Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-12-18
LADY MARYS ADVENTURE.
A Christmas story Of Old England In the
Eighteenth Century.

lt3S, that Lady Mary Cnuulelgn set out
upon what was to be for her a momen-
tous drive. In that year His Majesty
George II. was King of England, the great
Walpole was his minister and the land
flowed with fat and plenty II was a
merry land where the gentry looked most
to the enjoyment of life. 1t was lax, too,
i'm its morals: the King was n cynic and
a high-liver and this was but a mark of
a general carelessnCss, for things lay at
loose ends all over the kingdom. The
highways were infested with gentlemen
of fortune; even some of good birth had
taken to the road as place which prom
Used adventure and an easy living. Things
being in this state, even in the most set
tied parts it was a hardy thing for a
woman to start upon "A journey alone.
Lady Mary had been upon visit to her
aunt at Warwick and the latter was to
have ridden with her to join in the Christ
mas festivities at Chudleigh Manor, but
| the day before matter had come up re-
quirug the auuts presence i'm London, so
It fell out that Lady Mary started alone.
| The Manor lay about twenty miles north
of Warwick. Her vehicle was hired
/ chaisc driven by a post-boy. and in spite
/ of the loneliness of the road Lady Mary
/ had never thought of danger
There had been "a light snowfall in the
/ morning, and the gray clouds were scud-
! ding in the heavens driven by a master
/ full wind The horses though no better
/ than they should have been, made fair
/ Roadway, and by four of the clock had
covered the greater part of the distance
and were within five miles of the Manor.
| But already at that hour and in that sea-
son dark had begun to fall.
Lady Mary leaning back among her
| rugs and furs looked eagerly out of the
window for familiar landmarks. The land
thereabout is ruiiled up into ridges quite
| bare of trees and mOor-like, and the long
/ road slIirting as ii does these heights IL In
some places uncommon dreary. What
ever Lady Marys thoughts We're, they
were Interrupted very suddenly by sharp
| crack, as of the extra loud swapping of a
whip The chaise stopped with a jerk
As the occupant put out her head to in
qure the cause man upon horseback
rode up to the side of the carriage and
she found pair OF pistols thrust into
her face.
Now, although Lady Mary was a fear
, less person, she was "A woman, and the
sudden apparition caused her to scream.
[ At this the rider himself appeared no less
startled than his victim, for he fell back
a pace ANA lowered the pistols. Then
pecrirg into the chaise and seeing that its
only occupant was a woman he offed
with his wide hat and swept her bow.
Madam" says he, Il have made a
bluuder. / mistook your carriage for that
of Lord Craven. OF Coventry who should
be riding this way"
By this Lady Mary had somewhat re-
gained her compoSure. and in the dim
light she looked at her Captor lie was
a youneish man with little trace Of his
/ calling i'm his face Mayhap ii was some
thing she saw there that made her say
since you cannot rob Lord Craven you
can rob me. for ! have a purse and jew
els"
The highwayman bowed again. Il hay,
] rpt vet nt "A u.
said.
As he spoke there was a clattcr Of hoofs
ON the opposite side Of the carriage Tn,
frightened post-boy had taken the OPP
porlunity OF the plrley to escape on one
If the horses. The other had been shot
dead
As Lady Mary realized the situation
she stamped her foot Here is pretty
mess indeed As we'll be robbed as lef
upon lonely road at this time of night
and five miles from home"
Il am soiry-' began the man.
Fine words" she Interrupted, do no
put butter upon bread, And if you ar,
sorry that does not get me home in tim'
for the Christmas supper"
And might ask your destination"
Il am the Lady Mary Chudleigh. O
Chudleigh Manor she said proudly.
Il am Master Richard Bullock. some
| time Of Yorkshire now a rover. but Yer.
I much at your service"
s She cast a look at the mare he rode
. and a thought popped into her head whicl
0 sent the blood to her cheeks, but she wa
$ a girl who acted hard upon impulse an,
r she gave voice to it.
! 'Wiu the mare carry double"
I The man hestated, as If he had no
heard Alright.
If she will not" said Lady Mary, "yo
will have to walk and lead the mare Will
H., I IN no 1T II
- two hours"
+ on this Master Richard bullock lai
% back his head and laughed, and his vote
- was So round and merry that Lady Mar
@ fell into his humor and laughed, too,
= ripping, bubblng, provoking laugh, OF
n sort to set a mans heart humping an
p his blood dancing.
= You shall ride My Lady" answere
Y Master Richard. With a jerk of the rel
:. he brought the mare to the chaise's side
It then he slipped back the crupper and CAV
- Lady Mary hand to the saddle, wher
It he steadied her with his arm.
In this fashion they took the road agaii
leaving the chaise and dead horse unit
the post-boy should come for them. \
st for Lady Mary's feelings. they were
j. mixture of doubt ana daring.
II With the coming Of the night II ha
= faired up. the stars twinkled sharply /
is the blue black heaven, the air was clea
e cold and frosty; on all sides stretched tn
n wide, pale moor and the road woun
l. ahead into the distance a dusky lin
= traced on the Wilderness. The cold ser
lie the blood into her cheeks and Lady Mar
d became more and more conscious of
h distinct eXhilaration in thus ridin
g through the night. Strangest of all sh
IT felt no trace of fear, but her own min
is was mistress of the situation. Tina
3 thought and another made her smile I
herself.
you will miss the Lord Craven" sh
said suddenly.
Il shall be of service to a lady"
zone who is so careful of his condu,
toward ladies might well give a though
to his dealings with men. / could find
better use for my pistols than pokin
them into peoples faces"
Master Richard smiled. 1T is exciting
he said.
There are the Wars"
Poor you go and poor you come bacl
and sone must have guineas If one woul
live"
There are ways of getting them hor
estly. By your voice you are n gentle
man"
YOU will find more than one such upo
the road, After all, what calling is hor
Orabe when the very bishops buy the
bishoprics of the Kings women"
ITO go to the bad with bishop Il
- company would be no great comfort" 81
retorted.
Richard, driven to repeat himself.