The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-04-20

purse 20 pay for this" he flung ou
finally; NOR in mysaddle-bags. either.
The woman chuckled without glee
"Yet there was gentleman came par
way with you," she observed. Look
he climbs the hill now"
"And he travels armed" said Fitzroy
moodily. my pistol dropped yester
day from broken holster while fordet
stream. How do know he carrie
aught worth killing man for?'
"By his travelling armed" concisely
Tut, Mr.. Fitzroy! do you conceive. sir
that because luck has hitherto beer
with you in sending you towards ant
unarmed travellers. who would willing
ly give up their purses to save theil
skins, it will be so always? Truly, sir
you speak like"
"A coward" said Fitzroy. II am no,
one, but"-his face clearing q little
"he who comes hither is coward, ant
I may get off without bloodshed. Ii
faith, l was born a gentleman, and even
in battle, where a man may kill and no,
hang for it, there would always s come ar
uneasy voice between me and my sword
that would sound like a cry of re-
proach from my mother or sister. Yet
have not seen either Of them since was
lad of twenty. How, now, sir!" start
ing up as the shadow Of man fell
across the doorway. "You have
changed your mind?"
II come to crave your pardon, SIR
said Duncan McDougall, gravely. "And
to eat supper with you, If this good
woman hath aught to give us. Pardon
my suspicious, and give me your COM
pany for the rest of the road. for, in
truth. am afraid of its loneliness"
He stood up rigidly. while Fitzroy
opened his eyes in unfeigned surprise,
and loudly recited long Presbyterian
grace. before he would take the seat in
dicated for him.
"A man of religion!" exclaimed Ftz-
roy. lie had not intended to say 1t
aloud; but the performance Of so dis
tinctly devotional an act in the pres
ence OF u stranger was rs astounding to
him as 1t was unremarkable to the
Scotsman, who complacently replied.
his mouth full of bread and cheese:
"Ofiicer Of Ballantyne kirk. and q
man of peace toward ALL"
"Yet you travel armed" suggested
Fitzroy. doubtfully.
"A commendable means Of securing
peace. is it not. sir? hear over-much
of these so-called gentlemen of the
road who kill n man In haste and dis
cover his poverty at leisure, to have a
mind to ride unprotected when am
travelling alone"
Have you ever heard" asked Ftz-
roy, carelessly. 'of one they call the
Irish Paddy who hath been making
himself somewhat officious In these
parts?" The Scotsman shook his head.
The slow-creeping twilight hid the
slow-creeping red in Fitzroy's face, as
he said, lightly:
"Oh, well, these gentry practice for
gain. rather than fame, so 'tis not sur
prising you should not have heard Of
him yet. Besides. he hath SO far kept
his hands clean of blood, they say.
which saves man a deal of notice.
But may ask, sir, why tits you appear
to grudge these poor fellows the name
of gentleman, to which many of them.
by birth at least. are entitled?"
"Because"-the speakers utterance
was still rendered indistinct by vigor-
Gus mastication, while Fitzroy sat and
eyed his food-"being, by
birth ut least, personally disqualified
for that title, I. an honest man. be-
grudge 1t to n set of cowardly thieves.
Twas a long time since most of them
were born, and hold that their patent
Of gentility hath expired. After all. 'tis
but bit of Judas-work, betraying
their harmless fellows for q few filthy
coins. Pah! am n farmer and work,
In the dirt all day. but I would not
touch such money"
Hold, sir!" said Titzroy, impetuous-
ly, while the old woman frowned in the
"You are harsh, me-
thinks. l, too, am honest, yet have the
poor mans sympathy for him who
feels the world owes him a living and
the right to collectit."
"And l." disputed McDougall. shave
the poor mans sympathy for those
who, having by hard labor collected it,
desire to keep it. Tis natural, is 1t
not?"
"You argue we'll, sir; yet there is
to say for highwaymen |
Take the case OF him ! |
Just spoke Of, the Irishman they call |
Paddy Of the Roads 'Tis not man / |
'dmire, nor would willingly stand in
lis shoes; yet it's said that he was a
line, gallant lad ten years since, ruined |
It cards by cheating gamester colonel
whom he could not denounce-"
why" said the Scotsman. "that I
,all cowardice."
what mean you, sir! What dare
'ou?" Fitzroy's hand was where SOL
'iers carry their swords. He had
prung to his feet and his voice echoed
Indignantly to the low rafters. s"I will
what q vile temper am in.