Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-09-15
HARRY GERMAINE
TWO HIGHWAYMEN

They Stopped the Same Coach.
I began at last to think that the ball
would never come to an end. I had al
ready recognized that Nine. Trelaw-
news son was charming in his boyish
franlness. but had seen from the first
that It was intended he should propose
to me before the night was ended, and
I was resolved on my part that he should
do nothing of the sort.
I pictured the surprise Of all the good
folks wh5 were now watching me, When
the news of the morrow should reacn
them. And. though longed for the END
of the ball, and the more serious adVen-
ture which was destined to follow
found the situation vastly amusing. ..
You are always laughing at man.
Frank said. repr0achfully, during an IN
teryal between two dances. l could
scarcely say that for him l had only
pitv and yet this would have been the
truth.
At any rate when the hour of our
denarture had come, his devotion was
still undeclared, and madame looked up
ON me a shade less kindly, | thought,
when went to take farewell Of her.
They were all consp!rators against
nv happiness and Dicks l knew they
would be checkmated within the hour
and already I could have laughed III
their faces.
MY uncle was a great gamester, and
never known to lose his GOODNESS. But
7 fancy he had taken a goodly quantity
of huuor during the evening. No soon
er we're we seated in his coach than
ne lay back in a corner and slept peace
fully: soon ne was snoring.
The driver appeared !nterm.nable.
began to think that Dick must have
come early and grown tired of waiting
and I knew that if he did not keep
tryst my heart would simply break.
I saw a sudden blackness move pas
the window. A pistol cracked, and as
the carriage ceased to move l heard q
mans voice speaking sternly TO ths
coachman and his companion on the
box.
II struck me the sternness was s.ngu-
larly well acted; for the coachman had
been in the plot from the first. lie hap
pened to have a fancy for my maid,
Genefer, and Dicks bride was a super
fluffy.
My uncle stirred in his corner, NUT
tering incoherently, but he was sill
more than half asleep when the door
of the coach was opened, and a tall,
graceful figure Chow we'll 1 knew it
stood dimly outlined against the dark
ness.
you ride late, sir" he said; and
wondered at the skill with which he
disguised his voice. Il presume you
carry firearms, and must ask that you
will trust them to my keeping"
Your purse" he continued, politely.
Then, when he had received this also;
Sir Richard Courtney's luck at the
cards has passed into a proverb. Tell
your friends. sir, that you have given
their l. 0. US to one who will never
ask for payment; for I have no doubt
/ shall find them there"
He put the purse into his pocket.
All this time my uncle had been
cursing him for a thief, and swearing
he would see him hanged within a
month upon the highest point of the
moorland AS for me, / had enjoyed
the proceedings to begin with, but now
| began to be afraid. Precious time
was being wasted.
The highwayman spoke again: you
have lady in your company he said.
u must trouble her"
"Scoundrelr said my uncle angrier
than he had been at ALL do you rob
HELPLESS women also? Oh, but You
shall hang high"
Beauty" quoted the highwayman
land l am sure the lady is beautiful
Beauty adorned in best adorned.
must ask the lady to step from her car
riage a moment and give me the jewels
of which she surely has no need"
took the pearls from my neck and
pressed his hand in passing them to
him. BE quick" I said in whisper.
Where is your horse?"
He paused for a moment. Il saw the
CLEAN OF bracelet" he said, IL mus;
relieve you Of that, also"
Again l obeyed him, but the fear that
others would come while he still STOP
ned fooling became more urgent.
Il am ready" / whispered, so eagerly
that | wondered my uncle did not hear.
why do you waltz"
He appeared a little disconnected.
"And l think you are wearing a ring,
he went on.
I took the ring from my finger; as
gave il 10 him 1 clutched his hand,
secure in the protecting darkness.
Take me-" l said, take me-
When he spoke it was in curiousiy
altered voice and with a little delight
ed laugh.
Come, them"
I gave a scream of alarm Ga portion
of the play we had arranged togetherl
as he caught me round the waist and
landed me upon his horse. A moment
later l was clinging to him for dear lie
as we dashed headlong into the black
night and went forward across the
moorland
At first my excitement was so greaI
as to render thought Impossible but
gradually, as I began 10 grow more ac-
customed to my situation, l was over
taken with a most dreadful misgiving.
The rider had hitherto seemed like
enough to Dick; but now began to feel
certain that some impOstor had taken
his part; that l had eloped with another
man-and him q common highwayman