The Grange advance., 1874-07-22
! in. .h0saoR. al. = littlA ,Rlavia,a. natal

rustic fsta. in. honor of little. Flavia'a natal
day-a day, he was wont to observe, to
him remarkable for commemorating his
greatest misfortune and his intensest hap
piness; and then and there the highway
man vowed to win and wear that pure bud
OF innocent freshness and rare fragrance.
or to perish in the attempt Master Rich
ard Mowbray unscrupulous De Montmo-
rency! 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 husband, that her love
and doting affection would still be his own;
| besides. Mowbray was well connected
boosted of his wealth whereas a very
moderate portion would be hers-was re-
ceived in modish circles, into which the
good old magistrate could never pretend
to penetrate and, in short, what with his
high bearing, his handsome person, and
insinuating tongue, Mr.. Hardcourt had ir-
revocably promised to bestow his treasure
into the keeping Of the proaigate, who
numbered himself almost 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 bya
series Of highway robberies, which men
said could have been perpetrated but by
that celebrated knight OF the road-Captain
De Montmorency. No one could stir after
nightfall without an attack, in which num-
bers 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 fel-
low turned of. Ay, and would take my
little Flavia to see him so by in the cart,
with parson and nosegay; eh, my lit
tie girl!"
'Oh, no, father" said Flavia, 81 could
not abide it, though he is such daring,
wicked man, whose name makes me shrink
with fear and terror whenever hear it.
could never bear to see such dreadful
sight-it would haunt me till my death" ="
The betrothed pair were together to visit
London.
"But 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, I shall
not dare take such journey, for tear ol
tho highwayman, De Montmorency."
'eFear not, my sweet Flavia !; this breast
shall be pierced through ere De Montmor'
ency shall cause one tear in thine"
''Richard, sweetest, why do you leave US
50 early every evening? At sunset, have
remarked. These are not London habits
All, does any other than your poor Flaws
attract you? Oh, Richard, must die if il
should be so! could not live, and know
you were false"
''Sweetest, and best my purest love
could any win me from you? were it {
queen, think it not. I-I-the truth is
Flavia, have poor sick friend not fa
from here ; he is poor, i'll, and-l-I-'
"Say no more dearest. Oh, how mucl
more love you every day! How good
how noble, thus to sacrifice ~ And tn
blushing girl threw herself into her lover
arms.
All! how different beat those two hu
man hearts. One pregnant with love
goodness, charity, sympathy the othe
. rank with hypocrisy, dark with unbelief.
, They came to town, unmolested, yo'
may be sure; the stranger, because fe'
= days previously terrible affair had oc
: CURED. Old Lord st. Hilary, the relic q
: the beau-garcons If former days, had bee
! robbed and maltreated. Men were by n
= means SO favored as the beau sexe. Abov
, all, family Jewel of immense value ha
r been taken from his person ana on re
n towering from his wounds and fright, b
y swore vengeance. He took active meas
r ures to fulfill his vow.
: The wedding was to take place at th
= tagging wings that day at length arrived
d Tae marriage was celebrated, and the hal
. py pair were in the act of being toasted b
tue father Of the bride. when a strane
4 noise was heard below rude voices wei
a upraised; oaths muttered; rush towal
70 the festive saloon. The company rose.
70 "What is it :" said Mr.. Hardcourt.
h The door was broken open for answe
:. The officers OF justice filed the room. Tv
ts advanced. "Come, captain" said the,
- 1.-THE game is up at last. It's an awkwal
:. time to arrest gentleman on his weddin
). day; but duty, my noble captain, dut
- must be done.'
Entranced, frozen beyond resistance
u appeal, tie bridegroom was fettered; az
IL the bride she stood there, her hazel ey
! dilating till they seemed about to spri,
of from her head.
,. my Richard! what is this 20
=. .'Scoundrels! said Mr.. Hardcourt, ttr
u lease my SON."
4. The men laughed. One Of them v y
ID examining the:necklace Of Flavia it co