Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-13
CAPTAIN JACOBUS.

Although the time was long past
midnight, lights were still cleaning
from behind the shutters of the little
blind alehouse hard by the Reading
road, not far from Winchester, and
Captain Jacobus, riding gently up, judg-
ed it prudent to enter by the back door
in consequence. The inn was house
of call for the captain and the landlord
creature of his own, but at time
when detachments of Cromwell's sol
diers were rough riding the country it
behooved gentleman of the road to
use caution. Indeed, i'll the estimation
of Captain Jacobus, it was no insignifi-
can't item in the long score held by him
against the commonwealth that king S
gentleman should sometimes be COM
PEELED to sneak into his inn by menial
entrance. After stabling his horse the
captain entered the kitchen, where the
landlord, little dark remnant of a
man, with q short pipe between his
teeth, was going to and fro busying
himself amid litter of empty bottles
and greasy plates. Stopping short in his
employment, the landlord nodded to his
patron without a word, at the same
time jerking his thumb over his shoul-
der toward the half door, above which
a square of the paneled wall of the inn
parlor was visible. Captain Jacobus,
without further hesitation, walked
promptly into the parlor.
The long, low, red curtained room
was brilliantly lit with a wasteful pro-
fusion of candles. huge fire of wood
roared in the ingle, and standing side
by side, with their backs to the blaze.
were two very tall, loosely hung men,
dressed in the decent black garb and
falling white collar affected by the Pres
byterian ministers of the day. Save that
the elder man had white hair and wore
beard, while the younger was clean
shaven and almost bald, SO that his
great head glistened like moist egg in
the freight, the two resembled each
other in every particular.
Captain Jacobus took off his hat with
a sweeping gesture and began, with
some show of deliberation, to unbuckle
and to lay upon the table his sword and
pistols. The two parsons returned the
salute with grave inclination, the
younger bowling just fraction of time
behind the elder, after momentary
glance at him, as if (thought the cap
tain) the junior had so lively habit of
subservience to the senior that he man.
ifested it unconsciously, even in the
most trivial actions. Captain Jacobus
disposed himself comfortably upon tho
settle against the wall and called for
wine. Opposite to him, upon the high
backed settle in the ingle nook, the
travellers saddles were piled together
with their riding cloaks and great
slouched hats
"You travel late for gentlemen Of
the cassock,'' remarked the captain.
"Have you no fear of highwaymen?''
"We put our trust in the sword of
the Lord" :" replied the elder clergyman
piously.
"And of Gideon" echoed the youn-
ger in thin, high voice, extremely out
of keeping with his bulk.
"Spoken very godly, and mighty
DI6tby s6uUlluGAUs OOOCl NOu -bLO OdP-
tain, rolling his liquor on his tongue.
''And yet it seems to me you run some-
thing of risk Notwithstanding.
my son and L." returned the old
man, with much tranquility, shoulder
to shoulder have bested the devil these
many years past. +"
"Yea, even when he traveleth abroad
in the guise of robber" the other
chimed in cheerfully.
"An," said the captain, ''but perhaps
you never met Captain Jacobus. the
cavalier who rules this very road from
Reading to Winchester. They say he
hath a very deadly spite against Puri-
tans The parliament dispossessed him
of all estate, I've heard, and he vowed
the pragmatical rebels should pay for it
among them Pausing to sip his wine,
the speaker eyed the two parsons over
the edge of lis glass. They returned his
gaze in silence, with watchful atten-
ton ''He has mighty pleasant way
with him, so I'm told, that Captain
Jacobus," pursued the captain, none
of your common stand and deliver meth
ods for him, but all manner of pretty
knacks and strange devices. Why, now,
Just to give you an example: Suppose
he was sitting where | sit now" The
speaker paused moment, but the two
big clergymen did not move SO much as
an eyelid "It's likely he would Pro-
pose game at the cards toyou two gen.
tlemen. Down you would have to sit
with him. willy nilly, you see, and in
side of an hour I'll wager he would
have won the very coat off your backs,
all by pure skill, you understand. No
violence at all And. talking of cards, !"
said the car fain briskly, with sudden
change of tone, what do you say to
turn? Come, landlord, a clean packI"
The highwayman rose, moved an ell
bow chair to the table, and looking at
the two parsons with a very eloquent
expression of countenance sat absently
fingeriug his pistols
ssI am exceeding sorry, sir. 1t is I'M
possible that l should pleasure you in
SO carnal a diversion, said the old man
mildly, "and, setting aside the claims
of my holy Office, know not one paint
ed toy from t'other will ask you tc
nardon me. We have riddenfar today,
and with a courteous gesture he sal
down upon the settle in the chimney
corner, and leaning back upon the bun
die of cloaks and saddles closed his eye'
and folded his hands.
"And you, sir? Come, dof the priest
hood for an hour. Unchain the old Ad
am and give him runl Trust me, yo'
will be world the better for So self de
nying an exercise What, tits nots