The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-07-08

which shown through all his gay banter
ing, and his willingness to oblige, ant
consideration for others. in all those SIN al
things by which person can prove him
self either SO pleasant or disagreeable as
fellow traveller. l...,.s. g.
"He certainly was a very gentleman
like person. aud very agreeable too. sale
the lady, turning to me, "but did you no
think there was something peculiar in hi.
voicel'
Peculiar! Not at all, ma'am," broke
in the merchant, who had taken vast fan
cy to the young man. sit was very
pleasant voice, and be was very pleas
ant fellow"
"Still," said the lady, II think hi.
voice was very pecuIiar,-so singular, that
am sure could swear to it anywhere
if | heard it again"
made no reply, and nothing more
was said about the officer or his voice. -
We couversed pleasantly together till We
reached the way-side inn, where We had
tea. We were to travel all night. The
day had been beautiful; but as the even.
ing come on, dark u asses of grey clouds
driftcd over the sky. The wind rose
every DOW and then peals ofthunder were
heard, and continuous heavy rain fell
. Neither moon nor stars was visible, but
at times the black clouds that bounded
the horizon parted, and a vivid fash OF
sheet lightning revealed to US the full
drearine,s of the scene around-tbe white
line of the road We were pursuing stretch.
ing on-on, into the black distance; the
bare desoate common, with here and
there few stunted bushes, pond or two
of uudd>h hue, and few tufts of rush
es growing by them; but DO vestige Of hu-
man hatitatons, not house within sight;
not a sound to be heard but the clatter of
horses boots, the rumble Of the coach
wheels dragging heavily along the rough
tiff clayey road, aud the plash, plash of
the rain drops, as they fell into the deep
pools caused by the rut,. The night, the
scene, was gloomy in the extreme.
II am not apt to be alarmed unneces-
sariiy," said the lady, ''but l must say
this is dreary spot; it looks like just
such a place as one would expect to be
robbed in. l wish VIC were safe in Lon
DON"
The words we're hardly out OF her
mouth when the coach suddenly pulled
UP. I0 an instant my hand was upon the
window, and | was about to inquire the
cause of the stoPpage; when man, whose
face was mpffied in Grape, rode up, and
pointing a pistol in at the open window,
exclaimed 10 fierce voice, "Y oor m oney
or your lives"
We were not heroic. We very meekly =
gave him the contents of our purses and
pocket books, aud theu were permitted to
coutinuo our journey. For some time We
were all too much frightened to speak
At last when We bad crossed the dreary,
desolate common, and come once more in
sight of human dwellings the lady said, i,
"Mr. Benson, DO you think the highway
mans voice was like that of the young
officer who diued with us!'
Like bis, Ma ami" said the Merchant;
"why the highwayman's voice was gruff
and fierce, and the young fellows soft
aud pleasant. You were too heightened
to notice, or you couldn't have though.
them alike"
Still" said the lady quietly, 81 think
the voice was like his" 1t bad not
struck me until she suggested the idea,
but now on reflection, | also was conviuc-
ed it acas his roice but did not choose to
say so The remsinder of our journey
passed quietly. We met no further mis-
adventure aud were glad enough when the
coach rumbled into the streets of Lon
don. Before we parted, said l to my
companions, "be good enough to tell me
the exact sums you have each lost, and
your addresses; I also will give you mine;
and then if any of us hear anything more
about this highwaymap, we shall be able
to communicate with one another" Of
course they willingly assented.
When the coach stopped, the merchant
sprang out, and began to hustle his lug
gage. | helped the lady to descend, and
as | did so | said, II should be glad of a
word with you alone, Madame" She
followed me into the inn. IL wanted,
said |, to ask you before we parted, if you
are sure that the bighwayman's voice re-
sembled the young oficer'sl" 81 am SO
sure" she replied, "that | could swear to
it. II acaS his U0Gce."
"I must confess it struck me, too, as
being very like it," said |; "but as We
bave no proof beyond mere conjecture,
and Mr.. Thomss positively denies that it
resembled it in the least, think it would
be more prudent to say nothing about the
similarity. | will meantime make some
inquiries and let you know the result"
81 will do as you wish, Mr.. Benson"
she replied; "after all might be wrong,
and would not wish to injure an inno-
cent person." So we shook hands and
parted. I called chaise and drove to
my hotel. On arriving there, ! instant
ly sent out for an army List. The young
officer had told 10 what regiment he serv-
ed and the name of bis colonel, as well