Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-14
DAILY SHORT STORY
AN INHERITANCE.
TOriginal-1


less, you are the rightful heir to that
earldom. No. don't smile incredulous-
", thinking your old grandmother to
be wandering or in her second child
hood, but listen to what 1 am about to
tell you.
wish i could make you understand
the difference i'm this early part of the
nineteenth century, when Mr.. Stephen
son has succeeded in drawing coaches
by steam. and the middle OF the eight
zenith. when coaching was in its prime
and we who rode had the excitement
OF an occasional robbery. The high
wayman was not the brute who now
murders first and robs afterward, but
was often chiyalrous, especially to wo-
men, When | was Il girl OF twenty
travelled from London to York with my
father. and on the road we met one of
those gentlemen. We We're passing a
lonely part of the road i'm the dusk OF
the evening when we heard an order
TO the coachman To stop. A masked
man rode up to the coach window.
holding a pistol in our faces and de-
handing our valuables. His voice was
soft and musical. his hand was white
and shapeIy. and I noticed the lace that
fell over it was of the finest texture.
My father had but little money with
him. but did have n valuable SnuffboX
that had been presented him by the
king himself. He told the highway
man that if he would send it to our
house i'm York his messenger should re-
ceive five times its value and no QueS-
tons asked. The robber scarcely SEEM
cd to hear him. so intent was he upon
me, not the wrinkled old woman of to-
day. but with as fair skin. as blue
an eye, as golden a head of hair as
any girl I'm England.
Good SIR said the robber. II would
not take your snuffbox but for the
opportunity it gives me to take it to
your house myself and if / decline the
price you put upon it please set the
fact down to the influence of the young
lady beside you. whose beauty and in
nocence prevent my retaining any ar
ticle of yours. 1 have the honor sir. to
bid you a very good evening"
Raising his hat with all the grace of
courtier he turned away. directing
the cOacbman to drive on.
That winter was a gay one in our set
in town, and after attending numerous
entertainments at the homes of our
friends we concluded to return the
civilities by giving a masked ball. Our
house was lighted with thousand
candles. and the costumes of the guests
were of the richest and widest variety.
One of the gentlemen personated a
hi <rl,x ~ hr-an of r,ts
tolls in his belt. with an ugly looking
knife to match. He came. up 10 me
and asked me to dance The moment
he spoke 1 recognized the man who had
robbed us on the road from London.
/ permitted him To lead me i'm the
minuet. He danced so gracefully. his
figure was so symmetrical. he was so
courtly in his manner that every one
noticed him. When the dance was
finished he led me away to window
where we stood partly screened behind
the curtains. Then he handed me my
fathers snuffbox.
How did you dare come hereY" /
asked
Il would have dared any thing to see
you again." he replied.
Go at once" l said. you will be
caught. Every one has noticed you
Il would willingly hang for the pleas
IRE l have gained in one dance with
you"
Despite the danger he ran we talked
together SO continuously that we be-
gan To excite attention. A strange hap
piness thrilled me. This fascinating
had caught the fancy Of a
x-nt stft 81 f.rlI Of
and To know that he was risking his |
life 10 be with me was supremely de- |
lightful. feared for him. but could |
not bear to let him go. Finally I saw |
my father coming toward us with fash |
ing eyes. | knew by the way he look |
ed ut my companion that he had got |
some clew 10 his identity. We vanish |
ed in the crowd. slipped through a |
door into the garden. and my highway |
man passed OF the place in safety.
Later. when my father found me, i |
gave him the snunbox. He sent out |
to notify the police that the highway |
man was I'm town. but he was never |
caught.
One spring morning 1 was sitting IN
the garden in the rear Of the house
when above the wall i saw the head
OF man. l was about TO scream when /
he spoke. / recognized the voice Of
my highwayman lover. He persuaded
me to make an appointment with him
In a wood near the city. and there we
met on several occasions. He confess
ed that he was the second son of a no.
bleman who had taken to the road
from keen love Of adventure. He
finally persuaded me at one OF our
meetings TO go with him to a magis-
trate and be married. I never returned
TO my home, but sailed to France with
your grandfather.
Don't start. don't bend your head for
shame. at learning that you have de-
scended 'front.' will not say a high
wayman-a nobIeman whose love for
adventure blighted his life and made
him an exile. My husband was below
ID by all who knew him and worshiped