Year: 1860

by the sound of horse coming at rather
quick trot behind. her. She looked over
her shoulder, and there was the tall man
with black whiskers, mounted on large
and beautiful black herse, within few
rods Of her; she shuddered lite, at
first, at the idea Of having his company
through the woods, but as he came up
and accosted her with such easy and gen
tie manners, she soon recovered from her
trepidation, and rode on with her won't
ed composure.


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


Seven or eight miles. said Debby,
hesitating little.


| am 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 a lonely place, it was always agreea-
bic to have company.


Did you make out to get your bill
changed = asked the stranger.



No. said Debby; l tried till / was
tired, but could find no one to change il.


The stranger made himself very agree


able, and Debby began to think her


feelings at first had done 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 murmurings of little brook


over which they had just passed. The


stranger suddenly rode to her side, and


seizing the reins of her bride, told her


at once that she must give him the hun


dred dollar note


Now, this is carrying the joke too far,


said Debby, trying to laugh.
i 1t is no joke at ALL said the stranger


'we will go no farther until you give me
, the hundred dollar BILL
Debby trembled and turned pale, fol


she thought she saw something in the
strangers eye that looked as though he
was in earnest.


But surely you do not mean any
such thing = said Debby, trying to pull
the rein from his hand. Its too bad tc
frighten me so here


We mustn't daily about it, said the


stranger, holding the rein still tighter
you see that l am in earnest by this
drawing pistol from his pocket, and
pointing it towards her.
Oh T! mercy said Debby, you MAJ
have the money if you win let me go.
The money is all want, said tht


stranger, but there must be no more de
laying the sooner you hand it over tn,
better


Debby at once drew the bill and at
tempted to hand it to the stranger, bu
her hand trembled so that it dropped


from her fingers just before it reachet
his. At that moment a gust of winC


waited it gently towards the brook. Th,
! stranger leaped from his horse and rar
back two or three rods to recover it


Debby was not so far gone in her frigh
f bat that she had her thoughts about her
; and seizing the rein of the stranger
: horse, she applied the whip to both bor


ses at once, and was of in eanter. Th,
S man called in loud threatening tone
] and at once fred bis pistol upon her
J but as she did not feel the cold lead sh,
r did not stop or turn even to give fare
e well look. The remainder Of the Jour
e ney passed the dwellings Of her neigh
!. Sors, and many were the heads tha
e looked from the windows and doors, an,
= great was the wonderment at seein,
!, Debby ride home so fast, leading such
!. ine, strange horse. Her father, wh,
+ had seen her come over the hill, met he
r some rods from the house, exclaimina
= with astonishment


What have you here, Debby? wha
horse is that?'


: 'Debby, what has thee been doing 2
n said Mrs. Wilder, who was but a fey
J steps behind her husband, thee doesn'
!. look well what IS the rnatter?'
5 As soon as they were seated 10 Ia
0 house, Debby told them the whole story
;. Dir. Wilder felt so rejoiced at his daugh
o ters escape that he began to be in exec
e lent spirits, and led the horse to the doc
d and began to examine him.
II Well, Debby, said he, since you'y