Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-03-26
.4.N OLD T'LlLE .ST,ORl.

The early years of the reign OF George
III was the time of those gallant robbers,
whose ilue clothes, high bearing, reckless
hardihood, and frequently good birth,
took away FROM the superficial observer
much of the dnrkAe' $ of the crime actually
surrounding their deeds and lives.
one in particular was notorious enough
in his brief day for most Of the qualities l
have described, as sometimes attributes of
these knights of the road. He was well
connected, too, his uncle being a clergyman
in high church appointment. His per-
son was elegant, his manners courlly, 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
Mowbraw-that belonging to the road, his
sole source OF revenue, was Captain de
Montmorency-a patronymic high sound
ing enough. did not mean, however, to
infer that any suspected the man of fash
ion and the hghwayman to he the same
person; that was never known till the
| event which | am about to relate took
! place.
Richard Mowbray had spent his own
small patrimony, years before the period
at which this narrative commences, in the
| pleasures Of the town 1t had been melted
in play houses, faro, horsefiesh and hazard;
he had exhausted the kindness and for
bearance Of his relations, from whom he
had borrowed and legged till borrowing
| or begging became impracticable. He bad
| known most extremes Of life and, more
over, when debts and poverty stared him
grimly in The face, he knew not one useful
alt by Which lie could support existence OF
pay dividends TO hi5 creditors. What was
to be done? He eluded jail as long as hc
could, ana one night, riding on horseback
and medtating gloomily on his evil for.
tunes, he met-covered by the darkn
from all discovery-a traveller well mount
-plethorc-laden with money bags, ant
bearing likewise the burden OF excessive
fear.
1t was a sudden thought-acted upon a.
suddenly. Resistance was not dreamed OF
Mowbray made OH with his booty. consid
cradle enough to repair his exhausted
finances and 10 pay his most pressing cred
itors. II was literally robblng Peter t,
pay Paul. And so by night, under shelte
of its darkness, did the ruined gentleman
become the hlghwayman. People whC
knew his circumstances whispered theI
surprise when ii became known that Rich
ard Mowbray had paid his debts, and tina
he himself made more than his customar,
appearance, Now his fine person was eve
clad with the newest braveries of the day
and in his double character many a con
quest did he make, for he disburdene
ladies of their jewelry and purses with S
fine manner that the defrauded fair one
forgot their losses Ia admiration of tn
charming despoiler; and Richard, in bot
his phases drank deep draughls of pleasur
till he drained the Crcean cup to its ver
est dregs. Just rs even pleasure becam
wearisome, when festive aud high bre
delights palled upon his sailed passioni
and the lower extremes Of liCentiousnes
and hard drinking, rufiling and fighting
diversified by the keen excitement an
o threats Of danger which distinguished b
predatory existence, began TO satiate,
new light broke on the feverish atmosphel
of his life. He loved. Yesl RichaI
f, Mowbray, the ruined patrician, De Mon
moreney, the gallant highwayman, wi
! had hitherto resisted every good or evil il