National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-24

anu tHere tne nlRnWhymhn vowed 10
win that pure bud Of innocent fresh.
ness and rare fragrance, or to perish In
the attempt. Master Richard Now
bray unscrupulous De Montmorency
/ will relate how you kept your vow.
He haunted Aveling Grange till the
chaste young heart, the old fathers be.
loved darling, surrendered itself into
the highwayman's keeping. Perhaps
Mr.. Hardcourt was not altogether
best pleased at Flavia's choice but
then she was his life--his hope---and he
trusted, even when he gave her to q
husband, that her love and doting af.
fection would still be his own besides,
Mowbray was we'll connected -boasted
OF his wealth whereas very moderate
portion would be hers-was received in
modish circles, into which the good old
magistrate could never pretend to pene-
trate; and, in shsrt, what with his high
bearing, his handsome person, and in.
sinuating tongue, Mr.. Hardcourt had
irrevocably promised to bestow his
Treasure into the keeping OF the profit
gate, who numbered himself almsst
years enough TO have been the father
of the young girl, whom he testified the
utmost impatience to call wife.
1t was during the time that Mr. Now
bray was paying his court at Aveling
that the neighborhood began to be
alarmed by series Of highway rob-
berries, which men said could have been
perpetrated but by that celebrated
knight of the road-Captain De Mont
morency. No one could stir after
nightfall without an attack, in which
numbers certainly were not wanting.
"Cudgel me, but we'll have him
yet," said old Mr.. Hardcourt. 81
should glory myself in going to Tyburn
to see the fellow turned off. Ay, and
would take my Flavia to see him 60 by
in the cart, with parson and nose
gay, eh, my little girl ?"
oh, no, father" said Flavia, II
could not abide it, though he is such a
daring, wicked man, whose name makes
me shrink with fear and terror whenever
| hear it. 1 could never bear to see
such dreadful sight-it would haunt
me till my death"
The betrothed pair were together to
visit London.
But l shall not dare" said the girl,
as walking together in the old fashioned
Dutch garden, she leant her young,
sinless head on her guilty lovers breast;
81 shall not dare take such journey,
for fear of the highwayman, Montmo-
rency."
Fear not, my sweet Flavia; this
breast shall be pierced through ere De
Montmorency sh u cause one fear in
thine"
Richard, sweetness, why do you
leave us 80 early every evening? At
sunset, l have remarked. These are
not Londsn habits. All, does any other
than poor Flavia attract yon? Oh,
Richard, must die if it should be so !!
/ could not live, and know you were
false"
Sweetest and best my purest love,
could any win me from you? Wero it
a queen, think it not, 1.-the truth is,
Flavia, l have a poor, sick friend not
far from here; he is poor, ill, and
"Say no more, dearest. Oh, how
much more leve you every day How
good, how noble. thus to sacrifice !"
And the blusning girl threw herself
into her lovers arms.
All ! how differently beat these two
human hearts. One pregnant with love,
goodness, charity, sympathy the other
rank with hypocrisy, dark with un-
belief.
They came to town unmolested, you
may be sure; the stranger, because a
few days previously terrible affair had
occurred. Old Lord st. Hilary, the
relic of the beaugarcons of former days,
had been robbed and maltreated. Men
were by no means SO favored as the beau
sere. Above all, family jewel of i'm
mense value had been taken from his
person; and on recovering from his
wounds and fright, he swore vengeance.
He took active measures to fulfill his
VOW.
The wedding was to take place at the
old relations, Mrs. Duchesne's house,
and on tagging wings the day at length
arrived. The marriage was celebrated,
and the happy pair were in the act of
being toasted by the efather of the bride,
when strange noise was heard below;
rude voices were upraised; oaths NUT
tered; n rush towards the festive
saloon. The company rose.
"What is it" asked Mr.. Hard
court.
The door was broken open for answer.
The officers of justice filed the room.
Two advanced. "Come, captain" said
they "the game is up at last. It's an
awkward time to arrest gentleman on
his wedding day; but duty, my noble
captain, duty must be done.
Entranced, frozen beyond resistance
or appeal, the bridegroom was fettered;
and the bride she stood there, her
hazel eyes dilating till they seemed
about to spring from her head.
"My Richard what is this ?"
Scoundrels T. said Mr.. Hardcourt,
"release my son."
The men laughed. One of them was
examining the necklace of Flavia; it
contained diamond in the centre
worth a ransom. "Where did you get
this, miss ?" he said.
Her friends answered, for the terror
stricken girl was inarticulate, "Mr.
Mowbray's wedding gift"
"Oh, oh This was the diamond
Lord st. Hilary was so mad about. By
your leave" and the gem was removed
from the neck it encircled.
She comprehended something terri
BILE. She found speech Whom do
you take Mr.. Mowbray for ?" said she.
Whom? Why the renowned Cap
tain de Montmorency."
A shriek-so fierce in its agony as to
cause the criminal to rebound-struck
on the ears of all present; insensibility
followed, and Flavia was removed. So
was her bridegroom-to Newgate.
Tho trial Was concluded-iustice was