Year: 1859

l


A Highwayma @ Done Tor,, by Far.
mer,s Daughter.


We find in a late No. Of Porter's Spiri
the following story about a Northampton
county farmers daughter:


About four miles from Easton, Penn.
| sylvania, resides wealthy farmer, his
wife and only daughter. The latter is q
dashing, rustic belle, of the man killing
species, much noted for her dauntless
way of doing things. and quick wit
Having bill Of local bank for one
hundred dollars, and not being able to
use it, on accoitnt of the inability of bis
neighbors 80 change it. the farmer re-
solved to send il to the bank, and select
ed his daughter rs carrier.


The young lady mounted horse, and
rode to Easton, but arrived there after
the bank was closed ; and after Offering
the bill at several stores, without success
she turned the head of her steed towards
home. She had just passed the suburbs
of the city, when solitary horseman'
overlook her, and gave the salute cour-
teous, with winning air. As he had
the appearance of a gentleman, and evinc-
ed the greatest respect for the fair egues-
trienne, she returned his salutation with
out fear, and the two were soon riding
side by side. The stranger expressed
pleasure to find that they were both go
ing the same way, and made such re-
marks about the landscape, as led his fair
companion to believe that he was not
native to the manor born p he expa-
patlated on the superb blending of col
ors in the sunset sky, observed that
God made the country" and dwelt up
on the contrast of the merchants cares
and the farmers freedom of soul. To
all this poetical disqusiuon the maiden
did most seriously incline, not dreaming
that her companion was anything but a
gentleman.


Smoothly ran the horseman's tongue.
until they entered a dark wood through
which the road wound, when he sudden
ly reined up his horse directly across the
path, and sternly desired the girl to
surrender that one hundred dollar bill
she was trying to change in Easton p


Thinking he was trying to frighten her
with trick, the farmers daughter lau gh.
ed gaily in reply; but the production OF
a pistol convinced her of the true eharac-
ter of her escort, and she felt that the
money must 60. But mark how slight a
thing will turn the tables, when crcum
stances all seem to tend one way. The
poor girl drew forth the bill from her
bosom, and was placing it in the scoun
drePs outstretched hand, when gust oil
wind blew it into the road and the fellow
was obliged to dismount to recover it.
No sooner bad he left his horse, than the
quick witted girl applied the whip to her
own horse, and he sprang forward-bu,
not alone. The other horse started also
and away went the span with one rider
With an oath the robber dashed afte,
them, and fred his pistol; but the noise
only frightened the animals into still
faster gallop, and the farmers daughter
found herself at home in double quicl
time. 1t did not take her long to relate
her adventure, nor was her father deli
cate about examining the saddle bags o
the strange horse. In them he found
besides a large number of counterfeit
bills. nearly fifteen hundred dollars in
good money! The animal alone was
worth more than the amount lost, and
the farmer was we'll satisfied with the ex-
change. The robber was probably some
fellow connected with a gang of counter
feiters that infcst Central Pennsylvania
and dogged the girl, in her journey from
store to store with the bill. He has no
yet claimed bis horse and saddle bags
nor is there reason to believe that he ever
will.


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