The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-11-26


Take those rings off hor fingers.
How she struggles Isn't that a watch 2
Snail on to 1t. Pull out those earrings
$ 1 can't-don't know how they are
fastenedp
Tear 'em out, then-you; and hurrJ
At the moment when the robber
grasped the earring to pull it rudely
through the tender flesh, a heavy clur
descended crashing upon his shoulder.
Hardy was awake. He had seized the
club, which had dropped upon the
bridge. and was welding 1t with mer.
ciless desperation that only the protec.
tion OF so precious charge could have
inspired. The robbers turned upon him
five in number.
Quick as cat, and before they could
recover from the surprise of an attack
by a man who, to all appearances, had
been killed, he felled another with O
heavy blow upon the head. The re.
naming four rushed upon him before
he had time to raise the bludgeon again,
overpowered him, and bore him down.
The club was wrenehed from his grasp
after desperate struggle, and laid with
deadening blows and with terrible effect
upon his face and breast.
One of the ruffians drew knife tc
plunge it into Hardy's breast, but the
young man struck it from his hand
seized it, and drove 1t into the throat OF
the nearest robber. This man fell with
a gurgling noise, strangling with blood
Hardy struck about him wildly with
and couple of lips erinned sardonicalfv
They belonged to Tarantula Joe.
As soon as the couple got under tn,
shadow of The wall of Notre Dame
Hardy placed Sophronia's arm within
his own. She did not object. He enter
tanned her marve,ously well. Hi
knowledge of the world was extensive
and his education good. She began t,
think he was an angel in disguise.
At the east end of the bridge ther,
stood bill board. When the two
passed this, and were well on the bridge
a shadowy form, scarcely perceptible il
the darkness, emerged from behind thi.
board and crept noiselessly after them
This sneaking person carried club IL
his hand. Stepping rapidly behint
Hardy, he raised his deadly weapon ant
brought it down with u heavy blow or
the young mans head. There was &
dull, crashing thud, and Hardy sanl
with groan. There was q slight con
traction Of the muscles, a gurgle, and al
was quiet.
The girl heard the blow, and saw hel
defender stretched at her feet. She wa.
instantly rendered powerless and speech
less by sickening terror. Immediatel,
powerful and brutal hand closed upon
her throat, stopping her breath, Othel
shadows emerged from the darkness, 9
dozen strong hands seized her, and before
she had time to offer q resistance that
"Will YOU let me know tomorrow
81 don't know"
"Please do"
"Perhaps. Here is a street-car
Good night"
Then she did a very foolish thing
She threw her arms around his neck
and kissed him. He left, doubly con-
queror. ~
There was tremendous excitemen
over the affair. The police were in
formed as soon as the girls father coult
hear the terrible story and reach thu
police station. The officers could fine
only a quantity of blood on the bridge
the body having been removed. Rigor
GUS search for several days failed TO re
veal tie identity of the robbers. Sew.
eral arrests were made, and the strict
est vigilance maintained, but without
avail.
Another mysterious development wa.
the disappearance of Hardy. He could
not be found. However, on the SECOND
day the old family physician of the
Morris household came painting up the
walk in great excitement, and exclaimed
to the girl:
=" l have found himr'
She turned pale with excitement and
"where Is hep" she asked, breath.
lessly.
Jump into my buggy, and I'll take
you to him."
She did so. They found him in q
small, dilapidated adobe house on Mar
ket street, with q Spanish family. He
was delirious, and in high fever. The
girl sat down by the bed, took his hot
hand in hers, and before the old doctor
knew what was coming next, she COM
menced to cry. Then she kissed Hardy's
Gnd.
The old man took her home, and she
came twice a day to see him, bringing
aer father or mother, and always taking
some delicacy, and doing whatever a
kind and generous heart could suggest.
1radually he recovered, and as soon as
DE could be moved he was taken to her
home. There he became entirely well.
By his patience and gentleness he won
The hearts of every one-except the
girls. Hers was won already.
Time slipped away. Hardy was
established in business by the grateful
tather. Poor old Tarantula Joe, who,
unacccuntably, seemed to be a great
iavoIite with the young man, was al
lowed to sit in the Kitchen on the night
of the wedding of Sophronia Morris to
John Hardy-a brilliant affair, by the
way:
A few months ago Hardy was reading
the morning paper. when "A bright ray
Of sunshine came in through the door.
1t was Hardy's wife, the happiest and
proudest woman on the Alameda.
"My dear" he said, have we lived
happy these two yearsP"
why, John-what question:
And you have never regretted the
persistence OF a seedy stranger on Santa
Clara street two years and half agop"
81 regret nothing, John, ana you
know it. didn't know what life was
until met you. But. OIL that was a
terrible night, wasn't it, Johnp"
Awful" he calculated, with a broad
look Of mischief in his eyes.
"Wha. makes you look that way,
JohnP You are so provoking?"
81 am villain, dear"
What do you meanP"
"Do you remember the robbers2"
81 think ! do! They nearly killed
you'll"
"They were friends of mine, dear"
"John" she exclaimed. stunned.
Absolutely true. Old Tarantula
Joe and l put up the job, &c that / could
clean 'em out, become hero, and then
marry you."
Sne stared at him. astonished, shocked
and incredulous.
"John"
"lt's fact" he said. laughing. as he
saw her anger rising.
Che xHaa rtfarlu an, naGad Tban a