The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-06-04
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SIR JASPER'S ADVENTURE.
Florence Warden in Black and White

trade, and who had then devoted himself
to one of the great political parties with st
much doggedness that he had been re-
warded by baronetcy without ever hav-
ing had to expose the defects of his early
education by making a long speech in the
! House.
Whatever his party did was right; that
was his motto, and he had lived up to it
with a sublime simplicity which had
brought its inevitable reward.
The consequence was that his only son
was able to give up any active share in the
business, and to play at being a country
gentleman of patriarchal descent, while his
wife could assume the airs of a Lady
Bountiful on the one hand, and outshine all
the great ladies of the neighborhooi by
her diamonds, on the other.
Peterscourt, the country seat of the dis
tinguished pair, was, of course, au old
place where many generations of ances-
tors-of somebody else-had lived their
little day.
1t was large, rambling, two-storied
building, dating from some far away period,
and altered in the castellated style in the
early years Of Victoria reign.
Beautifully situated in the southern part
Of the county Of Dorsetshire, it was lit
tie too far away from London to be quite
to the taste of Lady Peters, who was am
bilious Of playing a great part in society,
and who would often run up to town for a
few DAYS at a time, while her husband was
enjoying his digni6ed seclusiou within the
well wooded grounds and park of Peters
court
Ii was on one Of these occasions, when
the baronet was sitting in solitary state in
bis great library after dinner, his little
electric lamp on the table behind him, aud
a pile of literature suitable to 4 country
gentleman by his side that he was dlsturbe,
in hts ieisurely perasal Of his paper by the
sound of too,step on the gravel outside
He had scarcely raisei h,, head when.
to his surprise aud alarm, man, in the
unmistakahle dress Of a convict, painting,
brvalhless. with starting eyes and hanging
Jaw. leaped upon the window ledge froui
outside and then fell, exhausted, upon tn,
carpet.
BY Jove,' erred Sir Jasper, as h,
sprang up and made for The bell
Ba, the man was too quick for him.
Painting still. indeed. but recovering
himself sufficiently 20 stasger to his feet
and acTuss the aoor, the uuweloome visitor
threw himself upon the terror struck bar
ones. and s,oaplng at the same moment
for the poker, which he was near enough
10 reach. be erowled cut between his sci
teeth = threat 10 do for that unhappy
gentleman if be - much a. uttered 4 cal
for help.
SIR jasper gurEled cut a promise TO re
frAsn, which be did not mean to keep, and
the man thereapon let him down again
into the armchair from which be bad risen
and suddenly altered bis threatening ton,
for one Of abjeot entresty
''Look ere, guy nor, said he, in 4
thick. hoarse whisper moistening his moutl
as be spoke, s,ill standing near and hold
iuz the poker in his hand, bat 10 longel
uasuacing hi unwilling host, i don wan
Tor to do yer no arm I'm not - bad a
what sea think for TO look at the dre@
| ye got on.
y You' re = c--c-conyicti stammere,
Sir jasper, half ,imoroas, halt surly.
You sc escaped from Portland
The nan frowned uneasily,
"Wel. 50 : a many more then me been
cOnyiets. aud = many as deserve it pre-
ciogls si=ht wus nor what | do. said th'
man. And a. he spoke he threw trou
time to time an anxious glance toward th,
window bY which be had entered Bu
this ain no time for 10 throw my falling
in my face. lm united man, sir. that
what ara. The warders l. after me
/ What cred Sir Jasper, with sa:-se
thing 80 ike relief in his face that hi
guest seowled him promptly into silence
Surely, guy nor, you @ouldn 20 TO
to betray a unsed man, 4 noble gentleman
ike YOU, With everything auJsolne an,
comfortable about himl You wouldn' z,
for to give up a poor wretch that begs yo,
to give him change Of clothes, woul,
YOU Ah-h-r'
The sound he uttered was an indeserib
able one. a. he suddenly Strengthened him
self and listened with s,raining ears 20 tn
unmis,akable sound OF a rapid footstep oI
the gravel.
They re coming. They We traced m'
ere For mercy sake, sir, don give
me up
The baronet looked at the close croppeS
head, with the ugly ears standing out OF
each side, and the coarse features dislorte,
with fear. with disgust he found it harC
to hide He, too, heard the approaehin:
footsteps, and secretly congratulated him
self upon his prospective deliverance from
his tormentor.
Before he had time TO answer the man
eutrealies the noise of footsteps ceased; tn
convict threw one glaee at the window,
second round the room, and then he mad
for the door with all speed, Sir Jaspe
Jumped up from his chair and ran to th,
window
Yes, there, at the distance of but 1
dozen steps, was one of the prison warders
with a carbine in his hand. He wa
standing still, and looking about him. L
was evident that for the moment he has
lost the track of his quarry.
Sir Jasper beckoned to him quickly.
.Warderr cried he ''Warder! Thl
way
The man turned and came rapidly TO
ward him. He was a tall, strong, fine
looking man, with shrewd eyes and clear
cut features; and, even as Sir Jasper calle
him. he was smitten by sense Of tn
inequality Of the contest between this staI
wart, well-fed, handsome pursuer and tn
} under sized, lean, grizzled rascal OF whor
he was in pursuit.
! Saluting as he came, the warder wa
under the window in moment.
ssYou are looking for convict who ma
escaped said the baronet
YES, Sir Jasper.
You know me, then?
, "Why, yes, to be sure, we all know .
Jasper Peters, said the warder with
smile. Have you seen anything OF tn
man, sir2
"Yes, yes; he's in my house at thl
moment, answered Sir Jasper, instinc