Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-03
AN OLD TIME ROMANCE.
How Miss Grisel Held Up the POST
man and Saved Her Father.

How Miss Grisel Held Up the POST
man and Saved Her Father.
The Earl Of Aberdeen, speaking at a
dinner Of the United Kingdom Postal
and Telegraph Service Benevolent So
ciety at Aberdeen, said they had to go
back to the old mail coach days to get
the picturesque aspect of the postal
service, and to illustrate this he mar
rated a romantic incident which oc-
CURED in the reign Of James II-more
than 200 years ago. Sir John Coch-
rane. son of a fine old nobleman, Lord
Dundonald, was one Of those who
thought the liberties and interests Of
the country were in danger owing to
the policy Of the government of the
day. and resisted it. Sir John was be-
trayed into the hands Of the enemy and
was lodged in Edinburgh jail. One
night the door of the prison opened,
and he heard the voice Of his daughter
Gabriel, who was allowed to have
many talks with him.
Meantime the news came that his
condemnation had been settled by the
council, and that the mail would come
next week with his death warrant.
Miss Grisel Cochrane told her father
that she had to go away for a few
days. He said: II hope you will do
nothing rash," and she replied that she
would do nothing very rash. She rode
from Edinburgh to Berwick, where her
old nurse lived, and there she chang
ed her clothes for the clothes of boy.
Then she rode to place between Ber-
wick and Belford, where she made in
quiries regarding the kings mail mes
sengers and where they used to put up.
Arriving at a small inn about four
miles south Of Berwick, she asked for
something to eat. The hostess told her
not to make a noise, because in the
box-bed the kings mail messenger was
asleep. do be quiet" she said, with
your knife and fork" She began her
meal. Can you get me some water?"
The hostess said, why, Draw lad
like you should sup ale." Have you
no cold, fresh water? If you give me
water I will pay you the same as for
the ale." The hostess explained that
she would have to go to the we'll, a
long distance off, and it would take ten
minutes, but the girl-or rather the
apparent boy-persuaded the woman to
go for the water.
During her absence the girl went to
the box-bed. There was the mail mes
senger asleep-a "swack" fellow-with
his mailbag under his head, using it
for a pillow. On the table were his
pistols, and very nervously the girl
withdrew the charges. No sooner was
this done than the hostess returned
with the water. The girl finished her
meal, went on the road, made a cir
cult, and met the mail messenger, and
they rode together for a bit. After a
short chat she drew little nearer and
said: my friend, I have fancy for
that mail bag" IF it Is joke" said
the messenger, ut is pretty poor
one" She took out little pistol and
presented it. The messenger pulled
out his pistols, and snap!-the first
missed fire. He threw it away and
drew the other-snap! He had to hand
over the mail bag and she rode into
an adjoining wood.
She opened the bag. drew out an Of
fetal envelope, and rode with it to her
nurses house, where 1t was found to
contain the death warrant of her faith
er. 1t was put into the fire. She re-
sumed her girls clothes and rode quiet
ly to Edinburgh. That caused so much
delay that they managed to get re-
prieve and her father was saved. He
fthe .speaker) had a personal interest
in that incident, as he understood that
Grisel Cochrane was a direct ancestor
of Lady Aberdeen.-London Telegraph.