The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-29
AN OLD-TIME ROMANCE.
How Miss Grisel Held Up the Post
man and Saved Her Father.

From The London Telegraph.
The Earl of Aberdeen, speaking at
a dinner of the United Kingdom Pcs
tai and Telegraph Service Benevolent
Society at Aberdeen, said they had to
so back to the old mail coach DAYS to
get the picturesque aspect of the postal
service, and to Illustrate this he narat- -
ed romantic incident which occurred
in the reign of James IT.-more than
200 years ago. Sir John COchrane. son
of fine old nobleman, Lord Dundonald
who was one of those who thought
the liberties and interests of the Coun-
try were in danger owing to the policy
of the governmentsof the day. and re-
sisted it. Sir John was betrayed 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 Grisel. who was
allowed to have many talks with him.
Meanwhile 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 so away for few days.
He said: Il 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 changed
her clothes for clothes Of a boy. Then
she rode to place between Berwick
and Belford where she made Inquiries
regarding the Kings mail messengers
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 noise, because in the
boN-bed the Kings mail messenger was
| asleep. "DO be quiet" shesaid, with
your knife and fork" She began heI
meal "Can you get me some Water?'
The hostess said: "Why a Draw LAD
| like you should sup ale" Have YOU
no cold, fresh water?" If you give me
water | Will pay you the same as for
the ale" The hostess explained that
she would have to go to the well, a
long distance off, and it would take ter
| minutes, but the grl--or rather ap.
parent boy-persuaded the woman to &c
for the water.
During her absence the girl went tC
| the boX-bed-there was the mail-mes.
senger asleep-a "swack" fellow-Witt
| his mailbag under his head, using If
| for pillow. on the table were his
| pitolS, and very nerVously the cir
withdrew the charges. No sooner was
| this done than the hostess returned
with the water The girl finished hel
| meal, went on the road, made a cir.
cult, and met the mail messenger. ant
| they rode together a bit. After a shor'
| chat she drew a little nearer and said
| My friend, ! have fancy for thi,
mailbag "lf 1t is a joke" said tn,
| messenger, lit is pretty poor one.
| She took out little pistol and present
ed it. The messenger pulled out hi,
pistols, and snap.-the first missed fire
| He threw it away and drew the other
sna! He had to hand over the mai
bag, and she rode into an adjoining
| wood.
| She opened the bag, drew out an Of
| fcial letter. and rode with it to he,
| nurses house, where it was found I,
| contain the death warrant of he
father. 1t was put into the fire. Sh,
| resumed her girls clothes and rod
! quietly to Edinburgh. That caused $,
much delay that they managed to ge
a reprieve. and her father was saved
He the speaker) had a personal in
terest In that incident, as he under
stood Grisel Cochrane was direct an
! cestor Of Lady Aberdeen.