Year: 1860

| were unmoved she returned his bow in pas


sing, and kept oD her way in perfect compo
sure.


t She reached the end of her journey in du'
time-hitched her horse in the shed at the VII


lage hotel, and inquired of the waiter at th
door the way to the bank. AS he was point


ing out to her its location, she observed tall
, dark looking man, with dark whiskers am
heavy eyebrows, looking steadily at her. She


however, turned away without noticing hin


any farther. and went direct to the bank


When she reached the door she found it closed
and learned from the bystanders that the bank
for some reason or other, was closed that day
In her exceeding disappointment, she stood 81
lent for some time, uncertain what she Should
do.


Is there anything can do for you, Miss p
said gentleman at the adjoining shop door.
Debby replied that she wanted to change 4


bill at the bank


oh, I'll change it for you," said the gen
man, '' if it isn't too large-come, step in
| here"


She accordingly stepped into the store, and
giving him many thanks, handed him the bill


Oh, a hundred dollars p" said he I can
not do it; haven't half that amount in the
store. But if you go across there to the
apothecarys I think it likely enough he may
do it,


| Debby thanked him again, and went across
to the apothecarys. Here she made known
her wishes, but with no better success. As
she turned to go out, she encountered man
behind her, who seemed to have been looking,
! over her shoulder. 81


She looked up at him and recognized the
tall man with black whiskers, whom she had
noticed at the hotel. Leaving the druggists,
| she observed large dry goods store, and
thought she would try her luck there. Still
/ she was unsuccessful.


! As she was leaving the store, she met the
/ tall man with back whiskers again He looked
snlilingly at her, and asked her to let him see
the bill for he thought he could change it
After looking at it, he returned it to her again
observing, if it had been city bill he would
i have changed it, but he did not like to change
a country BILL


! Having tried at two or three places without
affecting her object, Debby found she must
give it up. for she was now TOLD it probably
would not be possible for her to get it changed
! till the bank should be opened the next day.
Consequently. she concluded TO return immedi-
atelv home. As she rode out of the hotel
yard, she observed the tall man with black
whiskers standing at the corner of the house,
/ apparently watching her movements. But
she rode en-, and was no sooner out of sight
! than he was out of her mind, for her own per
picking disappointment engrossed all her
!. thoughts. She passed over the first two miles
! OF her homeward journey almost unconscious
of the distance, so busily was she turning over
/ in her mind various cxpedients to remedy the
failure OF her present undertaking. She
thought Of several Of her neighbors of whom
she thought it might not bc impossible to bor-
row few dollars for short time But then
! she knew her father was so strenuously orpo-
| sed to borrowing, he would not allow it to be
! done; and would never forgive hei should he
find out that she had done it without his knoWl-
edge or consent She might get trusted for
most of the articles She wanted but some Of
/ them of the most Importance were at Henry
| Millers stcre, and she would not ask to be
! trusted there, if she never obtained the art-
! cles.


/ Her revcries were at length broken of by
! the sound of a horse coming at rather quick
! trot behind her. She looked over her shou-
der, and there was the tall man with black
whiskcrs, mounted OIL a large and beautiful
! black horse, within few rods OF her she
/ shuddered little, at first, at having his com
pany through the woods, but as Ire came up
and accosted her with such easy and gentle
manners, she soon recovered from her trepd-
alton and rode on with her wonted composGre.


Rather ii lonely road here, Miss. said the
stranger, looking in the dark wood that lay in
/ the valley before them. How far do you 90,
Miss ?''


Seven Or eight miles," said Debby, hesta-
ting a little.


- All happy to have company on the road,
said the stranger, for it is rather lonesome
riding alone l trust you will allow me to be
your protector ,"
Debby thanked him, but said she was never
lonesome and never afraid still, in lonely
place, it was always agreeable to have compa-
ny.


Did you make out to get your bill chan
ged - asked the stranger.


No. replied Dolby. * tried till I was
tired, but could find no one to change it,


The stranger made himself very agreeable,
and Debby began to think that her feelings at
first had done him injustice, and she tried what
she could to make him amends by being social
in her turn. They had now reached the deep
est darkest part of the valley through which
the road lay. The heavy woods were about
them, and not sound was to he heard except
the murmurings of the little brook over which
they had just passed. The stranger suddenly
rode to her side and seizing the reins of her
bride, told ber at once she must give him the
hundred dollar note.


Now, this is carrying the joke too far, "
said Debby, trying to laugh.


1t is no joke at all,' said the stranger,
:" we will go no farther till you give me the
hundred dollar bill"


Debby trembled and turned pale, for she
thought she something in the strangers
eye that looked though he was in earnest.


But surely you do not mean any such
thing?" said Debby, trying to pull the rein
from his hand. It's too bad to frighten me so
here"


We mustn't daily about it," said the stran-
ger, holding the rein still tighter you see
am in earnest by this drawing pistol from
his pocket, and pointing towards her.
"Oh! mercy said Debby, you may have
the money if you will let me 60" -....
"The money is all / want said the stran-
ger, " but there must be no more dallying
the sooner you hand it over the better"
, Debby at once drew the bill and attempted
to hand it to the stranger, but her hand trem-
. bled so that it dropped from her fingers just
before it reached his, and at that moment q
gust of wind waited it gently toward the brook
The stranger leaped from bis horse and ran


back two or three rods to recover it. Debby
: was not so far gone in her fright but that she
had her thoughts about her; and seizing the