The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-09

the fountain ~ bis side; should II PAS
away II. happy sustre would never s'esm
upon bis life agsin. -.
girl. 49,
she deparfcd, but did not trim a'oug 'he
road so lightly ~ when she came.
Now, the girre father was q tnr"Ms
country merchant In the ncigbbornood, SUI
happened at that identtcsi time 10 oe 'oo~.
ing for Just such a young man as Dav'u
swan. Had David formed ways'oe a.
ouaIntance with The daughter be wouM
have become the fatbef's Jerk, and all else
In natnra, succcssiou. SO here again eau
yooo fottune-tbe best OF fortunes--s'essn
70 near that her garments brushed AGAINST
him. and me knew nothing OF the matt'f'
The r,r, was hardly out OF sight wen
two men turned aside beneath tue fJapte
shade. Roth had dark faces set OH % c'o'h
cans. which were drawn down as'ant over
their brows. The,r dresses were snaops,
vet had certain smartness. These were
:ouple OF rascsis who got their living uy
whichever the deyil sent them. and now, ia
the interim OF other business, bad stsked
the. Joint profits Of their next piece OF WI
Isiny on a game Of cards, which was 10 nave
been decided here uMderthe trees.
But finding David asleep 10y the SPRING
one OF the rogues whispered 10 bis feilow !:
IHisll do you see that bundle under MS
headY"
The other villain Sodded, winked, and
leered.
"'il bet you horn OF brandy" said the
first. "tbat the chap has either pocket
book, or else be has snug little noard OF
small change slowed away among his shirts.
Aud If not there, We shall find 1T In his pam
falcons pocket"
{" Rut how il be wakesf" saidthe other.
HIS companion thrust aside his waist
coat, pointed TO handle Of dirk, ana nod'
ded.
$50 he sti" muttered the second villain.
They aIoroached the UNCONSCIOUS DAVID,
and while one pointed the dagger coward
his heart the other begf1 to seaFeh tue
bundle beneath his head; their Two 1dces
grim, wrinkied, and CHASTITY With gum ana
fear, bent over their victim, looking borri.
bic enough to be mistaken for hends, stIsilid
he suddenly awake. Nay, had the Villains
glanced aside into the spring. even they
would hardly have known themselves as re-
fec,ed there. But David swan had meyer
worn q mole tranquil aspect, eve'i when
asleep on his mothers breast.
al must take away the bundle WIS
pered one.
But il he stirs III strike" mutlered
the other.
AT this moment dOg, seeming along Inc
ground, came in benealh the maple-trees
and gaZed alternately at each OF hese wicked
men, and then at The quiet sleeper. tie then
tapped out OF the fountain.
"Psbaw said one villain. "We can
do nothing now. The dogs master must
be close behind"
Lets take a drink and be off, SAID The
other.
The ran with the dagger thrust the
weapon into his bosom and drew forth
pocket-pstol, but not Of that kind which
killed by single discharge. Il was flax
of liquor with block-tiD tumbler screwed
uDon the mouth. Each drank comfoita-
bic dram, and left The SPOT with so many
tests and such laughter at their unaccom-
plished wickedness that they might be sa'd
TO have gone on their way rejoicing. In
few hours they bad forgotten the whole
affair. nor once imagined that the recording
angel had written down the crime OF muir.
der against their souls in letters AS durable
as eternity.
As for David Swan, he slept quietly, mel
Their conscious of toe shadow OF death when
il hung over him. nor of the glow or ie-
neweG. life when that shadow was With
drawn.
He slept, but no longer quietly as al first.
An hours repose had snaiched from bis
elastic frame the Wearlne,s with which
many hours Of toll had bur0enod It. Now
be stirred; nov moved nj, lips without a
sound; now talked, IN al inward tone, to
the MONDAY spectators Of his dream. Bot
q noise Of wheels came rafting louder aud
louder along the road, until it dashed
through the dispensing mi>ts OF David-
slumDer; and there was the siage.cOacb.
He started mp with all his ideas about bin.
"HaIlo, driver! Take passenger"
shouted be.
Room on top!" answered the driver.
Up mounted David and BOWED merrilv
away toward Boston, without 80 much a. a
parting glance at that fountain Of dream-lke
vicissitude. He knew not that PHANTOM OF
wealth bad thrown It's golden hue upon It's
waters, nor thai one of love had sighed
softly TO their murmur, nor that one 81
death had threatened 10 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 rbirgs that almost
haDDpn.