Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-11-13
An Old Time Story,

was the time Of those gallant robbers, whose
hne clothes, high bearing, reckless hardihood,
and good birth took away from the superficial
observer much Of the darkness of the crime
actually surrounding their deeds and their
lives.
One In particular was notorious enough in
his brief day for most of the qualities have de-
scribed,as 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 manners courtly,
and he was rash In an extraordinary degree -
Mmgling freely IN fashionable society in lis
real name, his deeds oitobbety were the talk
ofihe town, under the assumed one.
His proper designation Wa r ichard Mowbray
that belonging to the road, his whole source
Of revenue, was Captain de Monmorency-a
patronymic high-sornding enough
do not mean, however, 10 infer that any
body suspect al the man OF fashion and the
highwayElan to be one that was never known
till the event which am going to relate took
place.
Richard MOI bray had -panl his o6n small
patrimony, years before the period al which
this narrative commences in iha pleasures of
The town; 1t had been melted In play houses,
fsro, horse-fesb and hazard; he had exhaust
ei the Kinduess and iorbearauce Of bis relations,
from whom he had borrowed and begged till
borrowing or begging became impracticable -
He had no more extremes of life; and morrow
Ell, when debts and proverty stared grimly In
his fare, he knew not one useful art by which
be could support existence or pay dividends to
bis creditors.
What was To be done? lie eluded a Jail as
long as he conld, and one night, riding on
horseback and contemplating gloomily on his
evil fortunes, lie Undiscovered by the darkness
from all discovery traveller well mounted
plethoric-laden with money-bags, and bear
ing likewise the burden of excessive fear of
robbers.
1t was sudden thought-acted upon as sud-
denly. Resistance was not dreamed of. Now
bray made oil with his booty, considerable
enough TO repair his exhausted finances and to
pay his most pressing creditors.
IL was literally robbing Peter to pay Paul.
And so by night, under shelter Oh It's darkness
did the ruined gentleman become the highway
man. People who knew his circumstances
whispered their surprise when it became known
that Richard Mowbray had paid his debts, and
that he himself made more than his customary
appearance.
Now this fine gentleman was ever clad with
the newest brayeries OF the day; and in his
double character many a conquest did le make
tor he d,sburdened ladies' of their Jewels and
purses with so fine 4 manner that the defrand.
ed fair ones forgot their losses in adm ration of
the charming despoiler, and Richard, In both
hb Phhses; uIahh ucep tnousnt u 10 pleasure till
be drained the Circean cup of its verest dregs
Just as even pleasure became wearisome, when
festive and high-bicd delights palled upon his
stated passions, and the lower extremes of licen-
tiousness and hard drinking, ruttling, aad fight
ing, diversified by the keen excitement and
threats Of danger, which distinguished his pred
atory existence, began to satate, new light
broke on the teyerish atmosphere OF his strange
life.
He loved. Yes. Richard Nov bray, the ruin-
Cd patrician. lie Montmorency, the highway
man, who had hitherto resisted every good or
evil influence which love, pure or earth-stained
offers TO his votaries, succumbed to the simple
charms Of young, untearned, unamb itious girl
soyouthtul that her tastes and habits, childish
as they were, could be scarcely more SO than
suited her years.
Flava Hardcourl had lust attained her six.
teenth year-had never been 10 boarding
school, and loved nothing So much
EVEN her birds aud her pet rabbits
las dear old father, an honest count r,
gentleman, and worthy magistrate
Flayia had never been 10 London. for Mr.
Hardcourt resided at Aveling-a retired vii.
lage, about twenty miles from the metropolis
Barring foX-hunting and harti-drinking. til,
old gentleman, on his side, took pleasure onlv
in the pretty, gentle girl, who, from the hour
her birth-whch event terminated her moth
er's existence, had made her his constant play
mate and companion.
TWAS to this simple Wild flower that the ga,
man Of pleasure naughty reckless, unprlnci
pied, impIovident, rreligious and rash. pre
anmed TO lift his eyes, to elevate his heart, anC
oh, stranger still to this being the moral aut
9odes of her pure self did Flayia Hardcoul
surrender her youthful, modest, inestimabl
love. 1t must have been her very childishnes
and purity that attracted the desperate rol
Der.
r. He had accidentally met Mr. Hardcourt at
country hunt; had, with others of his comma,
Ions, been invited by that honest gentleman
rustic feie in honor of little tlayia's natal da
"a day,he was wont to observe, to him remarl
able for concentrating his greatest misfortur
and his intensest happiness; and then and the
the highwayman vowed TO win that pure bu
ofipnocent freshness and rare fragrance, or
perish in the attempt. Master Richard Nov
Bray unscrupulous Captain de Muntmorency
Twill relate how you kept your vow.
He haunted Ayeng Grange till the chas
young heart, the old fathers beloved darlin
surrendered Itself INTO The highwayman's kee
ing.
Perhaps Nj, Hatacoutt was unit altoae,b
best pleased at Fayf1E CHOICE; bllt then she ";
bis lfe--his hore-and he trusted. even whe
he gave hertoa husband, TINT her love and do
ing affeetiou woilif SIN Re his own; besid
Mowbray was VIII conneced-bot.sted of h
wealth. whereas n very moderate portion won
be hers-Was received IA nodislI circles, in
which the good old magistrate could never pr
tsnd 10 penetrate; and, in short, what with h
high bearing, his handsome person, and insin
atina tongue, Mr.. llardcourt had irreyocap
promised 10 bestoW his treasure into the kee
ing Of the proHigafe, WHO Numbered himself
most years euUuSh 20 Lave been The father
ne young girl, whom he test flied the utmost il
patience TO cali wife,
It was during the time that MIR. Mowbr
vas paying bis court at Aveling that the neig
sorhood began TO be alarmed by series
highway robberies which men said could ha
been perpetrated but by that knight of the roa
Captain de MontmOrency. No one con
stir after nishtfall without an attack in viii,
Large numbers were certainly moi wanting.
"Cudgei me- but well have him YETI sa
old MIR. Hardcoutt. 81 should glory myself
going toTyburn TO sec The fellow turned off.
Ay, and would take my Flavia to see him
oy In the cart, with parson and u nosegay, e
Little grl?'
"Oh, no, father" said Flavia, 81 could n
abide IL, though h. is such a daring, wick,
man, whose name makes me shrink with Il.
and terror wheueTcrl hear ii. | could neyf
bear to see such dreadful sight won
haunt me till my dealh
The betrothed pair went tnsrlhe5 .5y,.i H.
don.
"But l shall not dare, said the airl. A, wal
ing together in the olt-ilshloned Dutch garie
she lesnt her young, snes5 head on her guilt
lovers breast; Il shall not dare lake such
Journey, for fear OF the highwayman, Montm
rspcy."
"Fear not, my sweet Flavia, this breast sh,
- pierced through ere De Montmorency sha
cause one fear in thine"
shichard, why do you leave us so early eve
evening? atsunset, have remarked. The
are not London habits. Al, does any 9Th
than poor Flavia attract you? oh, Richard,
must die II it should be SOL could not live az
know you were false"
Sweetest and best, my pures, love, could al
win me from you' Were it queen, think
not, Little truth is, Favia, i have DOC
mi f.p fro lanr l.. 1.