The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-05-01
The. Mail RObber
A FRAGMENT OF ENGLISH HISTORY.

When the tyranny and bigotry of tho
last James drove his subjects to take ur
arms against him, one Of the most formidable
enemies to- his usurpat,on was Sir John
Cochrane, prominent actor in Arygle's re-
beIlion.
For ages destructive doom seemed to
hang over the house Of Campbell, enveiopine
in a common ruin all who united their for.
tines to the cause Of the chieftains. The
same doom en.ompassed SirJohn Cochrane
He was surrounded by the Kings troop
long, bold, and desperate, was his resist
ance: but at length, overpowered by mum.
bcrs, he was taken prisoner, tried and con-
dcmncd to die upon the scaffold. He had
but a few days to live, and the .jailer llv
awaited the arrival of his death warrant, to
lead him forth to execution. His family and
relatives had visited him in prison, and ex-
changed with him the last, the long, the
heart yearning farewell But there was one
who came not with tho rest to receive his
blessing--oae who was the pride of his eyes
and Of his house, even Gizelle, the daugh-
ter Of his love.
Twilight was casting deep gloom over
the grating Of his prison house, and he was
mourning for last look of his favorite child
and his head was pressed against the cold
damp cell, to cool the feverish pnls,tion that
shot through it like streams of fire, when
tie do.or ofhis apartment turned slowly or
its unwilling hinges, and his keeper entered,
followed by young and beautiful lady.
Her person was tall aud commanding, her
eyes bright and fearless, but their bright
ness told of sorrow sorrow too deep to, be
wip.d away and her raven tresses parted
over All open brow, clear and pure as the
polished marble. The unhappy captive
r,scd his head as the two entered.
MY child, my own Grizelle p he exclaim-
ed, and she fell upon his bosom.
''My father, my dear father!" sobbed the
miserable maiden, and dashed away the
tears that accompanied the words.
Your interview must be short, very
short" said the jaler, as he turned away
and left them for few minutes together.
Heaven help and comfort thee, my daugh
tor" added Sir John, while he held her to
his breaat and imprinted kiss upon her
brow. 81 feared that should die without
hestowing my blessing upon the head Of my
own child, and that stung me more than
death itself; but thou art come, and the
last blessing ofthy wretched father"
NAY, father, iorbeary' she exclaimed !;
"not thy last blessing! not thy last-my
father shall not die."
BE calm, be calm my child" he return
ed 'Wouid to Heaven / could comfort
thee, my own! But there is no hope with
in three days thou and oil my little ones will
be''-
Fatherless, he would have said, but the
word died on his lips.
"Threc days. repeated she raising her
head from his breast, but pres ling his hand,
sthrec days; then there is hops-my f,ther
shall live! Is not my grandfather with the
confessor AMI the master Of the King? From
him he shall beg the life of his son, and my
father shall not die
"Nay, nay, my Grizelle," returned he,
''be not dsoeived there is no hope Already
the King has sealed the order Of my exccu
tim. and the messenger Of death is on his
way. y
Yet my father shall not--sAall not de-"
repeated, clasping her hands together.
Heaven Sped daughters purpose" she