Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-08-07
OLD SCHOOL BANDIT.

" A story, girls?' said grandma smi1-
ingly. "Why, I've never had anything
happen to me that could make story
except once. And I'm almost afraid
to tell you that one'
"Oh, that sounds charming" exclaim-
ed Irene. "We'll have that if we have
to coax for 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 living
now that 1 fear my story will seem i'm
probable toyou. lived in a small west
ern town, where my father had 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 re-
ieved the dreariness somewhat. We had
plenty of riding and driving, however, as
we'll as an occasional dance. We really
had little time to NOPE.
"Still, it was sad change when my
sister married and went to live / O miles
away. It seemed as remote as if she had
crossed the ocean; but the glorious an
ticipation of visiting her kept me in a
fever of excitement for 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 I sat on top of the
stage; but when I was tired, or the road
rougher than usual, crept inside. Some
times we would walk while the horses
rested or followed slowly, Toward even
ing we would reach some small tavern
and remain all night-glad by that time
of the change, but just as eager to start
again the next morning.
''The second day, just as we were
starting, young man came up and hur-
riedly whispered to Silas, the driver. I
remember still my lively curiosity as to
what it was all about, when saw Silas
lean forward and draw out two, large,
fierce looking pistols. He examined
them carefully, meanwhile holding the
lines in a peculiar way, partly between
his knees, with the ends turned about
his arm.
ST 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 I could see without wanting 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 dozen
men suddenly sprang up, apparently
from nowhere. I cannot express the
rapidity with which the whole thing
was done. Two stood at the horses
heads, two quickly disarmed the drivel
and the men Oh top of the coach, while
two others at the same instant threw
open the door and with 1eveled pistols
ordered us to step out. Two elderly la
dies, a middle aged one, an old gentle
man and myself obeyed as quickly a!
we could I assure you. trembled Sc
that I could hardly stand, and was al
most falling, when suddenly one Of tn.
highwaymen pushed the other out O.
the way, exclaiming, "A Hebe, by Jove!
and with such bow as few had eve,
given me he took my hand and helped
me down.
'HTo tell the truth, knew very littl'
of what took place around me afte
that. I saw my highwayman give SOM
orders to his men. Then he turned tt
me, and in the most gentlemanly man
ner begged me to walk with him as tn
air was rather cool. dared not refuse
and we paced back and forth till I fel
as if I should faint. He talked of tn
scenery, the mountain air and othel
> matters, but Of his purpose there and O.
the operations of his companions-h'
kept himself carefully between me an,
them-he said not word.
''It was at moment when I felt
could endure no more, that [ caugh
sight of Paul's face. All the men ha,
their hands tied behind them, and wer
standing in row, looking into the re
volvers of their captors, who relieved
; them Of everything of value Their
stood your grandfather with such !.
; glare of helpless Indignation & al poor M
: that it was more than could stand, AM
ri Wit. sense of the ridiculous that wa
more than half hysterical, broke int
such peals Of laughter that the noun
tains echoed. I could not help it.
laughed and laughed till the tears raj
down my cheeks, and my escort at las
joined me, while he whispered some
> thing so fattering that my poor Pau
would have died outright if he coult
have heard.
FINALLY my highwayman placed m
in the coach again, with a whispere,
request for some remembrance-a rim
OR anything. AS he had it in his powe
to take rings and everything else, slip
ped off turquoise and gave it to him
He placed it OIL his third finger above
diamond, and as the diamond flashed,
saw a tiny cross cut into its surface
Nothing else was taken from me. I wa
not even searched, and with a COURT,
bow my knight OF the road and his com
panions vanished as suddenly as the
had come.
"One month later l was almost wor
t out with the entertainments furnishe
l. by my sister in her efforts to make m
y visit pleasant. There was to be one NOR
dance, probably the last, as we were t
start homeward the first of the followin
week. Paul had been visiting relative
and had just returned in time to tax
part.