Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-07-23

/ his sword than he received blow upon biz
c right arm that caused his weapon to drop
|, and immediately afterwards he was dragged
G from his saddle TO the ground. He quickly
G regaincd his feet, and faced the ruffians, who
\ had now gathered together before him.
Look ye,. your lordsnip," spoke tall
, powerful fellow, who held his club in .
inenacing manner, 'do you mean to make
I us fight for il because, if you do, egad
; yonil have enough Of it; an that right
, quickly, too
: This was time for his lordship to consid-
er; and what conclusion he might have ar
rived Mt we cannot say =; for hardly had the
, burly ruilian ceased speaking when new
conner appeared upon the scene. The noise
ana excitement of the strife had prevented
! the party from hearing the tramp of the horse
Until both horse and rider were upon the
spot, having come from the southwark.
Halo! What is this?'
So demanded the stranger; and, as he
spoke, he slipped from his saddle, and ap-
preached the marquis's side. He saw at u
J glance that gentleman was opposed by five
stout and disguised ruflians, and with quick
discernment he readily comprehcnded the
whole matter.
How now, villains, why have you way
laid this gentleman in such u manner?''
" II you like to put your head in the same
trap with his lordship's, you're welcome,
I'm sure, replied the man who had last adj
dressed the marquis.
TITS iordshii,s' repeated tie stranger
!. Elisiacc Percy, at your service, SIR"
said the marquis.
And, having thus spoken, he darted to
where his sword had fallen, and picked it
up The movement was so quick that the
rascals could not prevent it; and as the
marquis quietly moved back to the strangers
side, after he had regained his sword, they
did not offer then to touch him. They saw
that the new. conner was without arms of
any kind-unless he might have had small
pistol hidden away-and they evidently
concluded not to fear him
rs this Lord Percy, Marquis of Abbots-
wold? the stranger demanded, with lively
emotion.
sTtc same, gentle sir"
"Then, cgad, let's set these fellows aside,
for would fain accompany you to Abbots-
void"
The ruflians seemed at once to compre
hend that they had found one who might
prove troublesome customer If he were not
quickly disposed Of, for they raised their
clubs in beigcrent manner, and their
| spokesman said to him, not in very gentle
| tones:
"Looke, my fine gentleman, just you mix
| up in this, and you'll find at you've come
just in time to get your head broke. Take
that, and try i'll"
Now when the rascal told the gentleman
to take that and try it, he meant to have
accompanied the invitation with blow up
on the head from his club but, somehow, the
gentleman was too quick for him, for the
latter not only lodged the blow, but he
made movement like lightning-a COM
pound movement, which consisted in grasp
ing the ruflian's club with his left hand, at
the same time dealing him blow with his
right, directly under the ear, which settled
him as though he had been stricken by an
AK.
For few seconds, the marquis was held
SO spell-bound by the strangers movements
that he could only suffer his sword to drop
in his grasp while he looked on in wonder;
and as he looked, he could only think ofthe |
story he has so often read in Holy Writ, of |
Samson laying about among the Philstines |
with the jaw-bone. Two of the ruffians had |
the stranger sent to earth, when he who had |
been first stricken down with the fist,
crawled up and approached the Titan from |
behind. When Percy saw this he sprang to |
the work, and in a very few moments four |
of the robbers had bitten the dust, and the |
iiftl. was fleeing away as fast as his legs |
would carry him.
As soon as it was evident that the fifth |
iuihhn ihbi tsCtllcu tHtlli, DUtu tilc Illcu, |
moved by the same instinct, stopped to as |
certain the result of their work.
u am sorry said tile marquis-and his |
tones voucled for his sincerity II believe
have sent this poor fellow 10 his final ac-
count.
''And here is one whom have sent to
bear him company" added the stranger.
Mercy! no man can live with such a smash |
of the skull as that But these other two |
are alive. VIII your lordship stopto render
them assisancc?''
have Il look ut their faces, and then wen |
move on. There is small hamlet not far |
distant, where am well known, and | will |
send people from that place to look after |
these fellows, and nurse them il there be
need"
The marquis stripped the Grape from the
faces of the fallen men, and one of them he
recognized as a face that he had seen among
fishermen at Abbotswoll, hut he was sure
twas no tenant of his. The other three were
strangers
IND now Sir Eusace had opportunity to
turn and take fair look at his delivercr
and the result Of the look was pleasing. He
beheld young man,no over tive-and-twen-
ty, clad in Il half military suit, with form
OF matchlcss symmetry and grace. yet COM
pact and muscular-the thin TANKS, the ele-
giant outline of the swelling thighs and
the massive chest and shoulders given token
of that wondrous power which had been
just displayed. His face was something
more than handsome. The features were
not only cast in mould of perfect manly
beauty, but there was light of truth and
honor, and IL Deaming from the clear blue
eyes ofgener0us sentiment and sincere af-
lection which was not to he mistaken by one
who possessed even an ordinary capacity for
reading human character from outward
signs. His face was clean shaved, and the
dark hue OF the skin told very plainly that
he had been much exposed TO storm and
sunshine.
The marquis concluded the survey, and
then reached forth his hand with gener-
Gus smile.
''You enjoy an advantage over me, good
sir, cannot call the name of the man who
has saved me from the hands of a pack of
desperadoes who might have taken my life if
| had not received assistance"
1--WE ought to be good friends, my lord"
returned the stranger, as he took Percys
hand and shook it warmly. 81 think u GER
tain fair cousin of mine has a home beneath
your roof"
:, How = cried Percy, in glad tones. SIS
this Rupert St. John ?"
81 am Captain Sir Rupert st. John, at
your service, my lord. !"
"Aye," continued the marquis in the same
glad strain, Isabel told me that you were
a captain, hut did not know that you had
been knighted."
sizes, said st. John, with smile. ''In
consideration of the amount OF blood lost
in India, and in further consideration of my
misfortune in being the son of younger
branch of our family, his most gracious
majesty has been pleased to tap me upon
the shoulder with the point Of his own
sword, and to declare me knight of the
realm"
Upon my soul, l am glad exclaimed
the marquis, grasping the young mans hand
once more. ''Such royal cross MS that, is
worth Il thousand that come idly dropping
down from the prolific branches OF parent
trees-ayc, more honorable than peerage |
that only falls upon man from the should
ers of a dead ancestor"
The marquis spoke warmly and ardently, |
and the glow that came upon the young |
knights cheek, and the rich moisture that |
,rnfk In, Ii IL 1.