Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-05-29
TWO HIGHWAYMEN.

began at last TO think that the Dall
would never come to an end. l had
looked forward to it with absolute dread,
for was we'll aware of the plan which
my uncle and Madam Trelawney had
devised between them. l had already
recognized that the lady's son was
charming in his boyish frankness, but l
had seen from the first that it was in
tended he should propose to me before
the night was ended-this night of all
nights in the year !-and I was resolved
on my part that he should do nothing
of the sort.
Truly, he was gallant boy l can
fancy-for an old woman may surely
tell her grandchildren she once was
beautiful-that we made pretty couple
as we danced together. / know that
madam treated me with quite unusual
consideration, and once I caught her
watching US with an altogether delight
full air Of satisfaction. Frank, too, did
his dutiful best to offer me such atten-
tions as are proper in lover, and though
I was resolved to thwart his mother and
to keep him from counting rejection l
could not but enjoy the little play in
which was acting pictured the sur
prise of all the good folks who were
now watching me when the news of the
morrow should reach them. And though
longed for the end of the ball, and the
more serious adventure which was des
tined to follow, / found the situation
vastly amusing.
Perhaps it was this fact which chiefly
helped me to keep Frank at distance.
''You are always laughing at a man., -
he said reproachfully during an interval
between two dances, and upon my soul
I was hard put to find an answer. l
could scarcely say that for him I had
only pity, and yet this would have been
the truth, even though was we'll aware
that his disappointment would be only
for week or two
At any rate, when the hour of our de-
parture had come, his devotion was still
untleclared, and madam looked upon me
shade less kindly, thought, when l
went to take farewell of her. But, in
truth, was by this time too completely
overcome by excitement to notice little
details in the compartment of these peo-
pie. They were all conspirators against
my happiness and Dicks knew they
would be checkmated within the hour,
and already I could have laughed in
their faces.
My uncle was great gamester and
never known to lose his coolness On
this night he had gained large sum at
cards But, for all that, fancy he had
taken a goodly quantity of liquor during
the evening. noticed that his voice
was little thick No sooner were we
seated in his coach than he lay back in
a corner and slept peacefully; soon he
was snoring.
was thus left alone. Indeed could
not have talked with him had it been
otherwise, yet I now wished l were
compelled to try, for the excitement I
was in came near to being uncomfortable.
could see nothing through the windows
of the coach-nothing but the dim re-
Election of my own pale face against
background of utter darkness. Had 1
been able to take note of the landmarks
as we passed them 1 might have been
gone from the house five minutes when
began and continued to feel passion
ately assured that the very next moment
would be productive of the event to
which l looked forward so eagerly.
The drive appeared interminable. |
began to think that Dick must have
come early and grown tired of waiting,
and knew that if he did not keep tryst
my heart would simply break. And
then, frightening me despite my eager
anticipation of it, came the first sign.
saw sudden blackness move past
the window A pistol cracked, and as
the carriage ceased to move heard
mans voice speaking sternly to the
coachman and his companion on the
box. 1t struck me the sternness was sin
gularly we'll acted, for the coachman
had been in the plot from the first. He
happened to have fancy for my maid,
Genefer, and Dicks bribe was super
fluffy once she had undertaken to make
sure Of him.
Ny uncle stirred in his corner, NUT
tering incoherently, but he was still
more than half asleep when the door of
the coach was opened, and tall, grace
full figure-how we'll knew it, having
met him frequently at dusk on the edge
of the old plantation stood dimly out
lined against the darkness. The new
conner was masked and put a pistol to
my uncle's head.
"You ride late, sir, he said And I
wondered at the skill with which he
disguised his voice 81 presume you
carry firearms and must ask that you
| will trust them to my keeping.
l can hardly report my uncle's words.
| Indeed they were not coherent, so great
was his indignation, but he gave up his
pistols, and the highwayman straight
way flung them far into the darkness.
"Your purse, he continued politely
Then, when he had received this also:
"Sir Richard Courtney's luck at the
cards has passed into proverb Tell
your friends, sir, that you have given
their L o. U. IS to one who will never
ask for payment, for | have no doubt !
| shall find them here. "
He put the purse into his pocket
"There is diamond ring, too, " he said,
| >and a watch. :" And these things he
also received and pocketed
All this time my uncle had been ours
ing him for a thief and swearing he
would see him hanged within month
upon the highest point of the moorland.
As for me, had enjoyed the proceed
ings to begin with, but now began to
be afraid Precious time was being
wasted. There were others who must
use this road in returning from the ball,
and there was the risk Of their coming
to the rescue of my dear uncle and
spelling the plans on which so much de-
pended. Moreover, I conceived that my
uncle would be hugely angry when he
discovered how prettily he had been de-
ceived. It was possible he might be car
ried by his resentment so far as to make
it appear that this mock robbery was
real and so bring Dick to serious trou
BILE. 1t was with great relief I saw that
it was ended
The highwayman spoke again. "Yor
have lady in your company" he SAID
"I must trouble her.
"Scoundrel'' said my uncle, angriei
| IL 1.O1