New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-20
CHAPTER III.
An ADVENTURE Or THE HIGHWAY.

Since the day on which the lifeless form of Albert
Percy was borne mp from the wood TO the terrace in
front of the castle, twoand-twentyyears have passed
Almost an age Boys and girls have grown 10 be
men and women; youths and maidcns have become
middc-aged and those who were IN the prime of
active life have passed away.
Great changes have taken place nj Abbotsw0d
/ Castle. John Percy aud his vito have been dead
these ten years: Eustace Percy IN the marquis now.
and Isabel ~. John, that was, has been his wife
One child has been born to Eustaco Percy and only
one. But that one child has been enough 10 com
mand all the love OF the happy parents 4 girl and
they call her AGNES and the tenants of AbbOtswod
and the fishermen who sometimes come To the castle
and the people from farand near, who come there
visitors do not speak falsely when they declare that
Agnes Percy Is the most beautiful glrl they ever
saw.
Since Sir Johns death-a time now ten years agone
Owen CalliugtOn had been regularly, on the first
days of January, April July, and October, of each
year and drawn out, in the name of Albert Calling
ton, the sum of sNty-twO pounds and ten shllIngs
from the hands of the banker whom the old marquis
had selected his administrator. lie had done this
until within year but about yearago. rs Eusace
learned from the banker (the banker told it of his
own accord for il was a subject which Eustace never
broachcdl owen had brought the young man Albert
with him, and introduced him; and since then the
money had been paid to Albert Calllngtons own
order.
Sir Eustace had no doubt in his own mind con-
corning the meaning of this. lie had never asked
any questions, and he had never heard "A word from
any on the subject but still he believed that
| this Young Calngton was his own brothers child;
and 80 believing lie not only saw the money paid
with cheerful heart but he resolved, if the OppOT
tunity presented itself, TO do something more
for the youth.
Toward tho last of October. In the year 1852, the
Marquis of AbbOtswold had business with his banker
in Norwich, and he went down to attend to 1t. He
reached Norwich too late to do business with his
banker that day: he sought out a few of his
friends with whom he passed "a very pleasant evon-
ing. On the next day he did his business. and at
noon he was ready TO set forth OH his return with
he intended 10 send to London by his confidential
agent. who was going thither by water,
His lOrdship had not observed that men had fol-
lowed close upon his heels his way from AbbOts-
void nor had he observed that these same men had
watched him closely while in Norwich and when he
stood in the bankers office. and put his well-hlled
pocket book away in his BOSOM he paid no attention
note and had no seen that this man went out and
joined other men, and that they all rode away to the
northward together he would probably have paid no
heed for his thoughts had never once dwelt upon
the proposition that any man could plot against his
peace
The marquis had only about thirty miles to ride,
and. the afternoon pleasant. he suffered his
horse to jog along at pleasure until he reached Wal
singham, where he stopped at the Red Lion, to let
his horse breathe awhile. The distance from this
place TO Abb0ttswod was not more than twelve
miles, and pretty he set forth again. He had
ridden five miles or so, and was thinking that hG
must hurry on If he would reach home before dark,
road and that two mon on foot were coming out into
tho highway. lie might not have paid any attention
to this had he not noticed, moment afterwards,
that two more men were coming out from the by-way
on the opposite side. AT first he took these men 10
be negroes, and he was wondering where thav conld