River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-07-14

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him away from his desperate course o.
life.
| She accordingly has tened to the house
where William lay concealed under the
protection of Captain Bargood, his pa
iron. The lovers now met after a sepa-
ration of two years; and for a few mo-
ments The past conduct of Laud was
entirely forgotten by the affectionate
girl. She then dressed his wounds, and
resolved upon remaining with him un-
I'll his recovery She constantly seized
opportunities of demonstrating with
Laud upon his illegal aad dangerous
pursuits. She endeavored to awaken
religious feelings in his mind by read.
ing the Bible to him; and there were
nom ents when she really made deep
impression upon him. Weeks passed
away and she never deserted him. He
at length recovered, and faithfully
promised her to quit his former com
panions and ways, and enter on board
a Dutch trader. She believed him.
They parted once again, and Margaret
felt happy under the impression that
she had worked a great and important
change in her lovers mind and condi-
ton.
She now seriously thought of going
out TO service, and through some kind
friends who still looked favorably upon
| her, she obtained place at the Priory
farm, belonging to Mr.. and Mrs. Wake,
at Downhan Reach. She proceeded to
her situation in 1892, and became a SER
want of all work. There was young
man employed upon the farm whose
name was John Barry. He soon be-
came enamored of Margaret and pro
posed to her She at once, and with
extreme candor, revealed to him her
attachment and engagement with Will
lam Laud, declaring at the same time
that she would never marry another so
long as William Laud was alive
In the meantime William Laud had
returned to his old pursuits, and was
again the commander of a desperate
band of smugglers His passion for
Margaret amounted almost to species
| of madness, and he determined to pos
sess her. He communicated his feel
| ings and his wishes to John Luff, and
| this black-hearted villain proposed that
/ they should carry her off. William
might then marry her in Holland
| This proposition was well received by
Margaret's lover, and il was resolved to
put the scheme into immediate effect
| A note was sent to the Priory farm to
| inform Margaret that William was most
anxious to see her, and appointed a
time and place for the interview. The
| time was evening, the place the sea-
shore. The reader need scarcely be
told that Margaret gladly flew to the
appointment. She believed that her
| lover had abandoned his late desperate
courses, and had become an honest
man. 1t was therefore with the more
readiness and with greater joy that she
repaired to the coast where she was to
meet him.
He landed from little boat and in a
few moments they were in each others
arms. He then hastily implored her
to accompany him to Holland where
their hands should be united. She re-
fused; vague suspicion of evil darted
into her mind. That fear was in an
other instant confirmed, for the light of
the moon revealed to her the person of
Iohn Luff in the rear, who kept watch
at little distance. Then the poor
girl felt afraid. Could it be possible?
Had William deceived her? Was he
once more the companion of SNUG
glers?
She expressed her alarm to William.
He laughed and answered evasively.
She began to reprove him mildly, and
| implore him to listen to her warning
voice.
At that moment the voice of was
heard:
Come Bill, none of this delay; the
representatives. are about"
Laud seized Margaret around the
waist and hurried toward the boat,
whispering in her ear:
Forgive me, dear girl, forgive me; it
is my love that makes me thus des-
perate."
But Margaret would not be pacifed
| she struggled and screamed; still Laud
relinquished not his hold Already was
| the margin of the ocean gained, when
person rushed from the adjacent
copse, sprang upon the smugglers, and
| feled William Laud to the ground.
/ Margaret escaped; but Laud darted
with demoniac rage and intent upon
her deliverer The latter had but a
short ash stick in his hand, still he
welded it manfully against the cutlass
I of his enemy; then watching an OPP
portunity, he darted of as quick as u
/ fawn and escaped into the copse. The
smugglers did not follow him; and the
deliyerer of Margaret reached Priory
! farm in safety-for he was John Barry,
| the unsuccessful sutton for her hand
Soon after the incident John Barry
| departed for Australia, where he had
obtained a grant of land, and whittier
! he was glad to proceed in order to sep
arate from the object of his hopeless
passion. But when he took leave OF
Margaret he declared his unalterable
love for her, and begged her to think
attached to her.
Circumstances compelled Margaret
to leave Priory farm and return home.
She was one day visited by William
Laud, and his sophistry, aided by her
| lover, enabled him to make his peace
with her for the desperate attempt he
had practiced to carry her off by vie-
| lence. He then declared that reflection
| had lately induced him to resolve upon
! changing his ways; and he took leave
/ of her with the solemn assurance that
| he would embark on board of man.
| of-war, and never return until he should
have retrieved his character. This
time William was sincere, and Marga-
ret believed him. They parted with
mutual vows of love. and Margaret felt
more happy than she had been for
some time.
In the course of a few weeks Marga-
ret obtained the situation of housemaid
in the service Of Mr.. and Mrs. Cobbold.
+, The dwelling of this couple was known
as the Cliff, and stood on the bank of
the Orwell Here Margaret's time
passed smoothly on until May, 1877,
when she received letter signed Will
lam Laud, dated from the Dog and
Bone public house, in the borough of
Southwark, and earnestly imploring her
to repair to London without delay that
their hands might be united. She was
overjoyed with this news. But how
was she to get to London? She had
no money, and she knew that her mas
ter and mistress would not grant her
leave to undertake journey which was
to lead her to William Laud. She,
however, soon made up her mind how
to act. She attired herself in the garb
of a groom, and, mounting one of Mr..
Cobbold's horses, began her journey.
We have said that when child she de-