The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-03-24

L!itli WOIu anu tley htpt IL.
IF we should meet The highway
men," said my mother; but | was
not afraid. | didn'l care whom
we me, or what happened to me.
We rode away from our home in
the bright daylight and stopped
for dinner and to change horses at
an inn; then we rode on again.
1t would be night long before We
reached London. | sat in the
coach with my hand on my moth.
er's shoulder thinking of Just one
,hing-Cecil. Should | never see
him agaln--never, never--never !
Would he moi follow me and carry
off by forces Could | not some
how let him know and escape
from my aunt's house in London
and be married, so That no one
could part uss Oh! was so mis-.
erable-mi>erable. Nothing for
wrelchedness like making plans
that Can come to nothing and
burst like bubbles When you have
thought them out.
The AFTERNOON faded ont and the
sun set. The moon rose.
"See, what a lovely moon,' said
my mother. But | had not cared
10 look at The moon since | saw il
over the garden wall lhat night
tried to run away. Rumble went
the coach, crack went the whip.
Suddenly there was tnmult.
"Genllemen," cried the guard
"genllemen, Pm afraid we are to
have some trouble here, See 10
your weapons, ggnllemen."
Then The coach came to a stand
The shreklng women clung to
gethcr. -Four masked men rode lo
The door The coachman and
guards lay in a ditch. One oil the
gentlemen was bound the o'hel
was old and lame. They were
rltling his pockets while he was
screaming. They took out a gold
watch, a pulse and his snulf-boy
with diamonds on il. They haG
already he others money.
The one-the largest, the hand
soonest figure bent over US.
''Don'l fear, iadies," he said in ;
soft voice. "AIl we want is what
ever valuables you may have
about you.'
Mamma began to scream.
The lady who was next 20 he
tainted.
We could moi see the mans face
for he was masked aud We were il
the shadow OF the coach.
"Somehing shines on your fin
ger; let me see it, he said.
He caught a chain on which
wore locket with a curl of Cecil's
hair.
"Don't take that y | cried
Don't take that y
| clutched it. Our heads were
close togel her. | Saw his chin an,
mouth under his mask. At ih'
same moment my face was thrus
into the moonlight.
Amy | heard him whisper t
him self, and | knsw Cecil.
Meanw hile something had hap
pened. Two gentlemen had riddeI
up-Ihe one who had been boun,
was free. For once the tables hat
been turned upon The robbers.
Then one had ridden away, tw,
were Lound and one lay bleeding
THIS last one was Cecil.
| knew now that my father ha'
not been wrong. Cecil was eve
worse / han he thought bin. II
was hiehwayman, a bad ma
and the companion Of bad men
creature who cut purses on tn
public road. They were not a
ignorant men, these highwaymeI
by no means. Many had goo
birth, education and manners.
Yes, a bad man, but how coul
| hate him all at once? | mde
stood that my father had bee
right in parting US; but those liz
had kissed me--,hose hands hel
mine.
, "The ladies need fear no lon!
er." said one OF the gentlemen
, "Those fellows are in no condltio
to modest them"
Then he said: men tidn't sa
. such highdown things, then "Ho
merciful is the gentler sex! 1t
: compassionate to the erring
, we'll as The virtuous."
For | had tore my hand from n
mothers and knel, hes de Cecil.
| They thought | pltied Noun,
, ed robber, that was all; but this
what we whispered in The dar
, ness:
"Amy, you know what | a
5 now; but | love YOU"
i And | answered:
!. "Cecll, hate your deeds wiiho
d hating you."
i Those were the last words v
e ever spoke to each other--,lle We
last.
y did you never see him again
4 asked The girl. "Oh, grandma
\ ma, never again ?"
a The old woman looked into h
q eyes.
q "He was very bad man, n
!. DEAR" she said, "very bad !; and
, never saw him again. l believe
3 died a shameful death one day
the hands Of The execulioner. Bl
y you see, 1t was because l ha
l l. - 1 al