The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-02-05

for years on bookshelf in an old fashioned
farmhouse in Tynedale, in the north OF
England, the story given below is taken.
William Tarbot was lawyer at Hex
ham, in the north Of England. Having to
attend the asszes at Alnwick and probably
spend some days there and Mrs. Tarbot's
parents residing about eight miles from
that place, Mr.. Tarbot arranged that his
wife and their daughter, a girl of 16,
should accompany him and stay with their
relatives until he was ready to return
home. The family travelled on horseback,
as was customary among country people in
those days, and reached the abode of Mr..
and Mrs. Norman, the wife's parents, after
pleasant ride Of few hours. Mr.. and
Mrs. Norman were plain, old fashioned
people, owning their own farm and &C
counted wealthy. The next morning MIR.
Tarbot rode on to AlnwicS and was soon
over head and ears in business
On the last day of the court one Wray OF
scarborough paid over to Mr.. Tarbot
ment OF suit. Wray had the money in
brown paper parcel, which he opened in
Tarbot's bedroom in the inn where they
were both staying The two men counted
the money, and Wray wrapped it up in
the same way in which he had produced it
and laid the package on the table, at the
same time saying:
"Now, Tarbot, you should stand some
thing, go ring the bell.'
"Why, of course will, with pleasure,
Tarbot said, and thereupon Wray playfully
turned him around and pushed him toward
the bell pull, which hung by the side of
the mantelpiece.
After the men had drunk together they
parted with mutual expressions Of good
feeling, Tarbot putting the package into
his pocket and buttonng his coat over it.
An hour later he changed his coat for a
travelling one and laid the package on a
chair by window, leaving it there while
he went out upon the gallery and called
the boots to bring him his saddle bags,
which he had been cleaning Having
slowed away his things in the bags, he put
on his travelling coat placed the package
in his inside pocket and buttoned the coat
over his breast. Then he mounted his
horse and started for the dwelling OF his
father.in-law.
1t was an unusually hot day in Septem-
Der and thunderstorm was raging over
the Grampians Fear " that he might he
hindered by the stream il he attempted
to ford it, he rode two or three miles out
OF his way to cross it by bridge. 1t was
well he did so, for, though he rode right
into the storm and was wet to the skin, he
got on the safe side of the water, and the
rest of his road was unobstructed. Never
theless so heavy was the storm that he took
refuge in smithy on the outskirts of a
hamlet and waited there until the blast
had spent itself. When he reached Squire
Norman's dwelling, it was past nine.
roaring fire soon dried his clothes and
hearty supper with muled ale speedily put
him to rights internally AS he sat by the
hearth smoking the squire said:
"We have curious visitor here tonight
not here exactly either, as you'll see
When the storm was at its height, a tall
gaunt man, dressed like drovcr, came
here for shelter. We gave him al =. could
eat and drink, and he, is now asleep, !
su?pop:, in the hayloft. He told US very
strange story. He said he hal been est
with drove Of cattle and was rctui ming
sfoot when the rain caught him. He man
aged with some difficulty to ford the
steam, and was making his way along the
bank when he heard cry for help. 1t
turned out, so far as he could learn, that
man, in attempting to cross, had lost his
footing and was clinging desperat ly to the
exposed roots OF a tree, while the rushing
flood was too strong for him to resist so as
get hold of the root of anything else with
his feet. 1t was impossible for the droyer
to reach him, and he shouted that fact
across the food Thin the man cried.
81 have package of money here which
will be washed away il | lose my grin. II
you'll take care of it for me, III share it
with YOU
Throw it this way" the drover said,
81 am John Cotter and you can hear of me
at the Green Man at Carlisle any day"
with this the stranged hurled a pack
age toward the drover which he luckily
caught" continued the squire. ''He
showed us the package and opened it be-
fore US all. 1t contained e., $50 in Bank
OF England notes."
'Great Lordv' exclaimed Mr.. Tarbot,
clapping his hand to his breast Can it
be possible No. feel it. The package
is all safe"
He opened his coat and drew forth a
brown paper package from the inside
pocket
{ I tell you what squire" he said. 81
burst out into cold sweat all over when
you told me what the drovers package
contained, for have package of money