Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-04-10

for I had known he would do his best
to change his voice; and as for his
foolish robbery. it was just Of a piece
with his natural love of mischief.
But now I Logan to feel certain that
some impostor had taken his part; that
l had eloped with another man-and
him acommon highwayman. Imagine
my distress! l could conceive of no
method OF extricating myself from the
position sense of blank helplessness
came over me, and I could do no more
than cling tightly to the highwayman
and await the event.
We had hidden some miles, when he
suddenly drew rein and dismountcd,
landing me lightly beside him.
':Upon my soul!" he said, "hcre is
a pretty adventure! Heaven knows
that I had always a passion for the
unusual, or should still be humble
usher in Brancaster Academy. But,
tell me, what am I to do with you?"
Isuppose had hoped against hope
to find my fears were justified was a
disastrous blow to me, nor could l
make any answer.
ST would not wish braver sweet
heart" he continued, speaking with
an odd and attractive perplexity.
"But what have we gentlemen of the
road to do with wives? Why, sweet
heart, you heard the promises of your
guardian. He will surely do his ut
most to fulfill them, and how should i
dare to 60 to the gallows if I knew
that I left you widowed and alone? ]
trust score of maids woull weep q
little if poor Jack Arthur went the
common way, but God forbid that any
should remember him at a weeks end.
1t may seem thst am ungallant, yet
I protest I do not like my share in
this adventure. Kiss me- sweet, and
then fancy I am old and very wise,
and take my counsel, which is that
you permit me to conduct you back
to some place near your home. And
yeti would not wish brayer sweet
heart"
And then, moved by the kin dness
of his words and his pleasant voice, l
lost command of myself and bust forth
into foolish weeping.
"Sir," said, 81 am altogether at
your mercy. I have done that which
will shame me all the rest of my days.
But, indeed, / thought you were an
other, my sweetheart, whom l shonil
have married tomorrow.
I fancied he spoke less gaily than
before; perhaps he had not hoped al
together that I would not take his
sage advice. "Ho, ho!" he cried,
"then my good fortune is but another
theft to my account? I do not under
stand. Your were to have married
your lover tomorrow, and; yet you en-
treat a stranger. and a highwayman at
that, to carry you off! This is the
maddest of'adventures. F"
tSir." said, "my uncle stands to
me in the place of father and mother. F"
The highwayman chuckled. "Poor
child !" he said, and softly stroked my
hand, which, it seems, lie had been
holding for some minutes. "Poor
child"
.sHe would have me marry one
whom do not love, and ] began to
fanr that w0ssd
ma md comnel --''
"The old hulks!" cried the high
wayman. "You shall marry whom
you choose. Nay, I withdraw my
foolish wisdom; come with me. and
before the night is here again you
shall be Mistress Arthur. Believe
me-" he added. with pretty conceit,
"believe me, there are many who will
envy you"
"But, SIR" interrupted, "you for.
get what have told you. OF late I
have been closely guarded, for my
uncle had discovered that have given
my love to yeoman of the place. To-
night there was ball at the house OF
Nine. Trelawney IA great lady, whose
son was destined by my uncle and by
her to be my husband), and it was
arranged that he should stop the
coach on our return, and carry me
away with him.
The highwayman laughed loudly.
"And that is why you did not faint or
scream?" he said. 81 fell in love
with you because of that, and that is
why was so Aattered at your sugges-
tion Of an elopement. But-what
will the real lover do? Will he stop
the coach q second time, and find the
bird flown? I warrant he will play
the part execrably. lshould hardly
be surprised to hear he had let HIM
self be captured. F"
/ could not endure his jesting.
''Sir," said, 81 am in your hands,
and it is small wonder you find my
plight only laughable. I have made
myself q show for all the country to
laugh at. Never peddler, but will
be selling ballads in a se'nnight about
this that have done tonight. Yet 1
could believe you kinder than most.
entreat that you will help me.
He was sober in a moment.
"Upon my SOUL" he said; "the
case is one to puzzle very Solomon.
I would do much to help you, but ]
am not altogether free to do SO as I
would. To be frank, my life hangs
upon my escaping out ofthese regions
with all the celebrity I can command.
And my life y But listen!"
He broke off, and, kneeling, placed
his ear to the ground. Then he arose,
with curious, excited laugh. "The
adventure grows in interest, he said.
"Here comes the honest yeoman, and
in hot haste.
I listened eagerly, and heard far off
the sound of horse galloping
furiously along the rough tract, W lich
was then the only road acrots the
great moorland. ] saw q sudden
movement on the part OF my COM
panion, aud perceived that he was
L I, .4ool cf1ont