The Grange advance., 1874-07-22

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 1ather's 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
boasted of his wealth; whereas 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
hig Oh bearing, his handsome person, and
insinuating tongue, Mr.. Hardcourt had ir.
revocably promised to bestow his treasure
into the keeping Of the profigate, 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 by.a
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
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 go 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, shall
not dare take such journey, for fear of
the highwayman, De Montmorency."
'Fear 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
so early every evening? At sunset, have
remarked. These are not London habits
All, does any other than your poor Flavia
attract you? 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? were it a
queen, think it not. I-I-the truth is,
Flavia, have poor sick friend not far
from here he is poor, i'll, and-l-I-''
"Say no more dearest. Oh, how much
more love you every day! How good,
how noble, thus to sacrifice !" And the
blushing girl threw herself into her lovers
arms.
All! how different beat those two hu-
man hearts. One pregnant with love,
goodness, charity, sympathy the other
rank with hypocrisy, dark with unbelief.
They came to town, unmolested, you
may be sure; the stranger, because few
days previously terrible affair had oc-
Cured. Old Lord St. Hilary, the relic OF
the beau-garcons If former days, had been
robbed and maltreated. Men we're by nc
means so favored as the beau sexe. Above
all, family jewel of immense value had
been taken from his person ana on re-
covering from his wounds and fright, he
swore vengeance. He took active meas
ures to fulfill his VOW.
The wedding was to take place at the
relations, Mrs. Duchesne's house, and on
tagging wings that day at length arrived
TIE marriage was celebrated, and the hap.
py pair were in the act of being toasted by
tue father of the bride, when strange
noise was heard below rude voices were
upraised; oatts muttered a rush toward
the festive saloon. The company rose.
"What is it ?" said Mr.. Hardcourt.
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, dut,
must be done"
Entranced, frozen beyond resistance o.
appeal, tie bridegroom was fettered; ant
the bride she stood there, her hazel eye
t.AA oCCAACN aOOut W pIlu!
from her head.
my Richard! what is this 20
."Scoundrels! said Mr.. Hardcourt, IRE
lease my son.
The men laughed. One of them wa
Examining the: e::necklace Of Flavia it con
tanned diamond in the centre worth
ransom. "Where did you get this, miss ?
he said.
Her friends answered, for the terror
stricken girl was inarticulate, Mr.. Now
bray's wedding-gift."
''Oh, oh! This was the diamond Lor,
St. Hilary was so mad about. By you
leave" and the gem was removed from tn
neck it encircled,
She comprehended something terrible
1S he found speech: Whom do you tax
Mr.. Mowbray for :" said she.
"Whoms Why the renowned Captai
de Montmorency."