THE MARRIAGE PORTION. There lived, about five or six miles from Easton, Pennsylvania, a few years since, an honest farmer named Henderson, who had two very pretty daughters, Ellen and Maude. The first was about twenty three years of age, while the latter was but nineteen. The farmer was a thrifty, well-to-do man, though by no means rich; but the family lived in excellent style, and the daughters had received good educations. Both of these girls were pretty, but Maude was perhaps the handsomer. There was no lack of attentive young gentlemen at the farm, though the neighborhood was not very thickly settled. But "beauty draws us with a single hair," and the young ladies were the centre of a gay little circle of friends. By and by it came about that an earnest, handsome and sturdy young farmer fell desperately in love with Maude and proposed to her. On her part she loved Harry Masters above all the young fellows she knew and told him frankly that he might speak to her father. In the meantime she confided the matter to her mother, a kind-hearted, sympathetic parent, who saw no objection to the choice of her daughter, but all was left with the father to decide. Henderson was a very straightforward and open-mouthed man. That is, he said exactly what he meant, no more or less, and that he uttered freely. When Harry Masters called him on one side and told his especial errand as to Maude, the father said, "Well, Mr. Masters, Maude is young. I wanted Ellen to be married first; she's oldest, and I have got a marriage portion of $1,200 to give her; but I haven't laid by anything yet for Maude." "I have got pretty well beforehand Mr. Henderson, for a man but twenty-four years old; we shall be able to do very well, I have no doubt. "You mean you'll take Maude without any marriage portion?" said the father. "Yes, very gladly." "Well, its pleasant to hear you say so, because it shows your honest affection Mr. Masters; but I am too proud to let Maude marry until I can give her a thousand or two towards housekeeping. "It is not worth waiting for, sir, as long as we really don't need it and both are content." "Then, again, I'd rather Maude wouldn't marry until her sister is married, because she's so much older, do you see, it will actually make her an old maid. It isn't fair Mr. Masters." "Ellen is very popular with the gentlemen, and will soon be married," said the other. "That's just what I have said to myself, and then I shall begin to pick up a marriage portion for Maude." "I trust that is the only objection, Mr. Henderson?" said Harry Masters. "Why, yes; you are a promising and respectable young man and come of a good family," said the farmer; "but I can't let Maude go until I have got together a respectable marriage portion to give with her hand." "Perhaps you will think more favorably about it," said the lover. "I'll speak with you again." "All right, Mr. Master." Harry and Maude were very fond of each other, and now talked over the matter very seriously. Maude could not blame her father and did not herself like the idea of going to Harry without a proper portion to contribute towards their joint partnership in domestic life. "Never mind, Henry," said the handsome young girl; "Ellen will soon be married, I have pretty good reasons for knowing." "Ah, but then your father says he wants time to pick up a marriage portion for you, and that will take three or four years, perhaps." "That is a good while, is it not Harry?" said Maude, just blushing a little, for fear it sounded forward and bold. "It's ages," said the young fellow. "Think of waiting three years-why, we shall be old folks by that time." "Nonsense, Harry, now you are joking." "I was never more earnest in my life," said he as he stole a kiss from her pretty lips, and ran away, so as not to hear her chide him for his boldness." "Maude," said her father, coming into the house from the barn, "I 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 I want to pay them off to-night." "Very well father, let John put the side-saddle on and I will be ready in five minutes. The sorrel mare was brought up to the door, and Maud was soon on her way at an easy hand gallop towards Easton. She had an excellent seat, and was a good horsewoman. As she knew this very well she would not have objected to have Harry see her just now; but he had gone a few moments before in an opposite direction. When Maude got into Easton she rode directly to the bank, but was unfortunate enough to find that it was already closed. After a few moment's thought she resolved to try to 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 looking person took out 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 only 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 towards 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 a ride." "Oh, we don't mind five miles in the country." "You are an excellent rider." "I have ridden since I was six years old," she said; "but my sister Ellen is a better rider than I am." "You are generous to admit it," said the stranger. "Why, it is only the truth," she answered. After they had passed over about two miles, they came to a very lonely piece of road, quite removed from any dwelling houses. Still, as the stranger appeared so gentlemanly, and had addressed her so politely, she had not the least suspicion of any evil intention on his part. Presently he said suddenly, "I 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 I say!" he replied suddenly. "I shall do nothing of the sort!" she answered, firmly. "I am sorry to draw a pistol upon a lady," he continued, suiting the action to the word, "but I must have that hundred dollar bill at once." "Do you mean to rob me?" "I must have the money!" It was still with difficulty that she could believe that the man was in earnest; but when he now cocked his pistol and held it towards 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 a brave-hearted girl, and even now did not turn pale nor tremble in the least, but saw that 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 the wind blew it into the road and carried it gently several yards from them. The stranger alighted to get it and quick as thought Maude struck her horse a smart blow, in order to get out of the robber's power. The sorrel mare was a spirited little creature and sprung into a smart gallop at once; while the stranger's horse, which had been left standing beside her, also started off at full speed in her company. Bang went the robber's 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 a cradle at that speed, and in ten minutes she dashed into her father's 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 pistols and rifle, but he knew that the scoundrel would naturally take at once to the woods, where he could not follow or find him. "Well, we've got his horse, at any rate," said the farmer; "and he is worth more than $100." "Hallo!" said the man John, who had been taking the saddle-bags from the strange horse. "What is it, John?" "These bags is full of something." "I should think so," said the farmer, as he unstrapped the leather bags. They were found to contain some counterfeit plates, a quantity of counterfeit money, in various bills, and also a little over $1,500 in good money. "Huzza," cried the farmer. "What is it father?" said Maude. "Why your trip to Easton has proved a profitable one, at all events. Here's over $1,500, good money!" "Ah but it will be claimed by the owner." "Do you think a counterfeiter will dare to come for the tools that would convict him?-to say nothing of highway robbery." "I didn't think of that." That evening Henderson sent John over to young Masters with a message to call around and see him, to which Harry responded instantly. "Mr. Master," said the farmer, as he came into the large, old-fashioned sitting-room, "you remember what you asked of me this afternoon?" "Yes, sir." "Well, I give my consent. Maude has just furnished her own marriage portion. Take her, my boy, and be happy."