Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-05-25

young man asleep by the spring.
Blushing as red as any rose, that
she should have intruded into any
gentleman's bed chamber, and for
such purpose, too, she was about
to make her escape on tiptoe- But
there was peril near the sleeper. A
monster of bee was wandering over
head-buzz, buzz, buzz-now among
the leaves, now flashing through the
stripes of sunshine, and now lost in
the dark shade, till finally he appear
ed to be settling on the eyelid of Da-
vid Swan. The sting of bee is
sometimes deadly. AS free hearted
as she was innocent, she attacked
the intruder with her handkerchief,
brushed him soundly, and drove him
from beneath the maple shade. How
sweet & picture This good accom-
plished, with quickened breath and
deeper blush, she stole glance at
the youthful stranger for whom she
had been battling with dragon in
the air.
"He is handsome thought she,
still blushing.
How could it be that no dream of
bliss grew within him, that shattered
by his very strength, it should part
asunder, and allow him to perceive
the girl among its phantoms? Why
at least did no smile of welcome
brighten upon his face? She was
come, the maiden whose soul accord
ing to the old and beautiful idea, had
been severed from his own, and when,
in all his vague and passionate de-
sires, he yearned to meet. Her, only,
could he love with a perfect love-
him, only, could she receive into the
depths of her heart-and now her
image was family blushing in the
fountain by her side; should 1t pass
away, its luster would never CLEAN
upon his life again.
"How sound he sleeps!' murmur-
ed the girl.
She departed, but did not trip
along the road as lightly as she came.
Now, this girls father was a thriv-
ing country merchant in the neigh
borhood, and happened at that ldent-
ical time to be looking for just such
young man as David Swan. Had
David formed a wayside acquaint-
ance with his daughter, he would be-
come the fathers clerk; and all else
in natural succession. And so here
again had good fortune-the best Of
fortune-stolen so near him that her
garments had brushed against him,
and he knew 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 aslant over their brows. Their
dresses were decidedly shabby, yet
had certain smartness. They were
a couple of rascals, who got their liv-
ing by whatever Satan sent them,
and now in the interim of other bust
ness, had staked the JOINT profits of
their next piece of villainy on a game
of cards, which was to have been de-
cided here under the trees.
But, finding David sleeping by the
spring one of the rogues whispered to
his fellow:
"Hist! Do you see the bundle un-
der his head?"
i The other villain nodded, winked
and leered.
'I'll bet you horn of brandy -
said the first, "that the chap has Ell
ther pocket book OF else he has a
snug little hoard of small change
slowed away among his shirts. And
if not there we shall find it in his
pockets"
ssBut how if he wakes?" said the
other.
His companion thrust aside his
waistcoat, pointed to the handle of a
dirk, and nodded.
$50 it be!'' ,nuttered the second
villain.
They approached the unconscious
David, and while one pointed the
dagger toward his heart, the other be-
gan to search the bundle behind his
head-their two faces wrinkled and
CHASTITY with guilt and fear, bent over
their victim, looking terrified enough
to be mistaken for fends, should he
suddenly awake. Nay, had the vii
lains glanced aside into the spring,
even they might have known them
selves as reflected there. David Swan
had never worn a more tranquil as
pect even when asleep on his moth
er's breast.
81 must take away the bundle, "
whispered one.
''But if he stirs I'll strike," NUT
tered the other.
But at this moment dog scenting
along the ground, came on beneath
the maple trees, and gazed alternate
ly at each of those wicked men and
then at the quiet sleeper. He then
Tapped out of the fountain.
sPshaw !" said one villain, "we
can do nothing now. The dogs mas
ter must be close behind"
s'Let us take drink and be off, :"
said the other.
The man with the dagger thrust
the weapon into his pocket and drew
forth pocket pistol, but not of that
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