The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-19

Dat IN moment the hand Of the robber,
quitting the bride, grasped the breast OF
the rider, and dragged him to the ground.
lie fell heavily Oh his face, aud for several
minutes renamed senseless The stranger
seized the lcathern Dag WHICH contained the
mail to The north. and ainging it on his
shoulder, rushed across the heath,
EARLY on tho following morning the IN
habltants OF Berwick werS seen hurrying
in groups to the spot where the robbery
had been comm tied, and fere scattered in
every direction over the lnbor, but no trace
OF tho robber could be obtklncd.
Three days had passett end Sir John
Cochranc yet lived. The mail which CON
tanned his lcath- warrant had been robbed
and before another order fol his execution
could be given. the lntcrcesslon of his fa-
ther, the Earl Of Dundonald. with the kings
confessor might bc successful. Grizcl now
became almost his constant companion in
prison. and spakc to him words OF comfort.
Nearly fourteen days had passed since the
robbery of the mail had been committed
and protractcd hopo in the bosom of the
prisoner became more bitter than his first
despair. But even that hope, bitter as it
was, pcrlshed. The intercession of his ia.
thcr had been unsuccessful, and the second
Time the Digoted and would be despolic
monarch had signed the warrant for his
death, aud within little more IN another
duy that warrant would reach his prison.
'ihe Will OF heaven be donc." groaned
the captive.
"Amen!" responded Grzcl, with wild
Vencmcnce; ''yct my father shall not die"
Again the rider with the mail had reach
ed inc moor OF Twcedmouth and the Sec
ohd Time he bore with him the doom of Sir
John Cochranc. lie spurred his horse to
his utmost specd-hc looked cautiously be-
tore, behind, ind Saroun him, and in lis
right haud he carried pistol ready to de-
iend himself. The moon shed ghostly
light across the heath, which was only suf-
hclent to render desolation dimiy visible,
ana 1t gave spiritual embodiment to every
shrub. lie was turning the angle of a stray
gllng copse, when his horse reared at The
report OF pistol, the fire Of which seemed
10 lash into lls very eyes. At the same
moment lis own pistol flashed, and his
horse rearing more violently, he was driven
from the saddle. In moment the foot of
the robber was upon his breast, who, bend
ing over him, and brandlslling Il short dag
ger III his hand, SAID:
UlFc liz CllluC arms or ulC!"
Tie heart OF the kings servant failed
within him, and without venturing to re-
ply, he die as he was commanded.
Nov 60 my way" said the robbcr.
sternly, "Dut leave With NE thy horse, and
leave the mail, lest worse come upon
thcc.''
he man arose and proceeded toward |
Berwick, trembling; and the rObber, mount |
ing the horse whicn he had left, rode rap |
Preparations were maiHnS .or the exc
cution Of Sir John Cochranc, and the
officers Of the law awaited only for the AZ
rival Of the mail with his second death
warrant to lead him forth TO the scatfold,
when the tidings arrived that the mail had
again been robbed. For yet fourteen days,
aud the life OF the prisoner would be again
prolonged. lie again fc! on the neck of
his daughter and wept and said:
lit ls goou-the hand OF heaven is in
this!'
"Said not" replied the maiden, and
for tho first time she wcpt aloud, that
my father should not dict"
The fourteen days we've not past, when
the prison door flew open, aud the Earl of
Dundonald rushed to Inc arms OF his son,
been successful, and alter twice signing the
warrant for the execution OF Sir John,
which had rs often tailed IN reaching it's
destination, the king had sealed his par
don.
lie had hurried with his father from the
prison TO his own house; hi. family was
clinging around HIM, shedding tears of joy;
but Grlzcl, who, during his imprisonment,
had suffered more than they all, was again
absent. They were marvcing with graft
tudc at the mysterious providence that had
twice intercepted the mai, and saved his
life, when stranger cravci an audience.
Sir John desired him TO be admitted and
the robbcr entered. lie was habited, rs
we have before dcscribed-with the coarse
cloak and coarser jcrkin- but his bearing
was above his condition. On entering, he
slightly touched his beaver but remained
covered.
"When you have perus5d these said
he, taking Two papers lioin his bosom,
least them i'll the fire.
Sir John glanced ON thcn-started, and
became pale. They were AIS death war,
rants.
"My deliverer!" ho exclaimed; chow
how shall thank thcc--how repay the
savior of my lifcf My faher-niy chill,
dron-thank him for mel"
The old carl graspcu th, hand of the
stranger--the children embraced his knees
Ho pressed MS hand to his iace, and burst
into tears.
''By what name," eagerly inquired Sir
John, 'shall thank my deivcrer2"
The stranger wcpt aloud and raising his
beaver, the raven trcsscs ef GrlZcl Coch-
ranc fell on the coarse cloak
'Gracious heavens!" exclaimed the as-
toni she'd and enraptured fHhcr, my own
culd-my savlor-my owt GrlZcl!"
1t is unnecessary TO aid more. The
imagination of the reader Gan supply tho
rest; and We may only aid that Grizel
C0chrane, whose neroism snd noble aifcc.
ton we have here briefly Ind lmpcrlectly
skctched, was the grandmdlh or the late
Sir John Stewart OF AllaIDank, in b e.
wickslirc, and great grand 4motiiur of Alr.
Coutts, the celebrated banl4r.
Canary ana Rott tever.