The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-10-30


self anew in his way, and presentin,
pistol as before cried out to him:
IL sYour watch!'
The Quaker, surprised, was never
theless unmoyed. He coolly tool
his watch from the fob, looked at tn
:. hour, and put the costly article int,
the hand of the robber, saying:
"Now, l besecch the, permit M
to go to my dwelling-ny daughte
will be uneasy at my absence"
"a moment more,' replied tn
masked cavalier, the more and NOR
hardened by this docility; "swear t,
me that you have no other sum-"
II never swear" said the Quaker
"Yery well. Affirm that you hav
no other money, and on the faith O
an honest robber, incapable of tax
ing by violence from a man win
yields with so good a grace, 1 will
let you continue on your journey.
The Quaker reflected q moment an,
shook his head.
"What thinkest thou ?'' he sal,
gravely, ''thou hast discovered tina
l ANA Quaker, and will not betra,
the truth, though at the peril of m,
/; life. Thus l declare to thee that
have under my saddle-cloth a sum o
1.-TWO hundred pounds sterling"
"Twe hundred pounds sterling =
cried the robber, while his eye
sparkled through his mask.
"But if thou art as good as tho,
art kind" replied tho Quaker, "tho,
wilt leave me this money. l wish t,
establish my daughter and this sun
is necessary for long time 1 shall
not have similar sum at my dispos
al. The dear child loveth her in
tended, and it will be cruel to della,
this union Thou hast loved, per
adventure, and thou wouldst no
commit this wicked act"
"What care | for your daughter
and her lover, and their marriage
Less talk, and more promptitude O
execution! Imust have this money
Toby, with a sigh, lifted the cloth
a bag heavy enough, and passed il
slowly to the masked man. His in
tentiOn then was to gallop Off.
"Stop again, friend Quaker sait
the other, laying his hand upon the
bride, "as soon as you arrive, yot
will denounce me to the magistrates
This is according to your order.
have nothing to say but l mus
have the advance of the process to
might, at least. My mare is feeble
and is, besides, fatigued. You
horse, on the contrary, appears Wig
orous, for the weight of the bag does
not incommode him. Alight ant
give me your beast; you may tax,
mine, if you will.''
He was slow in beginning to com
ply because these cross eXigencies
were of nature to raise the cholel
of the most patient man. The goot
Toby, however, descended, and re
signedly took the sorry jade which
was left him in exchange. elf ]
had KNOWN" he continued himsel,
in thinking, II would have fled al
the first encounter with this rogue
and certainly it is not with this
courscr that he would have gained in
the race"
During this time the masked man
ironically thanked him for his com
plaisance, applied both spurs and
disappeared.
Before he reached London, Toby
had time to reflect on his misfortune,
on the chagrin of the two young per,
sons who loved, and whose happi-
ness would be put off. The sum
was irrecoverably lost. Not the
least Of it could be regained, nor
could the audacious robber be recog-
nized. Meanwhile as a sudden idea
struck him, he stopped.
"Yes,' said he, "this means may
succeed. If this man llveth in Lon
don, / may peradventure meet him
again. Heaven, no doubt, hath willed
that he should have been so very i'm
prudent
Somewhat consoled, by / know
not what hope, Toby went home
without showing any trouble, or say
ing aught of his adventure. He did
not go to the magistrate, but en-
braced his daughter, who suspected
nothing, and slept. His faith was
in God.
Next day he thought of co-opcra-
ton with Providence in making re-
search. He let the mare out of the
station where she had passed the
nj ght, and threw the bride over her
neck, in hopes that the animal, led
by habit, would naturally 60 to the
house of her master. lie therefore
sent Off the poor beast, which had
been fasting, to wander at large
through the streets OF London, and
followed her. But he supposed her
to have more instinct than she had
for long time she went right and
left, making thousand turns and
returns without aim, without direc-
ton, sometimes at a stand, then talk
ing q contrary course.
Toby despaired, "My robber,'
thought he, "doth not live in London.
What folly in me! instead of going
to the magistrate when | had time.
to have suffered myself to be led
away by this wretchcd animal ~
Suddenly, however, the beast
pricked up her ears and set off on a
brisk trot followed by the Quaker.
"Stop !stop!" was the cry on all
hands.
"Detain me mott" cried the Gus
ker; 81 entreat you to detsin, me
notls tE s.E
And anxiously following with lis
eye the course OF the animal, he
saw her rapidly entering the gate of
a dwelling in the suburb.
"'Tis here, I" thought the Quaker,
raising his eyes toward heaven, in
thanks to Providence.
"What, have you been in these
parts 2'' was the answer, "that you
don't know that this is the dwelling
of the rich merchant Weresford p
| The Quaker stood petriiied.s
ssWeresford, repeated the neigh
Dor, who believed that he had not
understood him, "the man who made
so rapid fortune.
"Excuse me, my friend, excuse
me- replied Toby.
He could could not recover from
his stupor.
"Weresford, the father of Edward,
a man of note, my robber ~