The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-08
VOL. XXIV.-NO. 81.

|
"Why, the fifty would buy up dozen of youl
miserable hacks"
"Well, it's this way, you see," explained
the inn-keeper. 81 don't exactly smoke
your game, but know that you'r re up to sum
mat as you don't want blabbed upon the
Families. Now fifty pounds aintt too big a
price to pay an honest man for holding his
tongue; and then there's the risk of damage
to horse flesh through careless driving
''Silencel" shouted Dick.
'Rebelionl' cried Tom.
He is condemned to drink another glass
of brandy punch" said Harry.
Oldham submitted to this punishment with
considerable meekness, and his heart began
to grow mellow within him under the inAu-
ence of the generous liquor.
''You see that you keep silence, said Jack,
''aul we will not quarrel over the hire of the
horses. Perhaps hereafter, if things go well,
there may be another fifty pounds for the
faithful old Boniface who could hold his
tongue discreetly. These are our conditions:
swear to observe them, or undergo the pains
of our displeasure.'
~ swear!'' said Oldham very gravely.
"Oh, that will never dol'' cried Harry.
''We must have an oath that is binding. .
''Who has Testament handy ~ asked
Dick.
IAN inn-keeper does not believe in the
Gospels" said Tom. 'We must swear him
on something he reverenees."
''The very thingl" shouted viii, brandish-
ing aloft the punch ladle. s'He believes in
this at any rate. Let him take his oath upon
it.1
The sacred emblem of his calling was ten
dered to Oldham, who took it in his hands,
and kissed it very demurely. Then, when
he had made low reverence to the company,
he was allowed to withdraw.
The door of the parlor was locked again,
and the conspirators set about maturing their
plans. With the aid of the punch bowl,
matters were arranged very dramatically. 1t
was agreed on all hands that there must be a
desperate encounter between the outlaws and
the valiant position before the coach was
surrendered, to be effected by much firing of
pistols charged with nothing more death
dealing than gunpowder. The highwaymen
were to be masked, lest by any chance they
should be recognized by their prisoner. Sir
Ralph was to be detained at some lonely
country inn for twenty four hours as an
escaped lunatic who had providentially been
retaken. Then the amateur Knights Of the
Road were to ride for dear life to London,
leaving the Baronet to shift for himself, sell
their horses, and settle down quietly in the
Temple until the excitement consequent upon
the outrage should should have subsidized. 1t
was early morning before these youths went
to bed, feeling exceedingly courageous, and
mighty keen for the exploit.
On the following afternoon, when the sun
was setting, Jack jumped over the wall at
Torringwood Place, and found Mistress
Tresidder awaiting him in the avenue. He
had spoken to her in parallels on the previous
/ day, and had left her in amazement. Now
that bis plan was matured, he was able to
explain it fully. The girl listened with wide
open eyes, admiring her lovers sagacity.
30 Jack she exclaimed, when he had
/ finished, ''how clever of you-how brave p
You see that she was very much in love
indeed, and love may have blinded her some
what An unbiased young lady would hardly
have thought that it needed very great eour-
+ age for five stalwart young fellows to capture
a middle aged gentleman.
''But Jack, she continued, after
silence, ''if your friends should fail to capture
as, what should We do then? Should have
to marry Sir Ralph2''
"It's impossible, Nen,n Jack answered.
''They can't by any chance miss as. Besides,
/ If they did, there would be hundred ways
/ Of getting rid of Sir Ralph"
/ And Ellen had such faith in her lover that
she committed herself to this wild adventure.
She even made bold to press the Baronet to
hasten the time for their secret departure.
/ This was something incomprehensible to Sir
/ Ralph He had been wooing this wayward
I young lady with might and main for more
than year, aud had hitherto met with moth
\ ing but scorn and rebuffs. And now, when
be proposed marriage in the most uncomfort-
able manner conceivable, Mistress Tresidder
/ jumped at it-almost indelicately, he thought.
He ventured once to hint that, since every
body was so happily agreed in desiring the
marriage, it might be allowed to take place
in a more commonplace but less scandalous
and laborious fashion. Mistress TresiddeI
turned pale at the horrid suggestion, and
| declared that her heart was set on runaway
match, and that she would marry Sir Ralph
at Gretua Green, or not at all. The Baronei
groaned, cursed the obstinacy Of womankind
and consulted his friend the Alderman upon
the subject; but he did not derive much solace
from the interview. Jabez Woods vanity
was lattered when he found that he had beer
keen enough to discover the right way to VIII
his wards affections, and we know that h'
had reasons Of policy for favoring the elope
ment.
''Ralph, you're an ass" he said, yer.
i bluutly. "Women are queer cattle, and yo1
must take them as you find them. 1t ism
every day that man gets the chance OF
fortune for the trouble Of taking journey
the Borders. If you don't go off with tn
wench while she is willing, and that prett
promptly, my patience will be exhausted
and you viii find yourself lodged in the Flee
instead of being in the arms of prett
| woman. But perhaps you would prefer 1t.
Sir Ralph pondered over his hard case fC
, day or two, and suppose that he came
the conclusion that of the two evils he di
/ not prefer the Fleet, At any rate, on II
afternoon Of Christmas eve, Giles Oldhai
entered the parlor where the conspirato
were sitting, chatting at the delay of the
exploit, and having closed the door,
winked twice very sagaciously.
! master jack he said, ''you must rit
postboy tonight. Your horses are saddle
and ready"
A few minutes afterwards FIVE horsemel
muffled in long riding-eloaks, might ha'
been seen to dash out of the yard at Il
Crown and take the road northward fro
Tunbridge Wells. At half past nine in I'll
evening pair of horses stood harnessed to
e numbering old coach in the same yard. Gil
a Oldham was lighting the lamps, and the hostl
1t was blowing his fingers to warm them. Ma
c ter Jack came out of the inn, dressed in
weather-stained blue jacket faced with whit
e buckskin breeches, and high jaek-boots, al