Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-27
W. ID. WALLACH.
THE BORROW
A PARISH CLv

nFHt meet every day. He was quite the life
ne neighbOrhOod. All this happened when
london was ten times as far away from us as
1t Is now, and people hadn't taken so much to
papers; though, as for politics, we were glad
enough to read about battles and that. So
concerning young Mr.. Robert, it was under
stood that 1T might be partly the young gem
tleman's fault, but before anybody knew sny-
thing OF the case, everybody agreed that the
Squire had been hard on him. So the news of
the split between the old and the young one
caused plenty of conversation, Won nav he
sure. When we heard what he had done. We
decided that it would be the best for him If he
did go down on his Inarroybopes. but IL was
pretty certain that he wouldn't. For Mr..
Robert, he also eorid De stiff when he pleased
he was q chip. f''Ao0'
But 1 must t.ell you. The fact was. Mr..
Robert, as was generally known. had for a
very iong tD he been what is called sweet upon
~ ousan pa' Tson, and she was something to be
sneet VI on; plump, open faced young lass,
not owe I-vain, and sensible, though, of course,
we CO didn't think that, with her talking of
t Ghe iay marrying young Mr.. Robert, which
sn ,did, till her father, being one of the Squire s
enants, properly stopped it, not before il came
to the Squire 8 ear, though. Talk of electric
telegrapns Village gossips used to be just as
quick In the conveying OF intelligence, and
gave you great deal more at a time So the
Squire, who wanted Mr.. Robert to marry one
hls round hat, and down he goes to farmer
Dawson.
. Dawsen," says he, 81 hear that boy of
mine hangs about your doors good bit. You d
better see to the locks and bolts He's a sbarp
fellow, and don't give his time for nothing. 3
squire, says the farmer, ''if he chooses to
act scarecrow outside there, I've no helm for
1T; but III take care he don't get to be q fx
ture inside.''
Keep sharp eye on your daughter, Dav-
son, says the Squire
one IN family's enough, Squire" saws
the farmer And he must have spoken heayi-
~, Iol ms niece, Martha Green, had gone
away In bad manner out of that very house
Wnere ne sat. Some said it was Mr.. Robert
himself who had beguiled the poor girl. and
was now at the same game with her cousin.
others thought better of him as to that. and
we're sure II was his college friend, Mr.. Dan
Sy' sno had oeen seen about with her during
nar5. sio,s S At tne ELQuire's. She left farmer
lawson mouse after one of these visits. Mr..
ROBERT was way at the time. and that gave
sCiUI W wn Il was said against him. But his
ilIShus .Idn't believe it, if bis enemies did.
when Mr.. Robert found the farmers
ooo banged in his face, he was mighty wrath,
Iou may credit me. Worse when he heard il
was through the Squire having been down
there on particular business. What does he do
but go straight to the Squire and ask him what
he meant The Squire retorts by asking him
what he means That's how the split began
The servants said that Mr.. Robert burst out
OF the library, swearing that he would 60 and
MARY Susan Dawson on the spot. He didn't
do tnat, but he managed to appoint to meet
her by night. She went, as she'd have gone
through IRE and water. Then he asked her
TO go Oh with him TO London to be married
While she was debating about it-for I sup
pose she hesitated-up came Will Green her
cousin, Martha's brother. Will was xhistling,
nod AurvnrA L. = L
ing at them. He was an odd, Indifferent fell
loW-one who made you believe nothing af-
iected him. Don't think you'll astonish
ne, was his customary expression. So, he
says, . You're going after Martha, are you,
Susan! Make my compliments to her" And
then he turned on his heel and sauntered off
Susan had a shock at the mention Of Martha
The upshot was, that she went homo and
50 did Mr.. Robert, and the next morning
the great quarrel took place. for the Squire
somehow had heard of Mr.. Roberts meet
ing with Susan. They got to high words
The Squire threatened to kick him out of
the house, and as Mr.. Robert had money,
he said he would go, and not return till he
was asked He went in a huff with us all
We heard OF him spending money like fire.
De was away two years just, when we heard
ne was In prison for debt, and one morning
Miss Susan was missing. Didn't the gossips
ny about Farmer Dawson hung his head
cheerfuller than could be expected By-and-
by Susan returns. The farmer took her in,
which he was much praised for, and he was
kind to her, and wouldn't let the vicar rebuke
her, which rather went against his character
In our place However, things passed like of
old. The Squire seemed to have forgotten Mr..
Robert; Susan was mum, Will Green did his
farm-Work, and sneered away at his superiors
You must know that we had fine roads round
Benthoime 1t lay just between two market
towns, and was not such a distance from a toll
erably-sized city. The roads were lonely, and
people used often to say, they wondered more
bad work wasn't done. They even gave up
wondering. The vicar rode home one night
cleaned out, and saving my respect for his
memory, in as awful a fright as mortal man
can be. "A highwayman had stopped him. A
pretty commouOn there was in Bentholme
Mlthln month we had as many as twelve
downright open robberies-three to a week
There was a meeting Of magistrates-consta-
bies were moved about, and all the farmers
said they'd be cautious. But farmers never
are cautious after market-days. Besides, this
was terrible fellow. He not only knew who
they were, and where they were going-he
knew always exactly how much money their
purses contained, and used to name the sum-
That was what unnamed them more than
anything. They gave up at that. 1t didn't
Look human. How we came to know this was
through Farmer Burmess He was riding
NOME IrOn OCk0dm market one nlght-pienty
Of ale in him, and up trots my gentleman
Good night, Farmer Burmess," says he.
Good night, answered the farmer, looking
at him, queerly, for he had a veil on his face
"I am rather in want of cash to night"
says the other. ''Can you accommodate me?''
It's an uneiyil request civilly put, says
Farmer Burmess "No, can't, SO good night
again" s..s.. -. -
:" I'm sorry to have to enforce it," says the
other; "but I'm only borrower. You'll have
it again some day, which you can't say 70
your brains, if they 60"
With that lie outs with pistol. The farmer
stopped short. He was a cool hand, but he had
no weapons. Says he:
i" You seem pretty clever. Now, if you'll
tell me what money I've got about me, 10 a
shilling, I'll hand it out. II not, vel part as
we are. Is that fair2'
"Quite," said the highwayman.
"Then it's bargain! How much is it?"
says Farmer Burmess
Hand out f22 lbs. Cd, and am satisfied -
The farmer started-he didn't want telling
how much he had He and his purse parted
eompany. The highwayman called to him: