Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-12-13

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wants time to pick up 3 marriage por-
ton for you, and that will take three or
four years, perhaps"
"That is good while, is it not, Harry?
said Maude, just blushing a little, for
fear it sounded forward and bold.
''It's ages!" said the young fellow.
''Think of waiting three years-why, we
shall be cid folks by that time"
''Not quite so bad as that" said
ST am sure my hair will be gray by
that time"
Nonsense, Harry. Now you are
joking"
Ct was never more in earnest in my
life," said be, as he stole a kiss from her
pretty lips and ran away, SO as not to
hear her cbide him for his boldness.
''Maude, said her father, coming into
the house from the barn, ST wish you
would ride the sorrel mare into Easton
! and get this 800 bill changed at the
the roofing of the barn and want to pay
them off tonight"
''Very well, father. Let John put the
side-saddle on and will lie ready in five
minutes.
/
| the door and Maude was soon on her
way at an easy hand-gallop toward
| Easton. She had an excellent seat, and
was good borse-woman. As she knew
this very well, she would not have OBJ
jected TO have Harry see her just now;
but he had gone few moments before
In an opposite direction.
When Maude got into Easton she rode
directly to the bank, but was unfortunate
enough to find that it was already closed.
After few moments thought she re-
solved to try to get the note changed at
the grocer's, or at some of the other
stores, and went Immediately to do so.
Fate seemed against her, for no one had
small change enough to accommodate
Miss Henderson.
At one of the stores where she stopped
a very gentlema nly- looking person took
out his pocket book and said he thought
he could change it for her, and she
handed him the bill; but he returned it,
saying, after all, he had not so much
small money. He seemed to regret
this, however, and even followed her to
the door and assisted her to remount
her horse.
She was forced to give up her errand,
as she did not like to run about among
strangers asking them to change her
bill, especially as no one seemed able to
| do so. She therefore turned her horses
head once more toward home. Scarcely
| had she passed the outskirts of the town
when she was overtaken by the stranger
| who had spoken with her in the last
store, and who at first thought he could
change her bill. He was mounted
upon a fne-looking bay horse, and
saluted her respectfully as he came
alongside.
did you get your bill changed?" he
asked.
'.No; small bills seemed scarce" she
replied.
"Do you live near here?"
"About five miles of. F."
'Qulte a ride"
'fOh, we don't mind five miles in the
country"
'FYou are an excellent rider
81 have ridden since I was 6 years
old, she said; "but my sister Ellen is a
better rider than / am.
"YOu are generous to admit it, said
the stranger.
"Why, it is only the truth, = she an
swered, frankly.
After they had passed over about two
miles they came to very lonely piece of
the road, quite removed from any dwell
ing houses. Still, as the stranger APP
peared SO gentlemanly, and had ad-
dressed her SO politely, she had not the
least suspicion of any evil intention on
his part.
Presently he said, suddenly: 81 will
thank you for that BILL
"What?" she said, half smiling.
''Please to give me that bill"
"What do you mean?" asked Maude.
'FJust what [ say" he replied, sud-
denly. g..
Il shall do no such thing" she an
swered, firmly.
q am sorry to draw pistol upon a
lady," he continued, suiting the action
to the word, "but must have that hun
dred-doilar bill at once.
do you mean to rob me?"
81 must have the money!"
It was with difficulty that she could
believe that the man was in earnest; but
when he now cooked his pistol and held
it toward her with one hand, while he
extended the other for the bill, she
was forced to yield to the necess-
ity of the situation. She was a
brave-hearted girl, and even now did
not turn pale nor tremble in the least,
but saw that she could not help herself.
and so made the best of it.
just as she held the bill to him a sud
den puff of the wind blew it into the
road and carried it gently several yards
from them. The stranger alighted to
get 1t, and quick as thought Maude
struck her horse smart, blow, in order
to get out of the robbers power. The
sorrel mare was spirited little creature
and sprang into smart gallop at once,
while the strangers horss, which had
been left standing beside her, also
started off at full speed, in her company.
Bang! went the robbers pistol after
them, having only the effect to increase
the speed of the flying horses, both of
whom were now on the dead run.
Maude did not care how fast she rode
the sorrel was as easy as cradle at that
speed-and in ten minutes she dashed