Morris tribune., 1881-01-06
"How soundly he sleeps" murmured the

girl ~ ~
She departed, but did not trip along the
road so lightly rs when she came.
Now the girls father was thriving coun-
try merchant in the neighborhood, and hap
pened ut that Identical time to be looking
for just such young man7as David Swan
Had David formed wayside acquaintance
with the daughter, he would have become
the fathers clerk and all else in natural sue
cession. So here again had good fortune
the best of fortunes-stolen SO near that
her garments brushed against MIN, and he
know nothing of the matter.
The girl was hardly out of sight when two
men turned aside beneath the maple shade.
Both had dark faces set off by cloth caps,
which were drawn down aslant over their
brows. Their dresses were shabby, yet had
certain smartness. These were a couple
of rascles who got their living by whatever
Satan sent them, and now in the interim of
other business had staked the joint profits
of their next peice of villainy on game of
cards, which was to have been decided here
under the trees.
But finding David asleep by the spring,
one of the rogues whispered to his fellow:
Hist do you see the bundle under his
head?'
The other villain nodded, winked and
leered.
'Tll bet you horn of brandy" said the
first, ''that the chap has either pocket
book or else he has snug little hoard Of
small change slowed away among his shirts.
And if not there, We shall tindit in his pant
aloons pocket"
But how if he wakes?" said the other.
His companion thrust aside his waist
coat, pointed to handle of a dirk and
nodded.
so be it, muttered the second villain.
They approached the unconscious David
and while one pointed the dagger toward his
heart, the other began to search the bundle
beneath his head-their two faces grim,
wrinkled and CHASTITY with drink and fear,
bent over their victim, looking terrible
enough to be mistaken for fiends should he
suddenly awake. Nay, had the williams
glanced aside into the spring, even they
might not know themselves as reflected
there. But David Swan had never worn
a more tranquil aspect, even when asleep
on his mothers breast.
81 must take away the bundle" whis-
pered one.
But if he stirs I'll strike" muttered the
other
At this moment dog scenting along the
ground came in beneath the maple trees
|
men and then at the quiet sleeper. He then
Tapped out of the fountain.
| "Pshaw!" said one william. ''We can do
nothing now. The dogs master must be
close behind"
LET'S take drink and be off, said the
other.
The man with the dagger thrust the wea-
pom into his pocket and drew forth pocket
l.: H. Ill L..
a single discharge. 1t was flask of liquor
with block tin tumbler screwed upon the
mouth. Each drank n comfortable dram
and left the spot with so many jests and such
laughter at their unaccomplished wicked
ness. that they might be said to have gone
on their way rejoicing. In few hours
more they had forgotten the whole affair,
nor once imagined that the recording angel
| had written down the crime of murder
against their souls in letters as durable as
eternity.
AS for David Swan, he slept quietly on,
neither conscious of the shadow of death
when it hung over him, nor of the glow
of renewed life when that shadow was with
drawn.
He slept, but no longer quietly as at first
An hours repose had snatched from his
elastic frame the WEAKNESS with which
many hours of toll had burdened it. Now
he stirred; now moved his lips without O
sound; now an inward tone to the MONDAY
spectress of his dream. But noise OF
wheels came rattling louderand louderalone
the road, until it dashed through the dis
persing mists of David's slumber; and there
was the stage coach. He started up with
all his ideas about him.
Halo, driver! Take passenger?
shouted he.
Room on top!" answered the driver.
Up mounted David and bowled away mer.
rily toward Boston, without so much as {
parting glance at that fountain of dream
like vicissitudes. He knew not that a phan-
tom of wealth had thrown its golden hue
upon its waters, nor that one of love haC
sighed softly to their murmur, nor that one
of death had threatened to crimson hin
with his blood; all in the brief hour since
he lay down to sleep.
Sleeping OF waking, we hear not the airy
footsteps of the strange things that almos
happen.