The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-07-04

new mats anu dresses LUZ luS HeAu
twelve months, in order to contribute
to the ransom money. But his Lord |
ship did not believe in giving way al
once. Doubtless Il lesser sum would
be accepted. and while negotiations
we're in progress and there was a
chance of the ransom being ultimately
paid, he did not think his son would
be in any danger So he sent all offer
of ;e20GG. The reply to this was curt
refusal, and q postscript added IN
Robert Spenceley's handwriting was:
"Father, send soon; feel sure they;
will not take less" But still Lord
Methwich would not give in without
another effort to reduce the amount,
and he increased his offer to e25OO.
The day came when Giuseppe's re-
plv was due, but it did not arrive,
anil pcnt-up anxiety caused MS lord
ship two sleepless nights and two mis-,
cradle, irritable days. On the third
morning, amorg the contents of the
post-bn g was a small parcel, the hand
writing of the address of which was
Immediately recognized. With trem-
bling fingers Lord Methwicls tore open
the package, and there lay disclosed
the bold brigand's staggering reply
q cardboard box containing a mans
ear packed in sawdust, and inside: the
lia these words were scrawled:
'sNo less than e4000. Part Of his
Exeellency is sent free so that he may
hear your decide which was final.
In after years that day always re-
NAMED impressed with startling vivid
ness On his Lordship's memory. What
with his wife's continual faintlng fits;
his three daughters - consecutive
Mysteries, their conscious intervals be-
ing employed in upbraiding him IN
such severe terms that one would have
thought that the poor man had him
self cut his sons eur off; his own
mental anguish as he remembered that
The future head of his house would
never be able to hear both sides; the
aorrid possibility of getting the wan
.lerer back for nothing-a piece at
lime; and the fear that at that mo-
,nent further tortures might be IN
course of 5nfiction-he often mar
yelled, not only that he survived it, but
that reason did not altogether forsake
Der tottering throne.
And the climax was reached when,
in the softening shades OF twilight,
Lady Methwick and her three daugh-
;ers, dressed in black, went in solemn
procession to distant part Of the
grounds, where, beside a rippline
stream and beneath a spreading tree,
she gardener had already dug grave.
There, with fresh bursts of tears and
passionate sobs, the box of sawdust
With it's precious freight was solemnly
buried, and cairn built over and
about its resting place.
The outgoing evening mail carried
two letters, one to the brigands agree
ing to their terms, and the other to a
friend of the family, who happened t"
be a Consul in the near neig ghborhood,
inclosing draft for $4,000, and beg.
ging him to put himself in insta&e
Communication with Giuseppe, ah;l
obtain the captive's release.
The Consul did as he was desired,
and, in compliance with instructions
from the robber band, who were e7l.
dently taking every precaution against
being trapped, proceeded alone one
evening carrying parcel Of 1000 SOW
ereigns to an indicated spot on the out.
skirts of forest. Here he was met by
a sunburnt, black bearded giant, pic
turesquely attired in his native dress,
who carried rifle, while couple OF
reyolvers and poniard adorned his
sash. Motioning to the Consul to fol-
low him, he proceeded but few PAGES
into the forest, then halted and blew
long, low, peculiar whistle on his fin
gers.
Approaching footsteps were imme'
diately heard, AMI there emt-ged from
among the trees the whilom prisoner,
alone. AS he ranged up to the side OF
his deliverer the gold was handed over,
carefully counted, and then. with
low bow, the robber turned on his
heel, at once disappeared, without
having uttered a word, and the Consul
and his purchase were free to depart.
Methwick Hall was ablaze with light
on the evening of the heirs return to
h1a ancestral home. the female por'
t:on Of the family had spent the day
III alternately laug ling and crying fol
Joy, and were now in state of intense
excitement, anxiously awaiting the re-
turn of the carriage from the station.
Presently the sound Of wheels was
heard drawing up to the door, and
mother and sisters rushing out, fell
uron Robert, hugged him and kissed
him and half dragged, half carried him
into the house, but it was not until
after they had been for some time as
sembled in the library that there
flashed across their minds tue remem-
b.ance Of that horror that lay buried
beside the stream. His mother first
made the disco 7ery.
"Why, Robert, you have two ears!"
''Two ears, mother? Have I not
always had two?'
ssBut we buried one Of them"
The Hon. Robert was evidently in
the dark, and when they explained he
declared (truthfully) that he knew
nothing aboutit. As a word painter
heproveda deciled failure, consider
ing the adventures which they expect
ed him recount. He hal nothing to
relate, simply monotony waiting for
the ransom, and, no matter now they
piled him with questions, he could tell
them nothing of the doiugs Of the
gang, for he said he neve- saw any Of