The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-11-11

Woo COM1uS Oh, auu a. storm was
threatening: The heavens grew black;
the clouds rushed from the sea; sud-
den gusts Of wind moaned through
the streets, accompanied by heavy
drops OF rain, and the face of the
Tweed was troubled. -
"Heaven help p thee if thou intendest
to travel far in such night as this!'
said the sentinel at the English gate,
as the traveller passed him to cross the
bridge.
In few minutes he was upon the
wide and desolate moor of Tweed
mouth; which for, miles presented a
desert of furze, fern, and stunned
heath, with here and there copse of
thick brushwood. He slowly toiled
over the steep hill, Drawing the storm,
which now ragged with the widest
fury. The rain fell in torrents, and
the wind howled like legion of fam
ished wolves hurting it's doleful echoes
over the heath. Still the stranger
pushed onward, until two or three
miles from Berwick, when, as if una
BILE to longer brave the storm, he
sought shelter amidst some bushes by
the wayside. Nearly an hour had
passed since he sought this imperfect
refuge, and the darkness of the night
and the storm had increased together,
when the sound of horses feet was
heard hurriedly FLASHING along the
road. The rider bent his head to the
blast. Suddenly his horse was
grasped by the bride; the rider raised
his head, and the stranger stood be-
fore him holding a pistol to his
breast. ''Dismountv' cried the
stranger sternlv.
The horseman, benumbed and fear
arms; but instantly the hand of the
robber, quitting the bride, grasped
the breast of the rider and dragged
him to the ground. He fell heavily
on his face, and for several minutes
was senseless. The stranger seized
the leather bag which contained the
mail for the north, and fiinging it
across his shoulder, rushed across the
heath.
Early on the following morning the
inha abitants of Berwick were seen
hurrying in groups to the spot where
the robbery had been committed, but
no trace of the robber could be OBJ
tanned.
Three days had passed and Sir John
Cochrane still lived. The mail which
contained his death-warrant had been
robbed, and before another order for
his execution could be given, the in
tercession Of his father, the earl of
Dundonald, with the kings con-
fessor, might be successful.
Grizel now became the almost
constant companion of her. father.
Nearly fortnight had passed
since the robbery of the mail, and
protracted hope in the bosom of the
prisoner became more bitter than his
first despair But even that hope
bitter as it was, perished. The in
tercession Of his father had been
unsuccessful; and a second King James
signed the death warrant Within
little more than another day that
warrant would reach the prison.
1.-THE will of Heaven be donep
groaned the captive.
'Amen" responded Grizel with wild
vehemence, "yet my father shall not
die.''
Again the rider with the mail had
reached the moor of Tweedmouth,
and second time he bore with him
the doom of Sir John Cochrane. He
spurred his horse to it's utmost speed
he looked cautiously before, behind,
and around, and in his right hand he
carried a pistol ready to defend him
self The moon shed ghostly light
across the heath. He turned the
angle of a struggling corpse when his
horse reared at the report of pistol,
the fire of which seemed to flash in it's
very eyes. At the same moment
his own pistol went off, and,
his horse again rearing, he
was thrown from the Saddle
In moment the robber, with his foot
upon the breast of the messenger, was
bending over him and brandishing a
short dagger, saying:
'Glve me thine arms, or die!''
The heart of the kings servant
failed him. and, without venturing a
reply, he did as he was commanded.
Now go thy way" said the robber
sternly, but leave me thy horse and
the mail, lest worse thing come upon
thee.'
The man arose, and returned to
Berwick, and the Tobber, mounting
the horse, rode rapidly across the
heath.
Preparations were making for the
execution of Sir John Cochrane, and
the officers of the law waited only for
the arrival of the mail with the Sec
ond death-warrant, when the news
arrived that the mail had again been
robbed. For yet fourteen days the
prisoners life would be prolonged.
Putting his arms about his daughter,
he said, ut is good. The hand of
Heaven is in this!''
Said not" replied his child, and
for the first time she wept, ''said I not
that my father should not die?''
The fourteen days were not past
when the prison-door flew open, and
the earl Of Dundonald rushed to the
arms of his son. His intercession with
the confessor had been successful, and,
after twice signing the warrant for
the execution of Sir John, the king
had sealed his pardon.
He hurried with his father TO his
own house; his family were clinging
around him, shedding tears of joy.
Grizel only was absent. They were
marveling with gratitude at the mys-
terious providence that had twice in
tercepted the mail, and saved his life,
when stranger craved an audience.
Sir John dacira1 Il In, ~ ho a. rn;+fo1