The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-06-29

ceit-"believe me, there are many who
will envy you
"But, sir" | interrupted, ''you forget
what have told you. Of late | have been
closely guarded for my uncle had discov-
cred that | have given my love to a
yeoman of the place. Tonight there was
a ball at the house of Madame Trelawney,
a 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 tlattered
at your suggestion of an elopement. But
what will the real lover do? Will he stop
the coach a second time and find the bird
flown? | warrant he will play the part
eXecrably. | should hardly be surprised
to hear that he had let himself he cap
tured.n
could not endure his testing. ''Sir,"
| said, Il am in your hands. and it is
small wonder that you find my plight only
laughahle. have made myself show for
all the country to laugh at. Never a
peddler but will be selling ballads in a
se'nnight about this that have done to-
night. Yet | could believe you kinder
tAan most. | entreat that you will help
me-
lie was sober in a moment. "I'pon my
soul y he said, ''the case is one to puzzle
very solomon. l would do much to help
you, but | am not altogether free to do so
as would. To be frank, my life hangs
upon my escaping out of these regions with
all the CELEBRITY | can command. And my
life-but LISTEN
lie broke off and kneelng, placed his
ear to the ground. Then he arose, with a
curious excited laugh. "The adventure
grows in interest," he said. "Here comes
the honest yeoman, and in hot haste
listened eagerly and heard far off the
sound of horse galloping furiously along
the rough track, which was then the only
road across the great moorland | saw
sudden movement on the part of my com
panion and perceived that he was lingering
his pistols as he stood silent IN the dark
ness
''Not that - | cried entreatingly.
There will be need of an explanation Of
some kind - he said. perhaps you will
undertake it. confess | have not suili-
cient gift of words, and ! am little in
clined to doubt whether your sweetheart
will be in the mood for verbal eXplana-
tons. Doubtless, as a gentlemen of the
road, he will ride armed'
The sound of the hoofs grew nearer lie
was silent now and listened most atten-
lively to the approaching sound. Presently
the rider was quite near
'Dick " | called "Dck, alls well,
and am in the company OF friend of
yours and mine"
\ moment later he was upon us, and
sure enough he held pistol in his hand.
and caught me to him. But it was the
highwayman who spoke first.
''Sir,' he said, 81 see by the pistol you
carry that you take very proper view of
the situation And yet | believe that
everything may be explained. If you will
consult the LADY,
Dick | said, "this gentleman is
friend. He took me with him, very much
against his WILL because | asked that he
would take me- and | did that because
thought that he was you. You know our
plan, He isl
| paused. The highwayman laughed.
81 follow day by day the trade which it
pleased you to adopt for a single night.
| anticipated you by a few minutes We
are both of us tall men, and the lady took
the difference of voice and manner for
clever disguise. was engaged about my
ordinary business when she appeared to
suggest that | should elope with her. |
will confess my good luck amazed me at
first, but | was quick to embrace it, nor
did discover how far astray my conceit
had led me until the moment of your APP
proach. We were endeavorng to devise a
method OF restoring the lady to her friends
when you appeared to solve our diff
Guilty
"You forget, said Dick doggedly-'
forget the little matter of the money and
| jewels you have stolen'
The highwayman started Convey, the
wise call it," he replied, with some tart
ness. "But the only course is that should
surrender everything to you, and then it
should be clear to you that am no less
messenger of Providence to you and the
lady-a god from the machine"
Dick was silent, his arm about my waist,
his figure held ready for action.
''The good uncle has been robbed Of
goods and nece," went on the highway
man easily. "You come upon him in his
Distress hear the tale and straigl twty 20
in pursuit Of the thief-the good uncle
called me 'thief'-and compel him to dis