, 1864-03-05

ceeded about two or three miles from Der
wick, when, as if unable longer to brave the
storm, he sought shelter amidst some crab
and bramble bushes by the wayside. Nearly
an hour had passed since he sought this i'm
perfect refuge, and the darkness Of the night
and the storm had increased together, when
the sound Of q horses feet was heard, hur-
riedly plashing along the road. The rider
bent his head to the blast. Suddenly his
horse was grasped by the bride, the rider
raised his head and the traveller stood before
him, holding a pistol to his breast.
Dismount p cried the stranger, sternly.
The horseman, benumbed and stricken
with fear, made an effort to reach his arms,
but in moment the hand of the rObber,
quitting the bride, grasped the breast Of
the rider and dragged him to the ground.
He fell heavily on his face, and for several
minutes remained senseless. The stranger
seized the leathern bag which contained the
mail for the north, and flinging it on his
shoulder, rushed across the heath.
Early on the following morning, the in
habitants Of Berwick were seen hurrying in
groups to the spot where the robbery had
been committed, and were scattered in every
direction around the moor; but no trace Of
the robbery could be obtained. -
Three days had passed, and SirJ John COch-
rane yet lived. The mail which contained
his death-warrant had been robbed; and,
before another order for his execution could
be given, the intercession Of his father, the
Earl Of Dundonald, with the Kings con-
fessor, might be successful Grizel now be-
came almost his constant companion in pris-
on, and spoke to him words of comfort.
Nearly fourteen days had passed since the
robbery Of the mail had been committed,
and protracted hope in the bosom Of the
prisoner became more bitter than his first
despair. But even that hope, bitter as it
was, persisted. The intercession Of his father
had been nsuccessfal-and a second time
the bigoted and would-be despotic monarch
had signed the warrant for his death, and
within little more than another day that war
rant would reach his prison.
"The will of Heaven be done" groaned
the captive. E 81
"Amen!" returned Grizel, with wild ve-
hemence; "but my father shall not die !"
Again the rider with the mail had reached
the moor of Tweedmouth, and second time
he bore with him the doom Of Cochrane.
He spurred his horse to its utmost speed ;
he looked cautiously before. behind, and
around him; and in his right hand he car
ried pistol ready to defend himself The
moon shed ghostly light across the heath,
rendering desolation visible, and giving a
spiritual embodiment to every shrub. He
was turning the angle Of a struggling copse,
when his horse reared ut the report Of a
pistol, the FIRE Of which seemed TO dash into
It's very eyes. Atthe same moment his own
pistol flashed, and, the horse rearing more
violently, he was driven from the saddle.
In moment the foot Of the robber was upon
his breast, who, bending over him, and BRAN
dishing short dagger in his hand, 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" sternly said the rob-
Der, but leave with me thy horse, and leave
with me the mail, lest worse thing come
upon thee"
The man therefore arose and proceeded
towards Berwick, trembling; and the robber,
mounting the horse which he had left, rode
rapidly across the heath.
Preparations were making for the execu-
ton Of Sir John Cochrane, and the officers
Of the law waited only for the arrival Of the
mail with his second death-warrant to lead
him forth to the scaffold, when the tidings
arrived that the mail had again been robbed.
For yet fourteen days the life Of the prisoner
would be again prolonged. He again fell
on the neck Of his daughter, and wept and
said ID srs.451t..tss
"M Is good-the hand Of Heaven is in
thisP
Said not" replied the maiden-and
for the first time she wept aloud" that my
father should not der
The fourteen days were not yet past, when
the prison doors few open, and the old Earl
Of Dundonald rushed to the arms Of his son.
His intercession with the confessor had been
at length successful; and, after twice sign
ing the warrant for the execution Of Sir
John, which had as often failed in reaching
its destination, the King had sealed his
pardon. He had hurried with his father
from the prison to his own house-his fam
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