Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-07-09
AN oLO-scHoOL BANDIT.

story-eXcept once. ANA III almost
afraid to tell you that one.
"Oh, that sounds charming ex-
claimed Irene. well have that if We
have to coax for a week
Grandma was silent for several min
utes, while we chartered and coaxed
her. At last she gave way and began:
Years ago, when was girl, things
were so different from our way of liv-
ing now that | fear my story will seem
improbable to you. | lived in small
western town, where my father had a
tract of land almost as large as this
entire village 1t was lonely place
for young people, but frequent visits
to school friends and return visits from
them relieved the dreariness some
what. We had plenty Of riding and
driving, however as well as an occa-
sional dance. We really had little
time to nope
"Still, it was a sad change when my
sister married and went to live 10
miles away. 1t seemed as remote as
if she had crossed the ocean but the
glorious anticipation Of visiting her
kept me in fever of excitement for a
whole year During this time | had
met Paul Foster (your grandfather)
and become engaged to him. and it was
arranged that he should accompany
my father and myself on the journey,
"Stagecoaches were the only convey
ances then, but there was an enchant
ment about travel then that no amount
of luxury in palace car can equal
now.
The drive was glorious! On some
parts of the road sat on top Of the
stage but when was tired, or the
road rougher than usual, | crept ill.,
side. Sometimes we would walk while
the horses rested or followed slowly,
Toward evening we would reach some
small tavern and remain all night
glad by that time of the change, but
just as eager to start again next morn
ing.
"The second day, just as we were
starting, a young man came up and
hurriedly whispered to Silas, the drl-
Yer. remember still my lively GU
riosity as to what it was all about,
when | saw Silas lean forward and
draw out two large, ferce-looking pis-
tolls He examined them carefully,
meanwhile holding the lines in pc
culiar way, partly between his knees,
with the ends turned about his arm.
Il found out the meaning Of the
whisper, and the pistols, too, when,
early in the afternoon, we entered a
narrow pass between the hills. By
this time | was covering inside the
coach, though l could see without want
ing to the rugged mountains, the steep
cliffs, the narrow roadway along which
Silas peered carefully as we proceeded.
Yet not so carefully but that even he
was taken by surprise when half a doz-
en- men suddenly sprang up, appar-
emily from nowhere. | cannot express
the rapidity with which the whole
thing was done. Two stood at the
horses heads, two quickly disarmed
the driver and the men on top Of the
coach, while two others at the same IN
slant threw open the door and with
leveled pistols ordered us TO step out.
Two elderly ladies, a middle-aged one,
an old gentleman and myself obeyed
as quickly as we could, I assure you.
| trembled so that | could hardly
stand, and was almost falling, when
suddenly one of the highwaymen push
ed the other out of the way, exclaim-
ing, a Hebe, by Jove and with such
bow as few had ever given me be
took my hand and helped me down.
ITO tell the truth, knew very lit
tie of what took place around me after
that. l saw my highwayman give
some orders to his men. Then he
turned to me, and in the most gentle
manly manner Legged me TO walk with
him as the air was rather cool. | dared
not refuse, and we paced back and
forth till felt as if | should faint He
talked of the scenery, the mountain
air and other matters, but of his pur-
pose there and of the operations of his
companions he kept himself carefully
between me and them-he. said not
word.
at was at a moment when ! felt l
could endure no more, that | caught
sight of Paul's face. All the men had
their hands tied behind them, and
were standing in row, looking INTO
the revolvers of their captors, who re-