Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-30

spoke to him words of comfort. Nearly four
teed days had passed since the protracted hope
in the bosom of the prisoner became more
bitter than his first despair. The intercession
of his father had been unsuccessful-and a
second time the bigoted and would be des-
potic monarch signed the warrant for his
death, and within Il little more til IN another
day the warrant would reach his prison.
"The will of heaven be done" groaned the
captive.
"Amen!" returned Grizel, with wild vehe-
mence; ''but my father shall not die"
Again the rider with the mail had reached
the moor of Tweedmouth, and a second time
he bore with him the doom of Cochrane. He
spurred his horse to its utmost speed; he look
ed cautiously before and behind him, and
in his right hand he carried pistol ready to
defend himself, The moon shed CHASTITY
light across the heath, rendering desolation
visible, and giving spiritual embodiment to
every shrub. He was turning the angle of a
struggling copSe, when his horse reared at the
report of pistol, the fire of which seemed to
dash into its very eyes. At the same moment
his own pistol flashed, and the horse reared
more violently, and he was driven from the
saddle. In moment the foot of the robber
was upon his breast, who bending over him
and brandishing a short dagger in his hands,
said, "Give me thine arms, or die -
The heart Of the kings servant failed
within him, and without venturing to reply,
he did as he was commanded.
"Now go thy way," cried the robber stern
ly, "but leave with me thy horse, and leave
with me the mail, lest wor Sc thing come
upon thee"
The man therefore arose and proceeded
towards Berwick, trembling; and the robber,
mounting the horse which he left, rode rapidly
across the heath.
Preparations were making for the execu-
ton of Sir John Cochrane, the officers of the
law waited only for the arrival Of the mail
with the second death warrant, to lead him
forth to the scaffold, and the tidngs arrived
that the mail had been robbed. For yet four
teen days and the life of the prisoner would be
again prolonged. He again fell on the neck
Of his daughter, and wept, and said 1t is
good the hand of heaven is in this!'
''Said [ not" replied the maiden, and for
the first time she wept aloud, ''that my father
should not die?"
The fourteen days were not yet passed,
when the prison door flew open, and the Earl
of Dundonald rushed to the arms of his son.
His intcrcession with the contessor had at
length been successful; and after twice sign
ing the warrant for the execution of Sir John,
which had as often failed in reaching its des-
tination, the king had sealed his pardon. He
had hurried with his father from the prison to
the house-his family were clinging around
him, shedding tears of joy-and they were
marvelling with gratitude at the mysterious
providence that had twice intercepted the mail
and saved his life, when stranger craved an
audience. Sir John desired him to be admit
ted; and the robber entered. He was habited
as we have before described, in the coarse
jerkin; but his bearing was above his condi-
ton. On entering, he slightly touched his
beaver, but remained with it on.
''When you have perused these taking
two papers from his bosom, least them in the
fre!"
Sir John glanced on them, started and be-
came pale-they were his death warrants.
''My delivererl" exclaimed he, show shall
| thank thee,-how repay the savior Of my
life? My father, my children, thank him for
IISS.'
The old earl grasped the hand of the stran-
ger, the children embraced his knees, and he
burst into tears.
"Bywhat name" eagerly inquired Sir John,
'Shall thank my deliverer|
The stranger wept aloud, and raising his
beaver, the raven tresses of Grizel Cochrane
fell upon the coarse cloak.
''Gracous Heavenl" exclaimed the aston
ished and enraptured father-''my own child
my sayior-my own Grizel."