The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-08

stark mau w nat we 10 uO
"You must consent 10 go off with the old
donkey, my DEAR" cried Jack; ''elope with
him, as he wishes. Ho-ho!"
so Jack, how could you dream of such 8
dreadful thing?'
II never dreamt better, Nell, my girl.
Indeed you shall go off with him quite quietly,
But mark you-I shall 90 tcith you. You
will leave Tunbridge Wells with the Baronet
but you will step out of the coach at Gretna
Green leaning on my hand, and then-O
darlingI"
Then followed more kisses, which the CIR
seemed to find very satisfactory, although
they could not have thrown much light upor
the young mans proposal.
IL really don't see, Jack" she began
''Oh course you DON'T he interrupted
"Trust to me. Consent to go with Sir Ralph
aud everything will turn out WE'LL Good -byl'
And before Ellen could speak another word
her lover had vaulted the garden. wall and
was lost to sight
The fact that Jack had lately been thinking
of adopting the same means for securing q
bride as Sir Ralph had now proposed, but
he had hesitated to undertake it. There
were the dangers of pursuit, of hue and cry,
of capture, to be reckoned with. To fail in
an elopement makes man look rather fool
ish, aud worse than that, 1t renders the
chances of future success very remote indeed.
But Ellen Tresidder's story, and the certainty
that as the Alderman was party to the plot he
would never pursue the fugitives, had sug-
gested to Jacks mind plan by which he
could escape with his beloved without incur
ring any danger whatsoever. But it was a
plan that he could not carry out unaided. So,
when he left Ellen in the garden wondering
what.maduess had seized him, he ran back to
the Crown, dragged his companions, unwilling
enough to leave their claret and the warm
fire in the parlor, to the cold desolate heath,
and there laid bare his plot to them.
And this is what the young seapegrace pro-
posed: That they should cajole honest Giles
Oldham into allowing Jack Nerinder to be
the position that should drive Sir Ralph
Cherbary towards wealth and matrimony;
that Jack 5 friends, disguised as highwaymen,
should wayIsy the coach at some convenient
lonely spot, carry of the Baronet, and de-
tain him in dnranee for twenty four hours,
while Jack himself drove on with bis mistress,
and married her without fear of chase being
given.
All this was very pleasant indeed for Jack,
bat it seemed hardly so satisfactory to his
companions, who had to incur the chief part
OF the danger. Their opinions on the subject
were expressed by the exclamations with
which this story opens, and which Jack had
the hardihood TO stigmatize as nonsense.
Bat they we're reckless set of boys, and
having uttered their protests, they were over
come BY their thirst for adventure, and they
very soon agreed very heartily to share in the
spor, Of trapping baronet.
But the thing amt natural, said Tom.
''Highwaymen with any spirit in them would
carry of the wench, not the old fogy.
Nonsense . cried Jack again. ''You
are going to hold him TO ransom
But the rest of the company quite agreed
With Tons view Of the case, to Jacks great
annoyance.
Then they went back to their inn, and ate
a hearty supper. When the meal was finish
ed they summoned the waiter and ordered a
bowl Of brandy panch, directing that the
landlord should serve it himself
Old Giles understood this delicate mode OF
inviting him to share in the revel. and very
sooa his smiling, rubicund face appeared in
the parlor above an enormous steaming bowl,
aud looking ike red sun rising through a
mist. While the landlord was setting the
bowl upon tue table, Jack slipped stealthily
behind him and boIted the door. Each youth
assumed his very sternest aspect, as if be were
prepared not only TO drink up Esil aud eat a
crocodile, bat also to do any other outrageous
&C, that the exigeueies Of the case might de-
mand.
''Sit down - said Dick.
s'And keep silent said Tom.
And listen to Jack verinder, said Harry,
The ian.keeper did as he was told, over,
come with astonishment al the strange be
havior Of his guests. He remembered thai
they owed him for week board and lodging
and he began to have qnalms for his money
Bat he put good face upon the matter anc
smiled and said that they were merry gen
tlemen.
'.We amt said Ned, feroeiously. Were
very serious indeed Don't interrupt
Jack stood very solemnly at the head o
the table, aud put his hand into the breas
pocket Of his coat ''Giles oldhaml'' h
began, and then he stopped, "He hasn't go
pluck to bear it, he said. ''Give him glas
Of punch.
Giles took the profFered liquor and gulpe'
ii down, feeling as uncomfortable as if he ha'
suddenly tumbied into nest of hornets.
'.Giles Oldham, Jack began again, laying
as he spoke, roll of bank notes upon th
table, you see that.
The landlord felt sudden relief at tn
sight of the money, and his eyes sparkled.
Lord, gentlemen he cried, Il amt IN
bit of hurry for the reckoning. | know
[ gentleman when see him, and-m
Don't interrupt p bawled Win.
you are talkatiye as an old woman, ado
ed Dick
Giles Oldham" coatinued Jack, ''theI
lies fifty pounds Those notes are yours whe
/ you have done our bidding faithfully. Ify
/ refuse--
/ "we'll leave the Crown tonight" sal
Harry.
''Apd spread the report all over Londo
that your victual is vile, said Dick.
''And that your liquor is beastly, sal
Tom.
''And that there's ne'er pretty weneh
the Wells, added Ned.
Poor Oldham was quite at a loss to que
why all these dire threats were hurled at him
but he was not anxious to lose his guests, ST
less did he wish to have his house disparage,
So he promised that he would do anything
his power to crafty the young gentlemen.
Then take another glass of punch, ," sa
Jack, land listen"
The landlord obeyed, not unwillingly, al
Jack went on;
Sometime not far hence you will recei,
an order from Sir Ralph Cherbury to send
coach and horses, late in the evening, to ava
him near Torringwood Place. | wish to
the position that shall drive that COACH
Oldham looked amazed at such q stranl