Year: 1877

In the autumn of 1877, while the
woods were bright with the yariegated
hues which follow the light touches of
early frost, a mounted traveller was
pursuing his way through dark, broad,
lonely forest, in the western part of New
York. He had ridden three miles since
seeing human habitation, and he had
two to 90 before he couldget sight of an
other. He was descending hill into a
gloomy looking valley, through which
flowed a shallow, but swift running
stream; and on reaching the water he
permitted. his thirsty beast to stop and
drink.


At that moment man came out from
a cluster of bushes into the road, or
horse path, on the other side of the
stream. This man was dressed like q
hunter,@ and carried rifle on his
shoulder. In his appearance there was
nothing that indicated hostility or
wicked design. He was of medium size,
compactly built, with intellectual
features, and a certain air of gentility-
seeming rather as one abroad from some
settlement for days sport than pro-
fsssional hunter. All this the mounted
traveller carefully noted as he crossed the
stream to eontinuehis journey, and when
they came together pleasant salutation
was exchanged.


Fine weather for travelling, sir" re-
piled the man with the gun.


"And for hunting, also, 1 should sup
pose" smiled the other on the horse.


Yes, there,is game enough" returned
the other, but Fam not a good hunter,
and can eRly show one bear for my days
work 30 far, and that is almost useless to
me, because have no means to take it
away. I, would willingly pay a dollar
for the use of;a horse like yours for a
couple of hours. If you could spare five
minutes or so would ike you to see the
bear, it is only back behind the bushes,
some two hundred yards from here" -


az will not only look at it" replied the
traveller, dismounting and fastening his
horse, "but if not too heavy, l will take
it along for you, seeing am going youi
way" SO s -Ea q


The hunter thanked him in q most
cordial manner, and then, as if to make
himself agreeable and keeping up the
conversation, inquired where the Other
was from, whittier journeying, ETC.; and
learned in reply that the latter resided
in Albany, was merchant in good busi
ness, and. vas travelling partly for hi
health and partly with view for maxim!
an extensive land purchase for futur,
speculation.


Well, here we are," exclaimed th.
hunter, as the two emerged from tn,
dense thicket, through which they ha,
slowly forced their way into the opel
wood; "and now I will show you as fin
and fat beast as you ever saw. Observ
where ! point with my rife"


He stepped back some eight or tel
feet, deliberately raised the piece to hi
eye, and pointed the muzzle directly a
the head of the traveller. There was
flash and loud report, and the yictir
fell like leg, his face covered wit
blood.


This might or might not have been th
first crime committed by the man wit
the riHe. But as the traveller fell th
rife slipped through his hands, and
shook violently from head to foot; "
he ran to his victim and hurriedly robbie
him of his purse, pocket-book, a gol
watch and chain, some curious seals,
! diamond brsast-pin, and diamond rim
/ which ne fairly tore from his fnge
Then he dragged his body into tt
thicket, picked up his rifle, plunge
madly. through the bushes to the roa
mounted the travellers horse. and dasht
away from the awful scene.


We must DOW suppose lapse. of twent
years.


In the spring of 1887 there lived


the City of New York a banker and M
lionaire whom we shall call Stepht
Edwards. He owned q pslatial mansio
splendidly furnished, in the very hea
of the town, and be and his wife we
among the leaders of the fashionat
world They had beautiful daught
just turned to sweet sixteen, who "
about to be married to foreign mob


man, and great preparations were ms


ing for the happy event.


One day about this period, as the grs