The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-27
AN oID.TIaIE STORY.

AN
The early years Of the reign of George
III. was the stimc Of those gallant rob.
bers, whose line clothes, high bearing,
reckless hardihood, and. [ frequently J
good birth took away from the superf-
oial observer much Of the darkness OF
the crime actually surrounding their
deeds and lives.
One in particular was notoriotis
enough in his brief day for most OF the
qualities l have described, Us sometimes
attributes Of these knights Of the road.
He was well connected, too, his uncle
being Clergyman in a high church
appointment. His person was elegant,
his manner courtly, and he was rash in
an extraordinary degree. Mingling
freely in fashionable society in his real
name, his deeds OF robbery were the
talk OF the town under his assumed
one. His proper designation was
Richard Mowbray-that belonging to
he road, his sole source Of revenue,
was Captain de Montmorency-a
patronymic liigh:sounding enough. 1
do mot mean, heweyer, 10 infer that any
suspected the man OF fashion and the
highwaymaH to be the same person !;
that was never known till tho event
which ana going to relate took place.
Richard Mowbray had spent his
own small patrimony, years before
the period at which this narrative COM
mences, in tho pleasures Of the town (;
/. IL had been melted in play.houses, faro,
horseaesh, and hazard; he had exhaust
ed the kindness and forbearance OF his
relations, from whom he had borrowed
and begged till borrowing or begging
became impracticable. He had no more
extremes of life and, moreover, when
debts and poverty stared him grimly in
the face, he knew not one useful art by
which he could support existence OF pay
dividends TO his creditors. What was
to be doae? He eluded jail as long
as he could, and one night, riding on
horseback, and meditating gloomily on
his evil fortunes, he inet--covered by
the darkness from all idiscoyery-a
traveller we'll mounted = plethoric-
laden with msney.bags, and bearing
likewise the burden Of excessive fear.
II was sudden ,tliought-acted
upon as suddenly. Resistance was
not dreamed OF. Mowbray made of
with his booty, considerable enough to
repair his exhausted finances and to pay
his most pressing creditors. It was
literally robbing Peter 10 pay Paul.
And go by night, under shelter Of Rs
darkness, did the ruined gentleman be-
come the highwayman. People who
knew his circumstances whispered their
surprise vixen it became known that
Richard AtoWbray had paid his debts,
and that he himself mademore than his
customary appearance. Now this fine
gentleman was ever clad with the new
est bfayeries OF the day; and in his
deuble character many n conquest did
he make, for he disburdenei ladies Of
their Jewels and purses with 50 fine a
manner that the defrauded fair ones
forgot their losses in admiration Of the
charming despoiler, and Richard, in
both his phases, drank deep thoughts
to pleasure till he drained the Circean
cup Of It's yeriest dregs. Just as even
pleasure became wearsome, when
festive and high.hread delights palled
upon his stated passions, and the lower
extremes Of licentiousness md hard
drinking, ruffiing, and fighting, diver.
sitied by the keen excitement and
threats OF danger, which distinguished
his predatory existence, began TO satiate,
n new light broke on the feyerish atmos-
phere Of Ills life. He loved. Yes 1
Richard Mowbray, the ruined patrician.
De Montmorency, the gallant highway.
man, who had hitherto resisted every
good or owl influence which love, pure
or earth.stainea, offers to his votaries,
succumbed to the simple charms Of a
Young, unlearned, unamhttious girl, so
youthful that her tastes aud habits,
childish as they were, could be scarcely
more 80 than suited her years. Flayia
Uardcourt had Just attained her ak
teenth year-had never been to o board
inc school, and loved nothing so much
Even her birds and herpet rabbits
asher dear old father, an honest coun-
try gentleman, and worthy magistrate.
Ffayia had never been even to Lon-
don, for Mr.. Hardcourt resided at Ave
iingIa retired village, about twenty
miles from the metropolis. Barring
fox.huntizg and hard drinking, the old
gentleman, on his side, took pleasure
only in the pretty, gentle girl, wh9,
frof, the hour Of her birth-which
eyent terminated her mothers exist
ence. had made her his constant play
mate and companion. And 1t was 70
tbis simple Wild flower that the gay
man oi pleasure, naughty, reckless, 'in'
principled, improyident, irreligious,
and rash. presumed 10 liz his eyes, to
slsyate Ris heart; and, oh, stranger
stilil 10 this being, the moral antipodes
of her pure self, did Flayia Hardconrt
surrender her youthful, modest, inesti.
mable love. II must have been her
yery childishness and purity that at-
tfaeted the desperate robber-now
about 10 commit his worst and most IN
oxcusable crime. He had accidentally
met Nh. Hardcourt at o country hunt;
had. with others Of his companions,
been invited by that honest gentleman
10 a rustic Jste in honor Of little Fla.
Was natal day-.-A day, he was won't 70