Year: 1870

THE HUNTERS URlME.


In the autumn of 1916, while the wood,
were bright in the variegated hues which
follow the light touches of frost, a mounted
traveller was quietly pursuing his way thro
dark broad, lonely forest in the western
part Of the State OF New York.


He lad ridden three miles since seeing 6
s:ng,e initiation, and yet two miles to go be
fire he could get sight of another He was
l=scending a hill into a gloomy valley
through which flowed a shallow but swift
running stream, and on reaching the water
he permitted his thirsty beast to drink.


At that moment a man stepped out from
cluster of bushes into road, or horse
path. on the other side of the stream. This
man vas dressed ike hunter, and carried
his rifle on his shoulder In his general
appearance there was nothing to indicate
hostility OF wicked design. He was of me
dunn size. compactly built, with intelligent
features. and i certain air of gentility,
secming as one more abroad from some set
Element for day : sport, than profession
=. hunter.


All this the mounted traveller carefully
noticed before he crossed the stream to
coatinue his journey. and when they came
together pleasant salutations were exchang-
ed


- inc weather for travelling, sir, remSk
ed the man with the gun.


And for hunting also. | suppose" smi-
led the man on the horse.


Yes, there is game enough returned
the other, but | am not i good hunter,
and can only show one bear for my day 5
work 50 far, and that is almost useless to
he, for have no means of taking it away.
would HilIingly give a dollar for the use
o. horse ike yours If you can spare
five minutes or so, | would ike you to see
the bear it is just beyond these bushes,
some two or three hundred yards from
here"


Il will not only look at ii" said the
Traveller, dismounting and fastening the
horse. but Il not too heavy | will take it
along for you, as l am going the same
way


The hunter thanked him in a most cordial
manner and then, as if to make himself
agreeable. and keep up conversation, in
qIrei where the other was from, and learned
in reply that the latter resided 10 Albany,
was i merchant in good business, and was
travelling partly for his health, and partly
with view of making an extensive pur-
chase Of land


Well here We are exclaimed the hun
Jag. AMI the two emerged from dense
thicket, through which they had slowly
forced their way. into an open road; here
We are, and I'll show you as tat beast as
You ever saw. Observe where | point my
fife"


He stepped back eight or ten feet, delib-
egately raised his gun to his eye, and point
ed the muzzle at the head OF the traveller.
There was a fash, loud report, and the
j.yad.


This might, or might not have been the
first crime committed by the man with the
rde, but as the traveller fell the rife slipped
tr.m hl> hand, ami he shook violently from
head 10 foot; yet he ran to his victim and
b. sr.el'y robbed him of his pocket book,
god watch and chain, some curious seals
AM diamond ring which he fairly tore
IRON lis finger Then he dragged the body
INTO rhe tnicIct. plunged madly through
The bushes into the road, mounted the trav-
-er horse and dashed away from the aw-
ill scene.


We must now suppose lapse of twenty
years.


In the spring of 1887 there lived in the
CITY O.! New \ York banker and a million
are, whom we shall call Stephen Edwards.
lie owned a palatial mansion, splendidly
furnished, in tie very heart Of town, and he
and his wife were among the leaders of the
fashionable world They had daughter
Just turned out of sixteen, who was about
to be married to foreign nobleman- and
great preparations were being made for the
happy event


One day about this period, as the great
banker stood conversing with a gentleman
from another city, who had called to see
HIN on business, he observed that the latter
turned deadly pale and began to tremble.


My dear sir, said he, in his usual tone
OF ott-hand sympathy, what is the matter,
are you ill?"


A little faint, sir, but nothing to cause
any alarm, replied the other, hurriedly.
am subject to spells. If you will be
klnd enough to excuse me for ten minutes
OF 50, will take short walk aud return
letter