The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31
Ietiti. was breathless with the brillianoy

I see. You want me to play the highway
man for your benefit; Robbery. WIN P pos
sble violence on the highroad, ~ oahser-
you don't look at it in a proper light
said Le,itia. quickly. Remember, the
money is mine!' 1t isn't robbery, it is
i is" Then with a sudden inspiration
1T Is knight -crrantry"
"The law wouldn't call it knight-errantry,
Look here, She cried opening her saddle
bag with trembling fngers, II will lend you
ny ;ncb produrngg Wilt ,nl iSer about
~" us '' it load iS 'i'G asked.
Her face fell. I'm afraid it isn't she
said. "but that doesn't matter in the least:
Uncle George is frightened to death OF
firearms"
My spirits sank lower and lower. Lctitia
was very pretty, and | WAS afraid that
direct refusal to carry out her plan might
what about disgiise'" l asked.
She considered for minute-thcn bright
ened. ..'...
a have got my waterproof cape she
said, "and yo,, have GOT yours Put yours
over your head-it Wal rest on your NOSE
and ears If YOU aretcafeful. and YOU can tie
your cap we'll over your eyes, nobody can
possibly recognize you"
sincerely hoped they wouldn't, AZ she
suited her action to her words, apparently
with the greatest enjoyment. However,
it was too late for regrets now ietitia
scrambled through a gap in the hedge, ana
with beating heart / waited by the roadside:
Suddenly the wret ched dogcart appeared
on the top of The hill, with-oh horror of
horrors two men on the front seat.
| could hear Letitia's 81 filled giggles from
the gap In the hedge | flung a hurried
reproach at the corner of the white sailor
hat which appeared in the opening,
"You didn't say your uncle would bring
a man"
ITS only Wilam," she answered. Hes
terrified, that he'll brighten uncle into fits,
| waited till tho white mare was less
than five PAGES from me. hen set my teeth,
and STROBE bravely into the middle of the
road hourishing IL 'tia's ridiculous toy
of a revolver.
"Your money or your life!" said sternly.
Lettia was right. The "firearm" did
the work. The white marc was stopped
by frenzied jerk OF the reins. The gal
liant William, huddled into the corner of
the scat, Uncle George ~as pasty-facrd,
stout and specialized.
what the deuce dye want?'
he cried at last in voice shaken TO deli
cate trcmolo.
Fifty dolars.' said ], sepuchraly,
gaining fresh courage from the helpless
terror Of these two brave men.
This was too much For an instant
Uncle George forgot to he frightened, and
raised his whip threateningly,
"You- you-scoundrel, he cried, "rll
see you hanged before | give you penny.
William, YOU fool whip the mare!"
But William did not move Uncle George
seized the reins, and | saw that now was
the moment to be firm. Besides, for the
first time | began to enter into the true
spirit of the game.
Accordingly / strobe forward. with flap
ping wings Of macintosh, to the tailhoard
of the dogcart fourished the revolver
within one inch of Williams head
Fifty dollars" said |, -or fire."
Uncle George wanted no more persua-
sion. He drew a cracking roll of notes
from his pocketbook and handed them to
me without another word, then tore the
whip from Williams shaking land.
A frantic cut on the sleek Wilderness Of
the plump mare, a frightened plunge for
pressed laugh from Le,itia. and was left
standing in the middle of kynaston road
with bundle of bank notes.
A voice from the hedge recalled my
scattered wits with a rush.
You'd better take these things off before
any one else comes along" said Letitia.
felt very cross and began to drag the
wretchsd things over my head without
speaking:
She was almost speechless with laughter
and sat down on the fallen tree again to
recover herself,
These compliments did not tend to i'm
prove my temper, ! handed her the roll
Of notes without a word, She took them
with evident pleasure and counted them
over.
-He has only given you thirty" she said,
but even that's better than nothing.
Won't have good time now"
But at last II began to dawn upon her
that l was really annoyed. She put her
hand on my arm and looked up at my dis
pleased face with such charming air of
contrition that my anger melted away like
the morning dew,
an angel to DO it-you can imagine how
grateful am:
NO" said |, smiling at last, Il certainly
can't, You don't accept it in at all the
proper spirit"
Letitia laughed again.
II think it is time was on my way to
Kynaston she said Il will try to cultivate
proper spirit as We go along
We reached the village all too soon,
meeting on the way two OF thu incompetent
village policemen, evidently sent by Uncle
George. Naturally they didn't recognize
the terrible highwayman in young man in
a bicycle suit All in good time We had the
puncture mended.
Ietitia promised that should ride with her
to Mornington. and it was then that began
to realiz, what n really deli ghtful girl she
was. l wished the day would last forever.
But 1t dldnt--and when we stopped
Cor tea at a wayside cottage under green
:-ellis awning, the sign post at the gate
cried out in unkind black letters that Morn
ington was only eight miles further on.
We came TO Aunt Margaret S house even
sooner than had hargained for; Letitta
jumped of her machine and held out her
hand rs ] came to her siGe
"Goodby' she said. "it has been a
glorious day. and I'm not bit iircd-but
it y all over now
This one is over, certainly, said but
There may I've others"
Lett ia shook her head. She seemed
to have grown older and more sedate, sine
the morning. But perhaps she was only
tired.
NO." she said slowly. Il don't think
there must he any others"
Why" ! was still holding her hand,
but she did not seem to notice It,
Il think you do understand" she cried.
suddenly gaining courage and raising her
head and don't think it is very kind ~
you to make me tell you. 1t is because
am eng aged tn be married to David kyna-
ston. and because | like you too much
already"
u ain glad you have been frank with
me, | said, still holding her hand, because
now | shall! not be afraid to tell you my
name
Ietitia stared in amazemcnt
why should you be afraid To- tell me your
name"'
because spoke very slowly to give