Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-21
DAILY SHORT STORY
A sKIRTED HIeHWAYMAN.
[Original.l

merriest maidens in the revelrieS in
the houses of the country gentry. My
father was killed at MarstOn Moor
fighting for his sovereign, our estates
were confiscated, and the family was
doomed. At twenty l was without the
wherewithaI TO buy my bread. Then
one day a gentleman TO whom my IA
Their had lent f20 sought me out and
paid me the amount as his creditor 5
only living descendant.
Ny heart was full Of rancor, espe-
cially toward the ROundheads, who
had taken our estates. / was tall and
strong, with a heart devoid OF fear.
Had 1 been a man 1 would have gone
for a soldier, but my sex would soon
he unmasked. and l preferred some
scene OF action wherein 1 could work
alone. l resolved to take to the road.
With the f20 paid me l purchased a
horse, equipments and arms. would
not don mans attire, preferring a
short close fitting habit. and instead
of a mask L wore u thick veil. l wish
Ell for my first victims those shave
pate Puritans who lived near my
former home and to whom we owed
our downfall.
So one night as the darkness was fall
ing l spurred along the road l had Of
ten trudged to school bent on plumber.
Fearing TO falter in my work and put it
off till l should meet some defenseless
creature whose weakness would shame
me, l resolved to attack the first way
farer | met Hearing a horses hoofs
on the road and seeing the dim out
line of his rider l drew a pistol, and
when he came near enough To see me
its muzzle stared him in the. face.
was so frightened that l did not take
notice whether the man YVES one of
ours or ROundhead. His raising his
hat calamity AS to n woman of quality
told me that he was Cavalier.
Il am pleased" he said, ITO surren-
der to Il highwayman Of your sex,
though ii jars my pride to do so. Here
IS my wallet with 80 in it. Take it
and get away with it as quickly as pos
sible There be those coming who
might interfere with your keeping it"
NO" I replied. You are a rOyalist.
l rob no royalist."
Then take the purse for loan"
F"This is too much. l purpose to rob
you, and you generously offer that with
which to meet my necessities"
My voice trembled, and felt that 1
would fain rest my head on his breast,
for there was something familiar in
his voice, and withal tone of kindu-
ness.
Take it, he said, with n deep sad
ness in his manner. Il would l had
more with me"
ITO whom shall return it?"
Sir George Hilditch."
He had placed his purse in my hand,
and l would have tossed it back to
him but for the sound of horsemen
coming Under my veil my cheek was
burning. George Hilditch had years
agone carried my books to school for
me. and of all the boys had pined for
him for my sweetheart. In Il twinkling
he had left me, and l sat like an image
Of stone till the horsemen, coming near
er, warned me TO be gone.
This was my first robbery. The next
was Il fat old psalm singertwho had
succeeded to our homestead iand was
then living in II. l took nearly 1900
from him. and OH this resolved TO sub
sist without further depreciation till
my funds were all gone. Hearing that
Sir George Hilditch was to give
masked ball, 1 determined to attend.
In the costume of Il Spanish dancer
entered the house by a rear door and
not long after was treadinG almeasure
with Sir George himself After the
dance he led me to secluded corner,
where we sat and chatted. He seemed
TO mistake me for another, who, from
what lie said, l gathered had hoped to
he mistress of his household. 1 took
up with this and made love to him.
No" he said, Il shall never marry.
When boy / gave my heart to little
girl who has been my dream ever since.
Had not her family gone down in the
struggle that lost us our king 1 might
have wOOcd her for my wife. AS it Is, ]
have no temptation for marriage"
''Will you give me her nameY.
Il care not who knows her name. It
Is Margery st. John"
Thrusting my hand in my pocket, I
drew forth n wallet in which 1 had
What's this?" he asked.
l made no answer. for / could not
My heart was wild with strange emo
tons. He opened the purse and took
out the money.
Il have guessed Alright" he said. at !
knew you. Margery. the night you rob- |
bed me. the moment heard the sound |
% your voice, and tonight knew You |
rs soon as caught sight OF that figure, |
it for a queen. Ny heart has bled for |
you, Margery, and am resolved that |
the differences the civil war has made /
between us shall not separate me from
my love"
started up to leave, but he put his
arm about me and held me till I had
promised 10 be his wife.
That was just before the restoration
II King Charles, and before I became
Lady Hildtch the fat Roundhead who
occupied our homestead was forced to
cave II and r,fyr |