Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-08-03


storms. The heavens were gathering black
the clouds rushing from the sea, sudden
gusts of wind were moaning along the street
accompanied by heavy drops of rain, and
the face of the Tweed was troubled
" Heaven help thee, if thou intendest to
travel far in such night as this" said the
sentinel at the English gate, as the traveller
passed him and proceeded TO cross the
bridge.
In few minutes he was upon the bor-
ders Of the wide, desolate, and dreary moor
of Tweedmouth which for miles presented
a desert of whins, fern, and stunted heath,
with here and there dingle covered with
thick brushwood. He slowly toiled over
the steep hill, Drawing the storm Which now
ragged in widest fury. The rain fell in tor
rents, and the wind howled as a legion of
furnished wol'es, hurting its doleful and an
CRY echoes over the heath. Still the strang-
er pushed onward, until he had proceeded
about two or three miles from Berwick
when, as If unable longer to brave the storm
he sought shelter amidst some crab and
bramble bushes by the way side. Nearly an
hour had passed since he sought this i'm
| perfect refuge, and the darkness of the
night and the storm had increased together,
when the sound of horses feet was heard,
hurriedly FLASHING along the road. The RI
der bent his head to the blast Suddenly,
his horse was grasped by the bride, the RI
der raised his head, and the traveller stood
before him, holding pistol to his breast.
" Dismountn' cried the stranger, sternly.
The horseman, benumbed and stricken
with fear, made an effort to reach his arms
but in moment, the hand of the robber
quitting the bride, grasped the breast of
the rider, and dragged him TO the ground
He fell heavily on his face, and for several
minutes remained senseless. The stranger
seized the leathern bag which contained the |
mail for the north, and finging it on his !
shoulder, rushed across the heath.
Early on the following morning, the in
habitants of Berwick were seen hurrying, |
in groups, to the spot where the robbery |
had been committed, and were scattered in
every direction around the moor but no .
trace Of the robbery could be obtained.
Three days had passed, and Sir John
Cochrane yet lived The mail which con-
tanned his death-warrant had been robbed
and before another order could be given, the |
intercession of his father, the Earl Of Dun
donald, with the kings confessor, might be
successful. Grizel now became almost his
constant companion in prison, and spoke to
him words of comfort Nearly fourteen
days had passed since the robbery of the
mail had been committed, and protracted
ifs9Pe-1n Inc -ousom Of the p, .scner -1tcume7
more bitter than his first despair. But even
that hope, bitter as it was, persisted. The
intercession of his father had been unsuc-
cessiul-and second time the bigotcd, and
would be despotic monarch, had signed the
warrant for his death, and within little more
than another day that warrant would reach
his prison.
1.-The will of Heaven be done ' groaned
the captive.
Amen !" returned Grizcl, with wild We
hemence; :" but my father shall not de-
Again the rider with the mail had reach
ed the moor of Tweedmouth, and second
time he bore with him the doom of Coch-
rane. He spurred his horse to its utmost
speed, he looked cautiously before, behind,
and around him; and in his right hand he
carried pistol ready to defend himself
The moon shed ghostly light across the
heath, rendering desolation visible, and Civ
Ing spiritual embodiment to every shrub.
He was turning the angle of "A Struggling
copse, when his horse reared at the report of
pistol, the fire Of which seemed to dash
into its very eyes. At the same moment his
own pistol flashed, and the horse rearing
more violently, he was driven from the sad
die. In moment, the foot Of the robber
Was upon his breast, who bending over him,
and brandIshng short dagger in his hand,
said
Give me thine arms, or die ~
The heart of the kings servant failed
within him. and, without venturing to reply,
he did as he was commanded
" Now 60 thy way" said the robber stern
ly: but leave with me thy horse, and leave
with me the mal-lest a worse thing come
upon thee"
The man therefore arose, and proceeded
towards Berwick, trembling; and the rob-
Der, mounting the horse which he had left,
rode rapidly across the heath.
Preparations were making for the execu-
ton OF Sir John Cochrane, and the officers
of the law waited only for the arrival of the
mail with his second death-warrant, to lead
him forth to The scatIold, when tidngs arri-
we'd that the mail had again been robbed. -
For yet fourteen days, and the life Of the
prisoner would be agoin prolonged He
again fell on the neck of his daughter and
wept aud said:
-" 1t is good-the hand of Heaven is in
this |"
" Said not" replied the maden-and
for the first time she wept aloud" that my
father should not die ?"
The fourteen days were not vet passed,
when the prison doors flew open, and the
old Earl of Dundonald rushed to the arms
of his son. His intercession with the con-
fessor had been at length successful and
after twice signing the warrant for the exc
cution of Sir John, which had as often fail
ed lhereaching its destination, the king had
sealed his pardon. He had hurried with his
iather from the prison to his own house
ms family were clinging around him, she'd
ding tears of joy-and they were marveling
with gratitude at the mysterious providence
that had twice intercepted the mail, and sa-
we'd his life, when stranger craved an au-
dience. Sir John desired him to be adj
mitted-and the robber entered He was
habited, as we have before described. with
the coarse cloak and coarser ierkin h,t h;s