The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-21

| plainly. Write to DR.. Gibbings for a
prescription for the gout-you re sure to
need it sooner or later. You can thus
get a,sample of the Doctors handwrit-
ing and the rest is easy to man of
yenr spirit and resource.
Late one dark July night few days
after the interview recorded above Mr..
Penrose's household was awakened by a
violent knocking at the outer door. A
messenger had come in hot haste from
Cork with letter. which he delivered
and then vanished in the gloom. The
. letter was superscribed, ITO Mr.. Cooper
Penrose, and the handwriting was that
Of DIR. Gibbings 1t ran:
DEAR -SrR-Our friend, Mrs. Pike is taken
suddenly IN; she wishes to see Miss Pike. We
would recommend dispatch as we think she
has not many hours to live. Yours,
RoBERr GIBBrNos.
Instantly Miss Pike arose from her
bed and made haste to depart, fearful
that the worst might happen to her
mother before she could arrive. The
carriage was promptly brought to the
door. Miss Pike, Miss Penrose and an
other lady get into it, and about in
the morning they all set out on their
adsjeurney, little dreaming how sad it
wastto be. The night was pitch dark.
The rain fell in torrents, and as the
coach plowed through the rniry road it
was Suddenly met by four or five armed
men, who called upon the coachman to
STOP
Naturally the ladies were terrified al
rAost out of their wits by this rencoun-
Ter. AS soon as their terror would per-
NIT they asked:
what do you want?"
I At this one Of the men, disguised in
long greatcoat and with handkerchief
( tied over his face, advanced and an
swered:
"You must be searched"
The carriage door was thrown open.
BY the dim light Of dark lantern
its occupants could be seen shrinking
back in fear and alarm. The leader
pointed out Miss Pike, and despite the
poor girls protests, entreaties and tears
she was torn forcibly from her friend
and placed in ohaise which stood by.
AS the chaise drove off she sank back
exhausted and found lady by her side.
'Oh, save mel Save mei'' cried Miss
Pike, convulsively clinging to her COM
panion.
''Hush!'' said the stranger sternly,
though not unkindly. 1--WE mean you
no harm. But yon must be quiet"
The young lady's entreaties proved
futile. There was indeed no help to
be hadyfrom the iron woman at her side,
SO the ,ohaise drove on to Vernon Mount.
At thtbbottom of the long and steep av-
enue the horses stopped, being unable
to drag the vehicle farther over the
heavytroad. Hereupon Sir Henry Hayes
rode up, dismounted, took the strug-
CLING girl in his arms, and in spite Of
her strenuous resistance carried her up
to MS house. When they entered, per-
son attired like clergyman came for
wsrd, some sort of ceremony was gone
th rough, words were muttered in Ian
G mage which the half fainting victim
either did not hear or did not under
fitand, and at the close she was inform
ed that SIZE was Lady Hayes.
Now" said Sir Henry, putting a
pen into her hand, you had better in
form your friends of your wedding
without delay"
In the wild hope of obtaining deliv-
! erance she wrote what they suggested,
but neither persuasion nor threats could
induce her to sign the letter by the
odious name Of her captor. And now,
in the last extreme, modesty gave the
unhappy creature unexpected courage
and strength. This fine example of
Anighthood could not succeed in over
coming her scruples even by force, 30
he restored to Establishment and concili-
alton. He expostulated; he pleaded.
Don't you know me? l am your
friend, your husband. +"
Yes" she answered, 81 do know
you now. / remember your intrusion
at my cousins. But you are not my
husband, and, heaven helping me, you
never shall be.
And so, strong in her innocence and
purity, Mary Pike remained captive
under the roof of Sir Henry Hayes.
Meantime the friends of Miss Pike
were not idle. Inquiries were prose-
suted on all sides, and at length the
place of her captivity was discovered.
Armed with the authority of the law
for the recovery of the lady, party
| proceeded to Vernon Mount with all
speed. They found Miss Pike not SO
much the verse for her adventure as
might have been expected and greatly
rejoiced to be restored to her relatives
But the bold knight and his amiable
ulster had disappeared, leaving no trace
of their whereabouts, and not without
very good reason, for the crime Of abb
duction was then punishable by death.
Informations were Immediately lodged
in court Of Justice, the usual legal
machinery was put in motion, and a
large reward was offered for the arrest
of the principal cuIprit. However, as
he remained in conoealment, the proc
ess of law went on in his absence, and
at length sentence of outlawry was
passed upon him by the court.
Now comes the most curious part OF
this singular story--a part that throws
a lurid light upon the state Of Irish So
ciety SO late as the beginning of the
present century. The practice Of abb
Quoting young and marriageable girls Of
fortune had been preFalentsiA ireland
for long time and was looked upon
with approval by alarge section of the
Irish public. During the whole Of the
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