Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-05-22
EATON OHIO, THURSDAY, MAY %, 1873

They came to town unmolested, may
be sure; and strange, because few days
previously a terrible affair had occurred.
Old Lord st. Hillary, the relic of the,
beau garcons of former days, had been
robbed and maltreated. Above all,
family jewels of immense value had been
taken from his person, and on recover
ing from his wounds and fright, he swore
vengeance. He took active measures to
fulfill his VOW.
The wedding was to take place at an
old relations, Mrs. Dechesue's, and on
tagging wings that day at length arrived.
The marriage was celebrated, and the
happy pair were in the act of being
toasted by the father of the bride, when
a strange voice was heard below; rude
words were appraised, oaths muttered
and rush followed toward the festive
saloon. The company rose.
"What is it?" said MIR. Hardcourt.
The door was broken open for an an
swer. The officers of justice filed the
room. Two advanced.
"Come, Captain" said the foremost,
"the game is out at last. It's an awk-
ward thing to arrest a gentleman on his
wedding, but duty, my noble Captain,
duty must be done"
Entranced, frozen beyond resistance
or appeal the bridegroom was fettered,
and the bride stood with eyes dilating
till they seemed about to spring from
her head.
eMy Richard, what is this ?'
Scoundrels," said Mr.. Hardcourt,
"release my son."
The men laughed One of them was
examining the neck of Flavia. It con-
tanned diamond in the center worth a
ransom. ''Where did you get this,
miss ?'' he asked.
Her friends answered, for the stricken
girl was inarticulate. Mr.. Mowbray's
wedding gift"
"Oh no This is the diamond Lord
ST. Hillary was so mad about. Byyour
leave" and the gem was removed from
the neck it tencircled.
She comprehended something terri
ble She found her speech" Whom
do you take Mr.. Mowbray for?" said
she.
Whom? Why the renowned Cap
tain De Montmorency.
A shrek, so fierce in it's agony as to
cause the criminal to rebound, burst
upon the ears of all present. Insensi-
bility followed Flavia was removed.
So was the bridegroom-to Newgate.
The trial was concluded, justice was
appeased, and the robber was doomed.
And his innocent and unpolluted vic
tim
For days her life hung on thread.
But youth and health, in time, closed
the gates of death. She recovered.
scarcely believe in the terrible event
which, tornado like, had swept over her.
She desired her father to repeat its cir
cumstances.
Weeping, and with his venerable gray
hairs winter with sorrow, Mr.. Hard
court complied She heard the recital
in silence. Presently, clasping her
fathers hand, "Dear parent-she
could utter no more, nor was it neces-
sary. He comprehended her meaning
but too well.
"The day after tomorrow" he re-
piled.
&c Father, must be therel"
!" Flavia, my dearest daughter p
(" Father, I must be there. Do you
remember your jest? All, it has come
to pass in bitter earnest. I must be
there"
sisted, and the physician at length urged
said, be less dangerous than denial.
Near Tyburn seats were erected
Windows and balconies were let out tc
hire. One of these, the most private
was secured, and on the fatal morning
Flavia was taken hither in close car
riage, accompanied by her father and
an aged cousin. She shed no tears
heaved not single sigh, but suffered
herself to be led to a window with {
strange, immovable quietness.
Some shouts and the swelling murmru
| of dense mob reached her ear Tht
procession was arriving. The gallowI
were not in sight, but the fatal car
would pass. It came on nearer-mor,
like triumph than dismal sight, thai
a human being fastening on to eternity
She clenched her hands, and rose uI
straining her fair white throat to catcl
glimpse of the criminal Yes, ther,
he was, dressed gaily, and the nosega,
Haunting on his breast the dull despair
in this heart expressed by his face. A
the train passed Flavia's window, b,
chance he raised his hot blearing eyes
they rested upon his bride, his pure viz
gin wife. The wretched man uttered
yell of agony, and cast himself down i
the bottom of the vehicle. She contin
ued gazing, the smile frozen on her face
her eyes CLASSY and motionless, fixed.
They never recovered their natura
intelligence. Fixed and stony they Dor
her from the dismal scene Her oil
father watched for days by her side
eagerly watching for a ray of light,
token of sense or returning reason
None came. She had been stricke
with catalepsy and it was a blessin
when the enchained spirit was release
from it's frail habitation, when the pur
spirit was permitted to take it's fight
happier regions. Mr.. Hardcourt san
into state of imbecilty, and soon fatt
er and child slept in one grave.
Gladstone and Disraeli.