Year: 1869

woods were bright in the Var1egated
hues which follow the light touches
of frost, mounted traveller was qui-
city pursuing his way through dark,
broad, lovely forest in the Western
part of the State of New York.


He had ridden three miles since see
ing human habitation, and had yet
two miles to go before he could get
sight of another. He was descending
"a hill into gloomy valley, through
which flowed a shallow but swift run
ming stream, and on reaching the wa
ter he permitted his thirsty beast to
drink. ......


AT that moment a man stepped out
from cloister of bushes into road
or horse path, on the other side of the
stream. This man was dressed like
hunter and carried rifle on his shoul-
der. In his general appearance there
was nothing that indicated hostility
or wicked design. He was of medi-
um size, compactly built, with intelli-
gent features and certain air of gen.
tilily-seeming rather as one abroad
from some settlement for a days
sport, than professional hunter.


All this the mounted traveller care
fully noticed before he crossed the
stream to continue his journey, and
when they came together pleasant SAL
utations were exchanged. ..


"Fine weather for travelling, SIR"
remarked the man with the gun.


"And for hunting, also, / suppose"
smiled the one on the horse,


eyes, there is game enough" re-
turned the other, but 1 am not a good
hunter and can only show one bear
for my days work thus far, and that
is almost useless TO me, for have no
means of taking it away. L would
willingly give dollar for the use of a
horse like yours for couple of hours.
If you can spare five minutes or so 1
would like you to see the bear; it is
just beyond these bushes some two
or three hundred yards from here"


"I will not only look at it." said
the traveller, dismounting and fasten-
ing the horse, "but if not too heavy
will take it along for you, as 1 am
going the same way" ..r


The hunter thanked him in most
cordial manner, and then, as if to make
himself agreeable and keep up con-
versation, inquired where the other
was from, whittier journeying, and so
forth; and learned in reply that the
latter resided in Albany, was a mer-
chant in good business, and was trav-
elling partly for his health, and part
ly with view of making an extern
/ sive purchase of land. .s.e


"Well, here we are," exclaimed the
hunter, and the two emerged from a
dense thicket through which they had
slowly forced their way into an open
road "here we are, and I'll show you
as fine and fat a beast as you ever
saw. Observe where point my rifle.


He stepped back eight or ten feet,
deliberately raised his gun to his eye,
and pointed the muzzle at the head OF
the traveller. There was flash, loud
report, and the victim fell like a log,
his face covered with blood.


This might or might not have been
the first crime committed by the man
with the rife, but as the traveller fell
his rifle slipped from his hand and he
shook violently from head to foot


yet he ran to his victim and hurmedly
robbed him of his ppcket=book, a gold
watch and chain, some curious seals
and diamond ring which he fairly
tore from his finger, Then he drag


ged the body into the thicket, picked


up his rife, plunged madly through


the bushes into the road, mounted The


travellers horse and dashed away from


the awful scene.


We must now suppose a lapse o


twenty years.


In the spring of 1887, there LIVED


in the city of New York banker ant


millionaire, whom we shall call Ste
: phen Edwards. He owned a palatia
mansion, splendidly furnished, in tn
very heart of the town, and he ant
, his wife were among the leaders o
the fashionable world. They had
beautiful daughter, just turned oAt O
sweet sixteen, who was about to b
married to O foreign nobleman ant
great preparations were being mad
for the happy event.


; One day, about this period, as tn
; great banker steed eonYersing with
f gentleman from another city, who ha
called to see him on business, he oh
: served that the latter suddenly turne
> pale and began to tremble.


f "My dear sir" said he, in his usua
tones of off handed sympathy, "wha
: is the matter? are you ill?'


"A little faint, sir, but nothing t
t cause any ALARM" replied the othe
g hurriedly. az am subject to spells,-
: If you viii be kind enough to excus
5 me for ten minutes or so, will take
= short walk and return better"


In ten minutes he did return, sal
e he was quite well, calmly proceede
: to finish his business with the hanke
g and then respectfully took his leave.
: 1t was perhaps week after tht
e that one night the great banker ws
e sitting by the fire in his library, whe
: the servant came in and presented hil
n with letter. He took it with yawl
d. took it in the most indolent and indi
y ferent manner possible, but had nj
J. read dozen words before he came Il
}. with a start, turned deadly pale, al
d trembled so that the paper rattled.-
e He read the note-for it was rather
l. note than letter-worked one han