Year: 1877

lille, said he, as he stole kiss from her |
pretty lips, and ran away, so rs not to
hear her chide him for his holiness.


Maude," said her father, coming
into the house from the barn, al wish
you would ride the sOrrel mare into |
Easton, and get this hundred dollar bill |
changed at the bank. The workmen have |
got done with the roofing of the barn;
and l want to pay them off tonight"


every well, father. Let John put the
side-saddle on, and l will be ready in
five minutes.


The sorrel mare was brought up TO the |
door, and Maude was soon ON her way at
a easy hand gallop toward Easton. She
had an excellent seat, and was a good
horsewoman. AS she knew this well, she !
would not have objected to have Harry
see, her just now; but he had gone few
moments before in an opposite direc-
tion.


When Maud got into Easton she rode
directly to the bank, but was unfortunate
enough to find that it was already closed
After a few moments thought she re-
solved to try and get the note changed at
the grocer's, or at some of the other
stores, and went Immediately to do so.
Fate seemed against her, for no one had
small change enough to accommodate
Miss Henderson.


At one of the stores where she stopped,
a very gentlemanly-loobing person took
ont his pocketbook and said he thought
he could change it for her, and she
handed him the bill, but he returned it,
saying, after all, he had not SO much
small money. He seemed to regret this,
however, and even followed Maude to
the door and assisted her to remount her
horse.


She was forced to give up her errand,
as she did not like to run about among
strangers asking them to change her a
bill, especially as no one seemed able to
do SO. She, therefore, turned her horses
head once more toward home. Scarcely
had she passed the outskirts of the town
when she was overtaken by the stranger
who had spoken with her in the last
store, and who at first thought he could
change her bill. He was mounted upon
a fine-looking bay horse, and saluted her
respectfully as he came alongside.


Did you get your bill changed ?" he
asked


"No; small bills seemed scarce" she
replied.


"Do you live near here?"


"About five miles off.


"Quite ride"


"Oh, we don't mind five miles in the
country"


"You are an excellent rider"


II have ridden since I was six years
old, " she said "but my sister Ellen is
II better rider than 1 am"


"You are generous to admit it, said
the stranger.


"Why, it's only the truth, she an
swered frankly.


After they had passed over about two
miles, they came to very lonely piece
of road, quite removed from any dwell
ing houses. Still, as the stranger ap-
peared SO gentlemanly, and had address,
ed her SO politely, she had not the least
suspicion of any evil intention ON his
part.


Presently, he said suddenly, 81 will
thank you for that BILL"


"What ?" said she, half smiling.


"Please to give me that BILL"


"What do you mean ?" asked Maude.
| "Just what sayp' he replied, sud-
denly.


"I shall do no such thing" she an
swered firmly.


" I am sorry to draw pistol upon
lady," he continued, suiting the action
to the word, "but L must have that
hundred dollar bill at once"


"Do you mean to rob me?"


81 must have the money !"


1t was with difficulty she could believe
the man was in earnest but when he
now cooked his pistol and held it toward
her with one hand, while he extended
the other for the bill, she was forced to
yield to the necessity of the situation.
She was brave-hearted girl, and even
now she did not turn pale nor tremble in
the least; but saw she could not
help herself, and SO made the best OF it.


just as she held out the bill to him a
sudden puff of wind blewit into the road,
and carried it several yards from them.
The stranger alighted to get it, and,
quick as thought, Maude struck her
horse smart blow, in order to get out
of the robbers power. The sorrel mare
was a spirited little creature, and sprang
into smart gallop at once while the
strangers horse, which had been stand
ing beside her, also started off at full
speed in her company.


Bangl went the robbers pistol after
them, having only the effect to increase
the speed of the flying horses, both of
whom were now on the dead run. Maude
did not care how fast she rode, the sorrel
was as easy as cradle at that speed,
and in ten minutes she dashed into her
fathers yard, followed by the riderless
horse.


Her story was soon told, and her
father was with difficulty prevented from
starting after the robber with his pistol
and rife, but he knew that the scoun-
drel would naturally take at once to the
woods, where he could not follow him.


"Well, we've got his horse, at any
, rate" said the farmer; "and he is worth