The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-02-20

| thlcket, and, stripping him of his outer gar
ments, REPLACED his own Herewith; then,
mounting Roam, rode off into the woods with
Bob's clothes and money
The robber was afraid to venture far till
night set in. Then, under the cover of dark
ness, he hurried forward, hoping before day
| light to be well out of reach
| Soon river intercepted his flight 1t was
swollen by recent rains, and the rapid current
made its passage dangerous to those unaccus-
| toned to the ford.
"Surey this must be the right place" NUT
tered the robber; 81 observed it closely yes
terday. Yes, this is the spot"
Poor Roam recoiled and SHED, but his rider
spurred him on.
\ headlong plunge buried horse and rider
| beneath the surging waters. The two came
| up again, but separated. With violent strug-
| gle the horse clambered up the bank, but the
man was swept swiftly down, vainly contend
| ing against the dark and angry flood
Days after the body of the drowned man
was found where it had been borne by the
current. The features were past recognition,
but it was identified by the garments as that
of Bob Lindsay
Poor Mary was heart-brollen. With all
Bobs fauis-or rather in spite of his one
faut--she loved him dearly. And when the
funeral was over, she sat down in her desc
late home, and mourned and would not be
consolcd.
4 Y y
When Bob awoke from his stupor, and dis
covered the plight he was in-money, horse,
and raiment all gone--it is impossible to de-
scribe his remorse and shame
81 can never look Mary in the face again '
he exclaimed, "Dodd will be ptiless. Her
home, which she loves so well, will he sold
over her head. No. | can never look her in
the face again.
Clothing himself, perforce, in the rags left
by the robber, he wandered on aimlessy, and
for many days lived like any other tramp
But at last n change came over his spirit
1t was cowardly to desert Mary thus. He
would go back and bear his share of the
trouble, and as much of hers as he could
Once for all, he would be man, and this time
there should be no slip.
And he again turned toward his home. AT
length he reached the river, and as he walked
along the margin To find the ford, which lay
suinC way above, his eyes fell Oil al obiec!
partly imbedded in the mud. He caught it
up eagerly and examined it. An exclamation
of joy burst from his lips, and he pressed for
ward with rcdoubled speed. He soon reach
ed the ford which he passed without difficult
~ tfui the water had fallen considerably, and
at nghtfall was at his own door, At the
sound of words within, he paused on the
threshold.
"If could ever love another after poor
Bob" said Marys broken voice. lit would
never he you, John Dodd, who ought to be
ashamed to use my hour Of sorrow to insult
me-"
you shall either marry me or leave this
house" returned the harsh tones of John
Dodd.
"Shcll do neither villain " thundcrcd Bob
bursting in like Il shot.
Dodd started MS at the sight ola ghost but
in an instant Mary's arms were about Bob's
neck.
ooh, Bob, Bob y she cried 81 thought you
were dead and buried. First, old Roam came
home without you: then they found man
drowned in your clothes, and we buried him
for you"
Bob's story soon dispellcd the mystery
Dodd ground his teeth with fury.
I'll sell you out all the same" he said
sptefully,
Not so fast answered Bob; give got the
money to pay your paltry mortgage"
"Why ! thpn"bt Ton were robbed ~
30 was, but | found my pockeJ-DoUh an
right to-day where it was washed from the
thiefs pocket"
Bob paid off the mortgage, and never drank
again and now he and Mary are the happiest
couple, and one of the best to do in all that
country.