The Opelousas courier., 1901-02-09

AA0CCua 81 SdIIIeO
away were they by their feelings that
they actually offered to go without
new hats and dresses for the next
twelve months, in order to contribute
to the ransom money. But his lordship
old not believe In giving way at once.
DOUBTLESS a lesser sum would be &C
cepted, and while negotiations were in
progress and there was a chance of
the ransom being ultimately paid, be
did not think his son would be in any
danger. So he sent an offer of two
thousand pounds sterling. The reply
to this was a curt refusal, and a post
script added in Robert Spenceley's
handwriting was:
Father, send soon; feel sure they
will not take less" But still Lord
Methwick would not give in without
effort to reduce the amount, and he
Increased his offer to two thousand
five hundred pounds sterling.
The day came when Giuseppe's re-
ply was due, but it did not arrive, and
pent-up anxiety caused his lordship
two sleepless nights and two misera-
BILE, irritable days. On the third morn
ing, amongst the contents Of the post
bag was a small parcel, the handwrit-
ing Of the address of which was i'm
mediately recognized. With trembling
fingers Lord Methwick tore open the
| package, and there lay disclosed the
bold brigand's staggering reply-a
cardboard box containing a mans ear
packed in sawdust. and inside the lid
these words were scrawled:
mo less than four thousand. Part
Of his excellency Is sent free that he
may hear you decide which was final"
In after years that day always re-
NAMED impressed with startling vivid
ness on his l0rdship's memory. What
with his wffe's continual fainting
fits, his three daughters in consecu-
tive Mysteries, their conscious intervals
being employed in u%pbraiding him in
such sever terms that one would have
thought that the poor man had him
self cut his sons ear off; his own men,
u uAS OlGu do uE 1CIlE1l bE4Cu IudL IAO
future head of his house would never
be able to hear both sides; the horrid
possibility Of getting the wanderer
back for nothing-a piece at a time,
and the fear that at that moment fur
Their tortures might be in course Of in
iiction-he often marveled, not only
that he survived it, but that reason
did not altogether forsake her totter-
ing throne.
And the climax was reached when,
in the softening shades of twilight,
Lady Methwick and her three daugh-
tiers, dressed in black, went in solemn
procession to a distant part Of the
grounds, where; beside a ripping
stream and beneath a spreading tree,
the gardener had already dug a grave.
There, with fresh bursts Of tears and
passionate sobs, the box of sawdust
with it's precious freight was solemnly
buried, and a cairn built yer and
about its resting place.
The outgoing evening mail carried
two letters, one to the brigands,
agreeing to their terms, the other to a
friend of the family, who happened to
be a consul in the neighborhood, en-
closing a draft for four thousand
pounds, and begging him to put him.
self in instant communication with
Giuseppe and obtain the captive's re-
lease.
n HT14 GA~nHrv Hid ao hn ryo0 dnGIrGH 4
and in compliance with instructions
from the robber band, who were evi-
IDENTIFY taking every precaution against
being trapped, proceeded alone n
evening, carrying a parcel of four
thousand sovereigns to an indicated
spot on the outskirts of a forest. Here
he was met by a sunburnt, black
bearded giant, picturesquely attired
in his native dress, who carried a rife,
while q couple of revolvers and a poin-
ard adorned his sash. Motioning to
the consul to follow him, he proceeded
but a few PAGES into the forest, then
halted, and blew a long, low, peculiar
whistle on his fingers.
Approaching footsteps We're imme-
diately heard. and there emerged
from among the trees the whilom pris-
oner alone. AS he ranged up to the
side Of his deliverer, the gold was
handed rel carefully counted, and
then, with a low bow the robber turned
On his heel and at once disappeared,
without having uttered a word, and
the consul and his purchase were free
to depart.
MethWick Hall was ablaZe with light
the evening of the heirs return to
his ancestral home. The female por-
ton Of the family had spent the day
in alternately laughing and crying for
ioy. and were now in a state or in
tense excitement, anxiously awaiting
the return of the carriage from the
station. Presently the sound Of wheels
were heard drawing up to the door,
and mother and sister rushing out. fell
Robert, Rugged him and kissed
him and half dragged, half carried
him into the house, but it was not un-
till after they had been for some time
assembled in the library that there
flashed across their minds the ren1em-
brance of that horror that lay buried
beside the stream. His mother first
made the discovery.
aWhy. Robert, you have W. ears"
"Two ears, mothegl Have ! not 81.
wars bad tWeT