The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-05-07

per. where is your horse."
He paused n moment 81 saw the
gleam of bracelet" he said. al
must relieve you of that also"
Again 1 obeyed him, hut the fear
that others would come while he still
stopped fooling became more urgent.
I'm ready" whispered. so eagerly
that L wonder my uncle did not hear.
'Why do you wait?",
Again there was pause. He an
peared little disconnected.
"And 1 think you are wearing u
ring" he went on.
took the ring from my finger. As
l gave 1T to him | clutched his hand,
secure in the protecting darkness.
Take me !" | said. Take mel"
Again he was silent for Il moment.
When he spoke it was in curiouslv
altered voice, md with little de-
lighted laugh.
"Dost mean it, sweet?" he cried.
Come, them"
gave n scream of alarm IA portion
of the play we had arranged together)
as he caught me round the waist and
landed me on his horse. A moment
later 1 was clinging to him for dear
life, rs wo dashed headlong into the
black night and went forward across
the moorland. l heard him chuckle.
as my uncle roGred his Indignation
after us.
We rode on and on through the
darkness. AT first my excitement was
so great as to render thought impos-
sible; moreover, the riding was of the
toughest, aud | had all | could do to
keep my seat. But gradually, as |
began to grow more accustomed to my
situation, | was overtaken with most
dreadful misgiving. The rider had
hitherto seemed like enough to Dick,
for | had known he would do his best
to change his voice; aud as for his
foolish robbery. it was just of piece
with his natural love of mischief.
But now Logan TO feel certain TINT
some impostor had taken his part; that
| had eloped with another man-nnd
him common highwnyman. Imagine
my distress! | could conceive OF no
method of extricatinG myself from the
position; n sense OF blank helplessness
came over me. and | could do no more
than cling tightly to the highwayman
and await the event.
We had hidden some miles, when he
suddenly drew rein aud dismountcd.
landing Inc lightly beside him.
'Upon my soul !" he said, "here is
n pretty adventure! Heaven knows
that L had always passion for the
unusual, or [ should still be a humble
usher in Brancaster Academy. But,
tell me, what am [ to do with you?"
suppose l hal hoped against hope;
to find my fears were justified was n
disastrous blow to me, nor could |
make any answer
81 would not wish drawer 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 L
dare to go to the gallows if L knew
that left you widowed and alone?
trust score of maids woul l weep
little If poor Jack Arthur went the
common way, but God forbid that any
should remember him at weeks end.
1t may seem thpt / am ungallnnt, vet
protest / do not like my share in
THIS adventure. Kiss me, sweet, and
then fancy / 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 Drawer sweet
heart"
And then, moved by the kindness
of his words and his pleasant voice,
lost command of myself and bust forth
into foolish weeping.
Sir" / said, 81 am altogether mt
your mercy. | have done that which
will shame me all the rest Of my DAYS.
Bat, indeed, l thought You were an
other, my sweetheart, whom / should
have married Tomorrow.
fnncied he spoke less gaily than
before; perhaps he had not hoped al
together that | would not take his
sage advice. "Ho, hol" he cried.
"thcn my good fortune is but another
theft to my account? / do not under.
stand. Your were to have married
your lover tomorrow, and yet you en-
treat n stranger, and highwayman Mt
that, to carry you off This is the
maddest of adventures"
''oir," l said, "my uncle stands to
me in the place of father and mother. "
The highwayman chucltled. "Poor
child ~ he said, and softly stroked my
hand, which, it seems, he had been
holding for some minutes "Poor
child ~
Gle would have me marry one
whom / do not love, and bcgnn to
fear that presently he would overcome
me and compel --"
''Thc old hulksl" cried tho high-
wayman. "You shalt marry whom
you choose. Nay, 1 Withdraw my
foolish wisdom come with me, aud
before the night is here again YOU
snail be Mistress Arthur. Believe
me- he added, with a pretty couceit.
U,.ieye me, there nro many who will
envy you
But, sir, interrupted, lyon for.
get what / have told YOU OF late
have been closely guarded, for my
uncle had discovered that have given
my love TO n yeoman Of the PLACE. To.
night there was ball ut the house of
Nine Ircluwney Ia urcnt lady. whoso