The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-02-09
Sin Gnglsb 5targ.
!, From the New York Dutehman. F,
] he Bigh b aymap' $ 8riae.
BY MRS. HEsLER rArrErAs.

whose fine clothes, high bearing, reckless
hardihood, and frequently good birth took
away from the superficial observer, much Of
the darkness of crime actually surrounding
their deeds and lives. You were divested
of your rings and purses, ''often with de-
meanor so polished, that really it rather re-
sembled paying toll to good manners than
submitting to a highway robbery robbie
ry is is true, yet still it was more soothing to
the. feelings at the time, than being knocked
down with the butt end of pistol, or bullied
as well as plundered. Fashion, too, capri
cious in this as in all else, affected. some
knights of the road above others, and fine
ladies interested themselves amazingly about
the deeds of highwaymen, conspicuous for
handsome persons. and brave conduct, or
rather daring villany. These fair danes al
so were much concerned in their heroes final
incarocrations and exits at the fatal tree of
Tyburn. But highwaymen had, as every
body knows, been still more popular in the
proceeding reign yet ever and annon as the
profession seemed to be on the verge'of decay,
and likely to dwindle down into more com
monplace theft and murder, some new candi-
date was sure to start up and revive the dy
ing embers of the road of chivalry. One in
particular was notorious enough in his brief
day, for most of the qualities have deserib-
ed, as sometimes attributes these knights Of
the road. He was well connected, too his
uncle being elergymen in high church
appointment. His person was elegant his
manners courtly, and he was rash in an en-
traordinary degree. Mingling freely in fash
| ionable society in his real name, his deeds of
| lnSNbh h. t,,11- f.I, 4
assumed one. His proper designation was
Richard Mowbray, that belonging the road,
his sole source of revenue, was Captain de
Montmorency--a patronymchgh gh-sounding
enough. do not mean, however to infer
that any suspected the man of fashion and
his highwayman to be one and the same
person that was never, known till the event
which am going relate took place
Richard Mowbray had spent his own
small patrimony years before the period at
which the narrative commences, in the pleas
ures of the town; it had melted in ridottos,
playhouses, faro, hofse-fesh, and hazard ;he
had exhausted the kindness and forbearance
of his relations, from whom he had borrow
ed and begged, till borrowing or begging be-
came impraeticgble. He had known most
extremes of life; and, moreover, when debts
and poverty stared him grimly in the face, he
knew not one useful art by which he might
support existance, or pay dividened to his
| credits. What was to be done? He eluded
Jail as long us he could and eventful night rid
ing on horseback, ,and one mediiating gloomi-
ly on his evil fortunes, he met--coyered by
the darkness from all discovery traveller
we'll Observation-Disclosures with money
bags, and bearing likewise the burden of ex-
cessive fair. .
1t was sudden thought-acted upon as
suddenly. Resistance was not dreamed of,
Mowbray made off with his booty, consider.
able enough to repair his exhausted finances,
and to pay his most pressing creditors. 1t
was literally robbing Peter to. pay Paul.
And so by night, under shelter of its dark
/ ness, did the ruined gentleman become the
highwayman. People who knew his cir,
cumstances whispered their surprise when it
became known that Richard Mowbray had
paid his debts, and that he himself made
more his customary appearance. Now his
! fine person was ever clad in the newest bra.
veries of the day, and in his double ciarae.
ter many conquest did he make, for lie dis
burthened ladies of their jewels and piirses
with so fine manner, that the defrauded
fair ones forgot their losses in admiration Of
their charming despoiier, and Richard in
both his phases drank deep draughts of
| pleasure, till hc drained the Circean cup, to
its vericst drcgs. Just as even pleasure be-
came wearisome when festive and high bred
delights palIed on his sated passions, and
the lower extremes oflicentiousness and hard
drinking, ruffiing and fighting, diversified by
the keen excitement and threats of danger,
4 which distinguished his predatory existence
hbegas 10 saiets,a new light broke on the
feyerish atmosphsge of his life. lie loved
Yes! Richard MoNbtay, the ruined patri-
clan. De Montmorecry, tlie0 gallant high.
wayman, who had hitherto resisted every
good or evil influence which Love, pure or
earth-stained, offers to his votaries, succumb-
ed to the simple charms ofa young, unlearn-
ed, unambi;ious girl; so youthful. that even
her tastes and habits, childish rs they were
could be scarcely more so than suited her
years. Flayia Hardcourt had iust attained
her sixteenth year--had never been to a
boardingschool, and loved nothing so much
s'--even her birds and pet rabbits--.as her
dear old father, an honest country gentle
man, and worthy Magistrate. Flayia had
never been even TO London, for Mr.. Hard.