The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-24
POUNDED ON FACTS.

In one of the most bleak and barren portions of the country ot Derbyshlre England, some twenty-five or thirty years ago. there stood d tool-gate, at the Poin, where three roads met, winch was kept by d man of the name of Barton. There was small cottage attached 10 the gate, in whi, h Mir. Barton lived. m company with h.s wife. to whom he had been mar ried about two years at the tune the incl dent occurred of which we are going to writ. This cottage stood in slnsularly wild and lonely situation, on the lowest level oi Il deep. narrow gorge, which was surrounded by numerous lofty hills on every haad. These hills, far as the eye could reach, presented naught but one continued surface of dark brrwn heath. or an occasional bush ofthe prickly gorse The only evidences of life were Tn few fiock> oi sheep, which here and there browsed along the mountain sides. \ small stream ran sinding round the base ot the hlls, whose ripping over the smooth pebbles N hiCh formed It's bed lm- pauco to the ear d peculiarly melan- choly sound. Not another house stood within circuit of several miles: and the only human beings whom the Barions ever saw were in the daily passing of the mall coach. an occasional teamsicr tray cling by with his load of nerc handise. and the weekly visits of butcher r.amed Gonran. who called at their house on each Saturday. for the purpose of supply ing them with their fresh meats.
 Mir. Barton. having lived Tn his present abode Il number of years previous to his marriage. had become accustomed to the Loneliness of the situation; and being, moreover. a man of strong mind and un- doubted courage. he was not in the least degree affected thereby. But with his wife, how 1t was different. In dis position she was timid, and since her marriage had lived in state of constant alarm and dread. She had ever been in the habit of living in populous town, which caused her present situation to appear doubly lonesome from contrast And what added to her fears, that DOT ton Of the country had for some time been infested by a bani of lawless men, who robbed and murdered every traveller who unfortunately fell in their way, and broke into and plundercd any farm hou e where booty was to be ob. tained. And though large rewards had been offered for the detection of these men, and the utmost vigilance of the au- thori,ies employed to capture them. it had as vel been entirely unavailing. Not even ,he most distant clue could be ob- tained as n who they really were, or the place of ticir conccalment.
 Of thee men Mrs. Barton lived in daily. nay. almost hourly. dread: and as her husband had more fhan { 100 in gold concealed in the house-the savlngs of former years --she had imbibed the idea that they would be sure to find out the circumstance. and murder herself and husband 10 obtain the treasure. She ire quently spoke her fears to her husband, and iraplored him to give up his situa- tion. and remove to some more thickly settled and safer place of abode To this, however, he would not agree: as apart from his considering her fears entirely groundless, his employment was both an easy and lucrative one, and he was afraid lest he might not acquire another so suitable. He invariably answered her applications by laughing at her fears, and pointing out how improbable that any one should become acquainted with the fact of their being possessed of 90 much money, as he had never men, toned the circumstance to a single per son except herself She saw the truth of