The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-02-25


motion that caused-is there harm in saying
ii her garter to slip its knot. Conscious
that the silken girth, if silk il was, was relax
ing its hold, she turned aside into the shelter
Of the maple trees and there found young
man asleep!
Blushing as red as any rose that she should
have intruded in geutleman's bcd-chamber,
ana for such Il purpose, too, she was about
to make her escape on tiptoe. But there was
u peril near the sleeper. a monster of a
bee had been wandering Overhead--buZz,
buzz, buzz-now among the leaves, now
flashing through the strips of sun shine
and now lost in the dark shade, till finally,
Ii" happened 10 settle on the eyelid
OF David Swan. The sting of bee is
something deadly. AS frechcartcd rs she
was innocent, the girl attacked the intru-
der with her handlcrchrf brushed him
soundly, and drove him from beneath the
maple shade. How sweet II picture! This
good deed accomplished, with quickened
breath and deeper flush, she stole glance
at the youthful stranger, for whom she had
been battling with dragoOn in the air
He is handsome thought she and blush
cd redder yet,
How could it bc that no dream of bliss grew
so strong within him. that shattered by its
very strength, it should part asundcr, and al
low him To perceive the girl among its plan-
toms Why ut least did no smile OF welcome
| brighten up his face : She has come the maid
whose SOUL according to the old and bcauti-
mi idea, but had been severed from his own and
whom, in NIL his vague but passionate desires
heycarned to meet, Her only could he love
with perfect Iove-him only could she re-
ceye into the depths of her heart-and now
her image was family blushing in the foun-
TAIN by his side should it pass away, its lus-
tire would never CLEAN upon his life again
| How sound he sleeps" mumurcd the
| girl.
She departed but did not trip along the
road SO lightly az when she came.
| Now, this girls father was thriving coun-
| try merchant in the neighborhood happened
ut that identical time To be looking for such
young man rs David Swan. Had David form
ed Waysidc acquaintance with the daugh-
ter he would have become the fathers clerk
and all else i'll natural succession. So here
again had good fortune-the best of fortunes
stole so near that her garments brushed
against him and he knew nothing of the mat
| ter
| The girl was hardly out of sight when two
men turned aside beneath the maple shade
Both had dark faces, set off by dark caps,
which We're drawn down aslant over their
brows. Their dresses were shabby, yet had a
certain smartness. These were Il couple of
rascals 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 place ofvilany on q game of
cards. which was to have been decided here
under the trees.
But finding David asleep by the spring one
| of the rogucs whispered to his fellow
"Ilst, Do you see the bundle under his
| head ~
The other villain nodded, wickedly and
| leered
"I'll bet YOU horn of brandy" said the
| first, that the chap has eithcra pocket book
| or else he has snug little hoard of small
change slowed away among his shirts And
| if not there we shall find il in his pantaloon
| pocket"
"But how if he wakes ?" said the other.
| His companion thrust aside his waistcoat
pointed to the handle OF dirk and nodded
| 50 he it !" muttcrcd the second villain.
| They approached the unconscious David
| ard while one pointed the dagger towards
| the heart the other began to search the bun
die beneath his hcad-ther two faces GRIM
wrinlllcd and ghastly with guilt and fear, bent
over their victim, looking terrible enough to
be mistaken for iiends should he suddenly
awake. Nay, had the villains glanced aside
into the spring even they might not know
tn, msrlycs as reflected there, but David
Swan had never worn more tranquil aspect
even when asleep on his mothers breast.
II must take away the bundlc,' whispered
one
But if he stirs I'll strike muttered the
other.
But at this moment Il dog seeming along
the ground, came in beneath the maple trees,
| and gazcd alternately at each of those wicked
men, and then nj the quiet sleeper. lie then
| Tapped out of the fountain.
"Pshaw" said one villain, I'VE can do
nothing now. The dogs master must be
close behind"
Lets take II drink and be or said the
other
The man with the dagger thrust the weap-
on in his pocket and drew forth a pocket ps-
| tol, but not one of that kind which kills bv n
single discharge 1t was flask of liquor
with n black tin tumbler screwed upon the
mouth. Each drank a comfortable dram and
left the spot, with so many icsts and such
| laughter at their unaccompished wicked
| ness, that they might be said to go on their
way rejoicing. In n few hours they had for.
gotten 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, neith-
or conscious of the shadow of death when it
hung over MN, nor Oh inc glow OF renewed
| life when that shadow was withdrawn
He slept but no longer quietly as at first
An hours repose had snatched from his elias
tic frame the WEAKNESS with which many
hours of toll had burdencd it, Now he stir
ed now moved his lips without sound, now
talked in an inward tone to the noon day
spectress of his dream. But noise of wheels
came rafting louder and louder along the
road, until it dashed through the dispensing
mist of David's SAUNDERS, and there was the
stage.coach. He started up with all his
ideas about him.
"lIello, driver! DIP, Take passenger?"
shouted he.
Up mounted David, and bowled away
merrily toward Boston, without so much az
parting glance at that fountain of dream.
like vicissitudes. He knew not that n phan-
tom of wealth had throwna golden hue upon
its waters, nor that one of love had sighed
softly to their murmur, nor that one of death
had threatened to crimson him with his
blood all in the brief hour since he lay down
to sleep.
Sleeping or waking, we hear not the airy
footsteps of the strange things that almost
happen.
Near Marselcs: Traveller, to peasant
in the field: MY friend, how far is it from
I.