The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-09-15

Debby thanked him again, and
went across to the apothccary :.
Here she made known her wishes,
but with no better success. The
apothecary looked at the bill and
then opening his pocketbook, and
discovered that he could not change
it. As she turned to 90 out she en-
countered a man behind her, who
seemed to have been looking over
her shoulder. She looked up at
him. and recognized the tall man
with black whiskers, whom she had
noticed at the hotel Leaving the
druggists shop, she abseryed a large
dry goods store, and thought she
would try her luck there. She was
still unsuccessful. rs she was leav-
mo the store she met the tail man
with the black whiskers again. He
looked smiling upon her and asked
her to let him see the bill, for he
thought probably he could change
it. After looking at it he returned
4 II to her again. observing, if it had
been city bill he would have
changed it, but he didn't like to
change a country bill
Having tried two or three other
places without affecting her object.
Debbv found that she must give it
m for she was now told that it
probably would not bc possible for
her to qe- it changed till the bank
sbouId he opened the next day.
Nofbino further remained therefore
tbot She could do, and she copclud-
cd 10 return immcdiatly home. As
she rode out Of the hotel yard she
observed again the tall man with
the black whiskers standing at the
corner of the house, and apparently
watching her movements. She
could not but thing he had consid-
cradle impertinent curiosity, but
sba rode ON and was no sooner out
of siobt tban he was out of her mind,
for her own perplexine disappoint-
ment enorossed all her thoughts.
She nassed over the first two miles
Of her bomeward journey almost un-
conscious of the distance, so busy
was she turning over in her mind
v3rious exped;ents to remedy the
failure of her present undertaking.
Sometimes she thought she must re-
return again to the bank the next
morning; but ,he journey was rather
more of an undertaking than she
had anticiDatcI. and she shrunk a
little from the idcaof q repetition ol
It. She though. OF several Of their
ncighbors. of whom she presumed 1t
might be possible to borrow ley;
dollars for short time. But then
she knew her father was so strenu-
ouslv opposed 10 borrowing. that he
would on no account allow it to be
done and would never forgive her
should he find out that she had
done it without his knowledge or
consent.
Her revcrics were at last broken
off by the sound of Il horse coming
up at a rather quick trot behind her.
She looked over her shoulder, and
there was the tall man with black
whiskers. mounted ON a large and
beautiful black horse. within a few
wards of her. She shuddercd little
.at first at the idea OF having his COM
panv through the woods, but as he
came up he accosted her with such
n bland smile and such gentle and
easv manners. that she soon recov-
ed from her trepidation and rode on
with her wontcd composure.
sRather a Iongroad Miss said the
stranger. looking at the dark woods
that lay in the great valley before
them. 'How far have YOU to go,
Miss ,"
Seven or eight miles, said Deb
bv. hesitatine little.
Il am happy to find company on
the road. said the stranger.
for it Is rather lonesome riding
alone. trust you'll allow me to be
your protector through the lonely
woods.
Debbv thanked him but said,
she was never lonesome and never
afraid. Still in lonely place it
was more agreeable to have COM
pany.
Did voumake out to getyour bill
changed ~ said the stranger.
No" said Dolby. 4 tried till /
was tired. but / could not find any
one to change 1t. l don'tknow but /
will have to come back tomorrow,
for 1t Is impossible to get it changed
in our neighborhoOd.
The stranger made himself very
agreeable in his conversation, and
Debbv began to think that her feel
incs ut first had done him injustice,
and shetricdwhat She could to make
amends bv being social and agreea-
bic in her turn. \ couple OF miles
more had been passed in this way,
not unpleasantly, and they had now
reached the deepest and darkest
.art of the valley through which the
road lay. The heavy woods were
above them and around them. and
not a sound was to be heard except
the murmering of a little brook they
had lust passed. The stranger sud-
denly rode close 10 her side, and
seizing the rein other bride told her
at once she must give him the hun
dred dollar bill.
Now i this carrying the Joke too
far. said Debby, trying to laugh !:
in such place as this too, its
enough to frighten one
1t Is no joke, at all said the
( stranger we 90 no further till you
give me the money
Debbv trembled and turned pale.
/ for she thought she saw something
I in the strangers eyes that looked a.
though he was in earnest
But surely YOU don't mean any
such thing?@ said Debby, trying TO
pull the rein from his hand. It's
too bad to try and frighten me 50
here.
1--WE mustn't daily about It, said
+ the stranger. holdingtherein tightly ;
-'vou see [ am in earnest by this,
u