The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-10
of DR.. Gibbings, the physician in at
te dance mo, Mrs Pike IL ran.


suddenly ill; she wishes to see Miss pike. We
would recommend dispatch as we think she
has not many hours to live. Yours,
ROBERT GIBBINGs
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 got into it, and about 2 in
the morning they all set out on their
sad journey, little dreaming how sad it
was to be. The night was pitch dark.
| The rain fell in torrents, and as the
| coach plowed through the miry road it
was suddenly met by four or five armed
men, who called upon the coachman tc
stop.
Naturally the ladies were terrified al
| most out of their wits by this rencoun-
ter. AS soon as their terror would per-
nit they asked:
"What do you wantr"
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 a 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 a chaise which stood by.
AS the chaise drove off she sank back
exhausted and found lady by her side.
"Oh, save mel Save MEL cried Miss
Pike, convulsively clinging to her COM
panion.
"Hush!' said the stranger sternly,
though not unkindly. 1--WE mean you
no harm. But you must be quiet"
The young lady's entreaties proved
futile. There was indeed no help to
be had from the iron woman at her side,
so the chaise drove on to Vernon Mount.
AT the bottom of the long and steep av-
enue the horses stopped, being unable
to drag the vehicle farther over the
heavy road. 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
w iiio hOupN' w hNh lhCy ChptlOuJ u pNl-
son attired like a clergyman came for
ward, some sort of ceremony was gone
through, words were muttered in Ian
guage which the half fainting victim
either did not hear or did not under
stand, and at the close she was inform
ed that she 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
knighthood could not succeed in over
coming her scruples even by force, so
he restored to Establishment and concili-
alton. He expostulated; he pleaded.
Don't you know meP l am your
friend, your husband. "
Yes" she answered, Il 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-
cuted 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 worse for her adventure as
might have been expected and greatly
rejoiced to be restored to her relatives.
But the bold knight and his amiable
sister had disappeared, leaving no trace
of their whereabouts and not without
very good reason, for the crime of alb
duction was then punishable by death.
Informatiops were Immediately lodged
In court of justice, the usual legal
machinery was put in motion, and
large reward was offered for the arrest
of the principal culprit. However, as
he remained in concealment, 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
lurid light upon the state of Irish So
ciety so late as the beginning of the
present century. The practice of alb
Quoting young and manageable girls of
fortune had been prevalent in Ireland
for long time and was looked upon
with approval by large section of the
Irish public. During the whole of the
eighteenth century it was no rncom-
mon occurrence for some predatory
Irish gentleman, accompanied by his
retainers, to swoop down upon an un.
suspecting household and carry off
helpless maiden. True, the unfortunate
girl frequently-perhaps generally-be-
came the wife of the man who had cap
tured her by his bow and by his spear.
Marriage, however, with these barbara
ans and under such conditions was Of
tan q xuoraa fafa fhop a.;o