Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-12-10
Ss1eeted Storu.
The Quaker and the Robber.

The most honest of all Quakers, Toby
Symptom, lived at London, in pleasant
little dwelling, graced by the presence of
his daughter Mary. She was not quite
seventeen years of age; was charmingly
fair; had blue eyes, and possessed as much
modesty as beauty. All the young men
of her fathers acquaintance were her suit
ors; all those of the ne ehborhood sought
to gain her notice. Vain efforts. Mary
was no coquette; and in stead Of enjoy
ing the effects produced by her charms,
she was vexed on account of the manners
of all her admirers, except one Edward
Weresford, young artist, admitted to the
intimacy of her fathers family.
A very simple event had caused this
friendship. A premature death had car
ried off the Quaker's wife She was young
and beautiful, and DESTROYS to perpetuate the
image of her who was so dear to him, he
had caused the artist to come to the bed Of
death. It was there that Edward saw the
desolate damsel; it was there a serious
first love took place, amid the tears of one
and the pious work of the other The year
which elapsed after this epoch had but
strengthened the bond formed under these
auspices, and the young man had shown to
the father both his desire and hope.
The excellent Toby had no reason what
ever of opposing the mutual inclinations of
the two young people. Without being
rich, Edward earned, by means of his
pencil, what suficed to support family
honorably. His father. Mr.. Weresford,
an old merchant Of the city. had retired
from business, with fortune increased
more than ten-fold. This was rare ex-
ample of rapid success in speculation-so
rapid, indeed, that few were unable to fol-
low its progress.
Yet Weresford, of so blunt and stern
disposition, lived alone in suburb of Lon
don, and without caring what his own son
was doing, left him entirely at liberty. He
was one of those accommodating cyclists
who trouble no one, provided they do not
trouble tbem-persons of perfect complai-
sance. if yon ask nothing of them.
Edward, therefore, could without inter-
ruption. court his pretty Quakeress. well
assured that his father would not think of
opposing his marriage. The situation of the
loving couple was, to all appearances, very
prosperous and honest Toby did not put
off the day of their marriage longer than
to collect the arrearages of his rents; be
destined the money for the extraor linary
expenses Of the ceremony. For this pur-
pose he went to his country seat, some
miles from London, in order to regulate
his affairs. He had passed but one day
from home, and as he was about to put
away his horse for the night, he perceived
at some distance horseman who had barr
ed the road. He stopped, uncertain wheth-
er to 90 On or turn back. Meanwhile the
horseman advanced toward him.
The Quaker could not even think of es-
Gaping lie. therefore, put on good face,
and brought his horse to walk. In APP
preaching the man who caused his unea-
siness, he perceived that he was masked !;
a grieyous augury, which was soon con-
frmed. The unknown showed q pistol,
and directed the muzzc at the traveller, de-
handing his purse. The Quaker did not
want courage. but calm by character, inof-
.fensiye by religion, and even unable with
| out arms to resist an armed man, he pulled
FROM his pocket very coolly purse con-
tanning twelve guineas. The robber
took it, counted the pieces, and let the
poor devil whom he had stopped, pass on.
while he put his horse to the trot But
the robber, seeing the slight resistance he
had opposed, and allured by the hope Of a
second booty, Immediately rejoined honest