had put such
distance between myself and the settl,
ment that had no longer cause to fer
any Que had left behind me.
As had learned from the landlord th'
should mol be able 10 reach any bums
hAbitation before niehlfall, had take
my dinner along with me, and now, fee
Ing the need Of 1t, sat down by the eds
OF clear stream which crossed the ros
and commenced my noontide meal. On
man who had walked as bad done tn
morning can know the relish | had 4
the bread and meat which had been pr
yided for me, and when The generous so
ply bad disappeared | almost wished th
there had been more.
y The extra exeF,ions bad made 81
the hearty meal Of which bad partake
- made me sleepy. and. placing my pa
: ander my bead, closed my eyes, thin
lag would take few inmates rest
! lore goiBg onwsfd.
iId not mean TO 70 TO sleep, yet
FIVE minutes was uncsnscians Of al it
was passfDg around me. How l0ug
~ slcp, know not. II might have been
few minutes. or il might have been
~ hour, bat sweke at .la.i with r's
OF and a sclise Of some great danger hangi
over me. did not Start np o. IND
: baud or foot A cer,sin something,
could not tell whst seemed 10 chain
he down.
opened my eyes and looked about
bot cav So,hinx and wAs iasi on