Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-02-09
THE IRISH HIGHWAYMAN.

neV by easy stages, I'm his own carriage, and
with his own sleek and well-fed horses, in
stead of trusting his bones to lhe tender mer-
cies of an Irish post chaise and the unbroken
garrOnS used for drawing these crazy vehicles.
One part of his route was through a wild
and mountainous district; and the Bishop be-
ing a very humane man, and considerate of his
cattle, made point ofquitting his carriage at
the foot of every hill and walking to the top.
On one occasion he had lotered 10 look at the
extensive prospect, induIging in revere upon
its sterile appearance, and the change that
agriculture might produce, and in so doing
CHANGED to suffer his family and servants 10 be
considerably in advance. Perceiving this, he
hastened to make up for lost, time, and was
stepping out with his best speed when fell
low leaped from behind q heap Of loose stones,
and accompanying the flourish of a huge club
with a demoniac- yell, demanded "money!'
with ferocity of tone and manner perfectly
appalling
The Bishop gave the robber all the silver he
had loose in his pocket, hoping that il would
satisfy him. but he was mistaken, for no soon
er had the rufian slowed it away in a capacious
rent in his tattered garment, than with another
whlrI OF his bludgeon, and an awful oath, he
exclaimed
sand is it with the likes of his I'm afther
letting you off, few paltry tenpennes? It's
the gould III have, OF III spatter your brains.
Arrah, don't stand shivering and shaking there,
like Quaker in the ague, but lug out your
purse, you diviI, Immediately, or I'll bate you
as blue as whetstone."
His lordship most Reluctantly yielded his
well~flled purse, saying 10 tremuous accents,
MY good fellow, there it is, don't i'll use me-
I've given you all, pray let me depart"
'Fair and softly, if you pase; as sure as I'm
not good fellow. hav'nt done with you yet
must sarch for your note case, for III engage
you have few bits of paper payable at the
bank; so hand it over, or you'll sorrow to-
night"
1t was given up; glance at the road showed
that all hope of assistance from his servants
was uBavailing. The carriage had disappeared,
but the Bishop made an instructive movement
as though anxious to escape from further pill
lage.
AWAIT awhile, or maybe I shall get angry
with you. Hand over your watch and sales,
and then you may trudge." ....-
Now it happened that the Divine felt par.
ticular regard for his watcIl--not so much from
its being of considerable value, but because it
had been presented to him by his first patron,
and he ventured to expostulate.
"Surey you have taken enough; leave me
my watch, and I'll forgive you have done" !"
"Who ax'd your forgiveness, you old Varmint!
Would you triAe with my good nature! Don't
force me to do anything Id be sorry for--5ut,
without any more bother, just give me your
watch, or, by all that's holy
And he jerked the bludgeon from his right
hand 10 his left, spat on the horny palm of the
former, and regrasped the formidable weapon
as though seriously bent on bringing it into
operation; this action was not unheeded by his
Victim--he drew forth the golden time. piece,
and with heavy sigh handed it to his spoiler,
who, rolling The chain and seals around il, found
some wider aperture in his apparel into which
he crammed il; and giving himselfa shake 10
ascertain that it had found, By It's own gravity,
place OF safety, be said
''And now be off with you, and thank the
blessed saints that you leave me without a
scratch on your skin, or the value of your lite
tie finger hurt"
It needed no persuasion to induce the Bishop
10 turn his back on the despoier of his world.
iy goods, and having no weight to carry he
set off at what equestrians term a hard canter;;
scarcely, however, had he reached the middle
of the precipitous road, when he perceived his
prosecutor running after him. He endeavored
TO redouble his speed. Alas! what chance had
be in race with one whose muscles were as
strong and elastic as highly tempered steel?
"Stop, you nimble,foot thief of the world!
roared the robber--'Stop, tell yOu. I've par-
ting word with you"
The exhausted and defenceless clergyman,
60 e. :.-L-S
denly came TO a stand>still. The fellow ap.
preached, and his face, instead Of ts former
ferocity, was lit up with whimsical roguish-
ness of expression, as he said--"and is Il like-
1y I'd let you of with better coat on YOUR
back than my own! and will be after losing
the chance of that elegant hat and wig? Off
with them this moment, and then You'll be
quit ONE"
{ The foot>pad quietly divesied the Bishop of
his siDglesbreasted coat-laid violent hands
upon the clerical hat and fuI.bottomed wig
put them on his own person, and then insisted
on seeing bis late apparel used in their stead;
and with a loud laugh ran off, as though his
last feat bad been the mos: meritoricus of bis
life.
Thankful at having escaped with unbroken
bones, his lordship was not long in overtaks
ing his carriage; the servants could not repress
their laughter 1T seeing their master in such
strange and motley attire: but there was in his
fuce such evidences Of terror and suffering that
they speedily checked their risble nclina-
tons, particularly when they learned by a few
brief words the danger he Ilad undergone. aMy
dear W. exclaimed his atfectionaEe wife, nj.
ter listening to the account of the perils 10
which her husband had been exposed, 'for
heavens sake take off that filthy jacket, and
throw it out of The Window on can put nv
warm cloak over your shoulders till we reach
the next stage, and then you will be able 10
purchase some habit better suited to your sta
ton and calling. I"
"This ismore easily said than done, my love,
he replied; Il have lost all the money T.posses,
sed; not guinea is left me to pay our ex-
penses to-night My watch too, that SO dear
az Z