The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-06-22
Selert StOrp.
TWO HIGHWAYMEN.
H.p. Lowry. in s,mpd Magazine.

H. D Lowry, in Strand Magazine.
began at last to think that the ball
would never come to an end had looked
forward to it with absolute dread. for |
was well aware of the plan which my uncle
| and Madam Trelawney had devised between
them. had already recognized thar the
ladys son was charming in his boyish
/ frankness. but had seen from the first
that it was intended he should propose to
me before the night was ended-this night
/ of all nights in the year and | was re
solved on my parS that he should do moth
ing Of the sort
Truly, he was gallant boy | can
fancy-fur an old woman may surely tell
her grandchildren she once was beautiful
that we made pretty couple a. We danced
together. | know that madam treated me
with quite unusual consideration, and once
I / caught her watching rs With an altogether
delightful air Of satisfaction. Frank. t"o.
did his dutiful best to offer me such atten-
tions a. are proper in lover, and though
Z was resolved 70 thwau his mother and
TO keep him from oourting rejection could
no, but enjoy the little play in which was
acting. al pictured the surprise Of all the
.spod folSS who we're noW watching me when
the news Of the MORROW should reach theu
{ And thougk ! longed for the end Of the
bali. and the more serious adventure which
was destined to follow found the ,iIua
ton vastly amusing.
Perhap, ii was thi~ fast which chieiiy
helped me to keep Frank At a distance
You are always laughing a, 4 man
he said repraachfully during an interval
between ,wn dance and upon my soul |
was hard put to find an answer. s'suld
scarcely say that for him had only pity
and We, this would have been the truth.
even though | was well aware that his de
apToiutmen, would b. only f"r wvsA 20
two
AZ ans rate, when the hour 4 eur le
yar1ure had come hl- devoti"n vas still
.nndeclarsd. aud madam lcokei uT.an ale >
shade le-z, kindly. thought, when ! weut
to take farewell Il her But. Ia tralh. ]
was by thu, tine i,-5 comple,ely overcome
by excitement to naiice little "details iu Ihe
c,,mporturu, rf ihs--e people. They werc
al cous,,irator, against nav haplins~, and
Dick knew Ihey would b. check
mated within the hour and slFeady o'uli
have laughed in their fae--
Ms uncle vas great gaHse>ser an,l
never known to loee hi, cs.Ans-- co thi,
night he had gaine-l large -um u garl-
But. for al that. fancy be hsd taken q
goo-ily quantity uf liquor during the even.
ine. noticed that his yui,v VA q hiils
thick. No ~.,uer we're Ne seated in hp
coach than he lay back in corner and
lept peacefully; s.on he was snoring
vas thus leit alone Indeed | c,tild
not have talked with him had il ts~u o5h
erwise, yet | now wished were compelled
10 try. for the excitement was ia can',
near to being uncomfortable could -es
nothing Though the Windows If the csaeh- go
nothing but the dim reflection IL my owr
pale face against a background of uiiel
darkness Had been able ta take nat,
Of the landmarks a. We passed them
might have been calmeT ~ Il va. w,
had hardly been gone from the house rs,
minutes when | began and continued {,
feel passionately SURF that the very mex
moment would be- productive Of the event
To which looked forward ~ eagerly,
The drive appeared interminablc.
began Ia think that Dick must have com,
early aud grown tired uf waiting. and
knew that if he did no, keep trysi my
heart would simply break And then
frightening me despite my eager antieipa
tion Of il, came the tirst sign
| saw a sudden blacknes> move past ,h,
window 4 pistol cracked, and A. th'
carriage ceased TO move ! heard man
voice speaking sternly to the eoachman aus
! his companion on the box II struck IN,
the stemness was siHgulany well acted
for the coachman had been in the plot iroH
the frst He happened 10 have fame,
for my maid, Genefer aud Dick brib'
was superfuity once she had undertaken
to make sure of him.
Ny uncle stirred in his corner, mutter
ing incoherently, but he was still more thar
half asleep when the door of the coach Wa
opened, and tall, graceful 6sure-hoy
well knew il, having met him frequent,
at dusk on the edge of the old plantation =
stood dimly outlined against the darkness
The newcomer was masked and put pis
tOl to my uncle's head.
You ride late, sir, he said And
wondered at the skill with which he dis
guised his voice | presume YOU carr,
firearms and must ask that ven will trus
them to my keeping.
| can hardly report my uncle : words
Indeed they were not coherent, 50 grea
: was his indignation, but he gave up hi
t pistols. and the highwaymen straightwa
flung them far into the darkness
Your purse, he continued politely
Then. when he had received this also -
Sir Richard Courtney luck at the card
has passed into a proverb Tell you
friends, sir, that you have given their |
: 10. L. 5 to one who will never ask for pay
ment. for | have no doubt shall fin
them here
He put the purse into his pocket
There is a diamond ring, too. he said
.and watch And these things h
$ also received and pocketed
: All this time my uncle had been eursin
him for thief and swearing he would Sc
him hanged within month upon the high
f est point of the mOorland As for me,
had enjoyed the proceedings to begin with
but now began to be afraid. Preeiou
time was being wasted There were other