Year: 1860

,
store, think Il Is likely enough he may do it."
the apothecary's, Here she made known her
wishes, but with no better success. As she
turned to 60 out, she encountered man behind
her, who seemed to have been looking over her
shoulder


She looked up at him and recognized the tall
man with black whiskers whom she had noticed
at the hotel. Leaving the druggists, she OBJ
served large drygOods ore, and thought she
would try her luck there. Still she was unsuc
cessfuL


As she was leaving the store, she met the tall
man with black whiskers again. He looked
smingly at her, and asked for her to let him
see the bi for he thought he could change il.
After looking at II, he returned Il to her again,
observing, %if II had been q city bill he would
have changed It, but he did not like TO change
q country bill


Having tried at two or three places without
effecting her object, Debby found she must give
It up, for she was now told II would probably
not be possible for her to get It changed ill the
bank should be open the next day. Consequently
she concluded to return Immediately, home. As
she rode out Of the hotel yard, she observed the
tall man with the black whiskers standing at
the corner Of the house, apparently watching
her movements. But she rode on, and was no





for her own perplexing disappointment engrossed
all her thoughts. She passed over the first two
miles Of her homeward journey, almost uncon-
scious Of the distance, so busily was she turn
ing over in her mind various expedients to rem
edy the failure Of her present undertaking
Her reveries were at length broken OF By the
sound Of horse coming at rather . quick trot
behind her. She looked over her shoulder, and
there was the dark man with the black whiskers,
mounted on large and beautiful black horse,
within q few rods Of her. She shuddered . little
at first, at the idea Of having his company
through the woods; but as he came up and &C.
costed her with such easy and gentle manners,
she soon recovered from her trepidatiOn, and
rode on with her wonted comPOsure.


Rather lonely road here, Mss" sAid the
stranger, looking In the dark woods that lay in
the valley before them. How far do you 60,
Miss?"


"seven or eight niles" said Debby, hesita-


al am happy to have company on the road"
said the stranger, for Il Is rather lonesome rid
ing alone. ] trust you will allow me to be your
pFOtectori"


Debby thanked him, but said she was never
lonesome and never afraid still, In lonely place
it was always agreeable to have company.


"Did you make out to get your bin changedT
eoaN1 osN8AaENAs


"No," said Debby. II tried till was tired,
but l 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 deepest,
darkest part Of the valley through which the
road lay. The heavy woods were about them,
and not sound was to be heard except the mur-
murings Of . little brook over which they bad
just passed. The stranger suddenly rode to her
side, and seizing the reins Of her bride, told
her at once she must give him the hundred dol
| lar note.


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


at Is no joke at al, said the stranger; I'VE
will 60 no further ill you give me the hundred
dollar bill"


Debby trembled and turned pale, for she
thought she saw something In the Strangers eye
that looked as though he was In earnest


"But, surely, you don't meanahy such thingl"
said Debby, trying to pull the rein from his hand.
ats too bad to ffighten me 50 here"


1--WE mustn't daily about IT," said the stranger,
holding the rein still tighter; you sec am In
earnest" by this drawing . pistol from his
pocket, and pointing towards her.


"0hi mercy" said Debby, "you may have
the money IL you let me gO.o


"The money Is oil want" said the stranger,
%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 trembled
so that il dropped from her fngeTs, just before
Il reached his, and at that moment q gust Of
wind waited Il gently toward the brook. The
stranger leaped FROM his horse and ran back two
or three rods 10 recover It. Debby was not 80
FAR gone in her fright but that she bad her
thoughts about her; and seizing the rein Of the
strangers horse, she applied the whip to both
horses at once, and was off In . canter. The
man called in loud threatening tone, and at
once fired his pistol upon her; but as she did
/ not feel the cold lead, she did not stop or turn
even 10 give him farewell look. The remainder
Of the journey was soon passed over, and Is she
came out In the settlement, and passed the
dwellings Of her neighbOrs, many were the heads
that looked from windows and doors, and great
was the wondcrment at seeing Debby ride so
fast and leading such a 6ne strange horse. Her
father, who bad seen her come over the bill, met
her some rods from tbe house, exclaiming with
establishment:


"what have you here, Debby , whose horse
is thatg"


"Debby, what has thee been doingi" said
Mrs. Wilder who was but few steps behind
her husband; "thee don't look well; what Is the
matterI"


As soon as they were seated in the house,
Debby told them the whole story. Mr.. Wilder
felt 50 rgjoiced at his daughters escape, that he
began TO be in excellent spirits; and led the
strange horse to the door, and began to examine
him.


swell, Debby," said he, since you've got
home safe at last we may as well begin to talk
about business The hundred dollar bill is gone,
but I'm thinking, after all, you haven't made .
very bad bargain. That's the likeliest horse I've
seen this many day. don't think Il would
be difficult matter 70 sell him for two hundred
dollars. At any rate, III take the horse for the
hundred dollars, and you may have the saddle