The herald., 1898-06-26


penniless and is ma1ly in love with Ara
bella. So the two young men plan. each
to carry off the damsel of his heart.
'~-ss---sy KS TX.
Giles Vernon and agreed that It was
necessary we should strike the blow as
soon as possible, while we had the
weather-gage, SO to speak, of Sir Peter;
and on the day after his travelling
chariot took its way north. very plain
postchaise followed it. and an it were
Giles Vernon and myself.
We reached Scarborough at four
o'clock in the afternoon, and put I'D at a.
small inn on the outskirts of the town.
and some little way /on the road to the
north. We sallie0 forth Immediately
to find out something about our in
amoratas, and Fate at once directed
us. We were/walking along r,ar the
playhouse. (which had been lately
opened in the town.. when we saw
James, Eady Hawkshaw's own foot
man, gS inside the playhouse and buy
some tickets of the man at the door.
AS soon as he was well out of the way
sneaked in, and thrusting two shil-
lzngs into the mans hand, inquired if
Sir Peter and Lady Hawkshaw and the
young ladies would favor the perform
ance that night The man grinned and
showed me slip of paper, on which
was written in Lady Hawkshaws bold
hand, Three stalls for Lady Hawk
shaw and party"
This made me hope that Sir Peter
would not be present, for 1 thought
our chances of getting off would ma
terially improve if he were not on the
spot.
The play was to be over at half-past
ten, and it may be imagined that we
had plenty to do until then. We en-
gagged four of the best pairs of nags
in the town. We arranged to pay the
postboys according to the time they
took US over the border, and we felt
in ourselves the strength of Titans to
overcome whatever resistance might be
offered. OF course we counted on the
surprise, and we determined that the
best disposition to make of Lady Hawk
shaw was for Giles Vernon to appear
suddenly, when the people were coming
out, place Lady Hawkshaw in her
ccach and then make that bold dash
for love and beauty which we had de-
termined upon. Our postboys, who
were not new to the perils of elope-
ments and grinned at the prospect, were
instructed to remain near Lady Hawk
shaws coach and impede it as much as
possible, so that it might be the last to
reach the door of the theatre.
Our arrangements were complete by
eight o'clock, and from that hour until
ten we employed ourselves in dsposing
of good supper at the tavern. 1t
seemed to us both as If we were in that
happy and exultant mood when the
enemy is within gunshot and the ship
is cleared for action; and we only
awaited the signal for victory. We
had some punch, but both Giles and
myself knew enough to be exceedingly
careful in attacking it.
The time passed until ten o'clock;
and at ten o'clock we sailed forth.
1t was q starlit night in early Decem-
ber. The cold, high, blue heavens above
us seemed to radiate happiness; the
myriad stars twinkled with joy; we
scarce felt the ground under our feet.
The two post-chaises awaited us on
the highway, the postboys full of con-
fidence; the horses, the best in the
town, were eager to be off. We jumped
together in one, and were whrled into
the town, and were at the door of the
playhouse almost before we knew it.
At half-past ten the play was over,
and then began that hurry and COM
motion of the dispersion of a crowd in
the darkness. We heard loud shouts for
Lady Hawk.haw's coach, but the coach
man did not make his appearance
There were many officers and ladies
fr0ra the garrison, and number of
equipaSes; but soon they were driving
off. while half dozen men at once
weJc. r.iouting for Lady Hawkshaw's
cooIn. At last my lady herself came
yut Of the entrance, followed by Ara
bella and Daphne, and at that moment
Giles slipped out Of the chaise, and ap-
peared before Lady Hawkshaw as If he
had risen from the earth. /, too, was
on the ground, but out Of sight.
Il Pray, my lady" said helm his
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