Litchfield enquirer., 1872-06-06


 The boat is, for the present, confiscat- ed said Garry ssbut I daEesay the Gov exnor will let us have it in the morning, on expiaining, and perhaps release Fran clsco, with the loss of his cargo; but-but
 in fact, Major, I don't want the. Cover nor to know anything about our depart
 gfandfather stared at him, awaiting furthef explanation. sfs
 sJuana looked pale last night, said the Ensign after pause. .-.es-zsazs
 The Major did not dispute the fact. though he could not, for the life of him, see what that had to do with the sub- Hct. s.sa.a.a ....--a@ s-
 ssShe never liked that dingy Spanish lover of hers, said the Ensign, s'and her father intends she shall marry him in 8 month. Twould make her miserable for life .r-.z..' '..s .-...F.. r-.-..
 Dsar me-" said my grandfather, chow do you know that?"
 sShe told me so. You see," said Owen, shading the candle with his hand, so that my grandfather couldn't see his face. and speaking hurriediy, '1 didn't intend we should start alone-in fact-that is-Ju- ana has agreed to fly with me to Gibral- er."
 Agreed fly gasped my grandsire; what an extraordinary young fellow
 She's waiting for us now," resumed Garry, gathering courage after the first plunge into the subject; i've ought to be of before daylight. Obige me, my dear sir. (smiling irresistibly), *'by getting up immediately
 And how are we to get away" asked my grandfather, "supposing this insane scheme of yours to be attempted ?''
 I've bribed the sentry at Francisco's place of durance," returned the Ensign. ssWe shall get out of town the instant the gates are opmed; and the boat is tied to the steps, as before, only under the charge of a sentry whom we can easi- ly evade. Every guarda costa in the place was sent out last night to blockade noted smuggler who has taken refuge in Iangler; 90 once out, VIC are safe from psarsuit; found 1t all out after you had gone to bed" s.i #
 The disposition of Major Flinders, as the reader knows, was the reverse of en- terprising- wouldn't have given a straw
 
 that ever happened in romance He paused with one stocking on, inclined, Ike the little woman whose garments had been curtailed by the icentious shears of the pedlar, to doubt his own identity, land wondering if it could be really he John Flinders, to whom such 8 proposition was broached, requiring him to assist in in- vadmg the peace of a family. As soon as he recovered his powers of speech, of which astOnishment had for moment dat prived him, he began earnestly to- dis suade the Ensign.from the enterprise; but Owen knew his man too well, and had too much youthful vivacity of will to allow much time for remonstrance.
 Look you, Major, said he, I'm posi- tive can't live without Juana. III make a bold stroke for a wife. The things
 settled-no going back now for me; and shall go through with it with or without you. But you're not the man, I'm sure, to desert fellow in extremity, at a time. too, when the advantage of your experi- ence and coolness are so peculiarly need ed. Call you that backing of your
 The compliment, or the quotatipn, or both, softened the Maior. -.'s 6 Would it were night, Hal, and a1 we'll .' said he. half mechanically following thaF Falstafian train of iaaaa Owen had artfully cnniured up, and at the same time drawing on the brooches which that astute youth obse- quiously handed to him.
 It was still dark when they issued forth into the narrow and dingy streets of Tari- ia. My grandfather, totally unaccustom- ed to visit the glimpses of the moon in this adventurous fashion, was full of strange fears-heard as many imaginary suspicious noises and voices as Bunyans Pilgrim in the dark yalley-and once or twice stopt abruptly and grasped Ovens arm, while he pointed to a spy dogging them in the distant gloom, who turned out to be door-Rost, But Owen was now lR his element; no tom-cat in Tarifa was more familiar with house-tops and balconies at the witching hour than he, and he stepped gaily on. Presently they were challenged by 8 sentry, to- whom Owen promptly advanced and slipped in- to his itching palm doubloon, when the trustworthy warrior immediately turned upon his heel, and, walking to the extrem- lty of his post, looked with great vigi- lance m the opposite direction.
 Owen advanced to grated window and tapped. Immediately the burly face of Francisco showed itself thereat, his white teeth glancing merrily in glimmer of moon shine. A bar. previously filed through, was removed from the window, and Owen taking him by the collar to assist his egress, drew him through as far as the third button of his waistcoat, where he stuck for moment; but the substance was elastic, and luzty tug landed him ln the middle of the middle of the mar row street, Receiving Franks instruc- bions, given in g hurried whisper, to go at once to where the boat lay, and cast her oil, ready to shove off on the instant, he nodded and disappeared in the darkness, while Owen and the Major made for the Governors house. -ls
 Arrived near it, Owen gave low .whis- tle-a peculiar one, that my grandfather to have heard him practising to Juana on the previous day-when, to the untterable surprise of the Major, xwo yelled figures appeared on the balcony.
 "Why, Owen, boy, dye see! Y quoth the Major, stuttering with anxiety, s'who can the other be ?-her maid, eh pin distinct stage recollections of intriguing waiting g-women dawning on him.
 ''Ahem l-why, you see, Major," whis- pered Owen, ssshe wouldn't come alone couldn't manage it at all, in fact, without the knowledge of her aunt, who sleeps in the next room; so persuaded Carlota to come too, and gave her . sort of half promise that you would taEe care of her. 1" Here wishing to cut short a rather awk- ward explanation, he ran under the balco- ny-one of the ladies dropped a cord and Owen producing from under his coat B rope ladder, lhe had sat up all night making it}, attached it, and, as soon as it was drawn up, ascended, motioning to my grandfather to keep it steady below. The Major, after moments des- perate half-resoive to make &. hasty re- treat from the perilous incidents which seemed momentarily to thickenround him and leave his reckless friend to his fate, yielded to the force of circumstances, and did what was required of him. Then Owen lifted the ladies, one after the oth- CT, over the railing of the balcony, and they swiftly descended. First came Ju- ana, who. scarcely touching the Majors N{fow,sol hov7