The Delta independent., 1893-11-08

ished wolves, hurli ing its doleful echoes
over the heath. Still tho 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 uight
and the storm had increased together,
when the sound Of horses feet was
heard hurriedly plashing along tho
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 q pistol to his
breast "Dismount" cried the
stranger sternlv.
The horseman, benumbed and fear
stricken, made an effort to reach his
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 finging it
across his shoulder, rushed across the
heath.
Early on the following morning the
inhabitants 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
hrst despair. But even that hope,
bitter as it was, perished. The in
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 doneT
groaned the captive.
"Amen!" responded Grisel 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 its utmost speed--
he looked cautiously before, behind,
and around, and In his right hand he
self. The moon shed q ghostly light
across the heath. He turned the
angle OF struggling corpse when his
horse reared at the report of pistol,
the fire of which seemed to fash in its
very eyes. At the same moment
his own pistol went of, 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 brsndishing
short dagger, saying:
solve me thine arms, or die!"
The heart Of the kings servant
failed him, and, without ventur4pg .
reply. he did as he was commanded
'Now 70 thy way" said the robber
sternly, "but leave me thy horse and
the mah, lest worse thing come upon
thee"
The man arose, and returned to
Berwick, and the robber, mounting the
horse. rode rapidly across the heath.
Preparations were making for the
execution Of Sir John Coohrsne, and
the officers Of the law waited only for
the arrival Of the mail with the Soc
ond death-warrant, whom the news
arrived that the mail had again been
robbed. For yet fourteen days tho
prisoners life would be prolonged.
Putting his arms about his daughter,
he said, "It Is good. The hand of
Heaven is in thisl''
Said l not, replied his child. and
for the first time she wept, ''said not
that my father should not die?"
The fourteen days were not past
when the prison-door few 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 we're olinging
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 a stranger craved an audience.
| Sir John desired him to be admitted,
and the robber entered; he was dressed
in a coarse cloak, and coarser jerkin,
but his bearing seemed beyond his
condition. On entering, he slightly
touched his beaver. but did not re-
move 1t.
when you have read these" said
he, taking two papers from his bosom,
s'cast them into the fire."
Sir John glanced them over
started. and became pale. They were
| his death warrants.
"My deliverer!' he exclaimed; "hoW
how shall thank thee-how repay
| the saviour of my life? My father
my children-thank him for mel"
The old earl grasped the hand OF
the stranger-the children embraced
his knees He pressed his hand to his
| face, and burst into tears.
"By what name," eagerly inquired
Sir John, '.shall thank my deliverer."
She stranger wept aloud, and rails