Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-07-06
A Skirfed
Hi8btOoyman

the houses Of the country gentry Ny
father was killed az Marston Moor
fighting for his sovereign. our estates
were condscated, and the family was
doomed. AT twenty ! was without the
wherewithal to buy my bread Then
one day gentleman to whom my IA
Their had lent 40 sought nae out AMI
paid me the amount as bis creditors
only living descendant
My heart was fun Of rancor espe-
clally toward the Roundheads. who
had taken our estates. ] was tail aud
strong. with n heart devoid of fear.
Had been man would have gone
for a soldier, but my sex would soon
be unmasked, and | preferred some
scene OF action wherein / could work
alone. resolved to take to the road.
With the go paid me purchased d
horse, equipments and arms. I would
not don mans attire. preferring a
short, close fitting habit, and instead
OF q mask ! wore a thick veil. | wish.
ed 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 1 had Of
ten trudged to school bent on plumber.
Fearing to falter in my work ana put it
,fg am I abaulI ,,,aaf eop,a ,IafapgaIac,s
creature whose weakness would shame
me, resolved to attack the first way
farer | met Hearing a horses hoofs
on the road and seeing the dim out
line Of his rider, drew a pistol. and
when he came near enough TO see me
It's muzzle stared him In the face. /
was so frightened that ! did not take
notice whether the man was one Of
ours or Roundhead. His raising his
hat calamity as to woman of quality
told me that he was Cavalier.
II am pleased" he said, ito surren-
der to hlghwayman Of your sex,
though 1t Jars my pride to do so. Here
is my wallet with flo In 1t. Take 1t
and get away with 1t as quickly as pos
sible. There be those coming who
might interfere with your keeping it."
'No," I replied. You are royalist
rob no royalist."
'.Then take the purse for loan"
''This Is too much. | purpose to rob
you. and you generously offer that with
which to meet my necessities
Ny voice trcmbled, and ! felt that !
would fain rest my head on his breast,
for there was something familiar In
his voice, and wlthal tone of kindli-
ness
Take it," he said, with deep sad
ness In his manner. II would l had
more with me-
"To whom shall return itT"
'Sir George Hilditeh."
He had placed his purse In my hand,
and | would have tossed 1t back to
him but for the sound of horsemen
coming. Under my veil my cheek was
burning. George Hllditch had years
agone carried my books to school for
me. and OF all the boys / had pinned for
him for my sweetheart. In a twinkling
he had left me, and sat like an image
of stone till the horsemen, coming near
or. warned me 20 be gone.
This was my first robbery. The next
war fat old psalm singer who had
succeeded to our homestead and was
then living IN It, l took nearly 1900
from hiGl. and on this resolved to sub
slst without further depreciation till
my funds were AL gone Hearing that
Sir George IfElditch was to give a
masked. ball. determined to attend.
In the costume OF Spanish dancer |
entered the house iiy 4 rear door and
not long after was treading a measure
With Sir George himself After the
dance Ike Leo me 10 secluded corner,
where we SET and thattea lie seemed
to mistake me for another. who, from
what Nc sail gathered had hoped to
he mistress Of his household. took
up with this and made hove to him.
.No.'' nc said. Il shah never marry.
When a 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 ! might
have wooed her for my wife. AS IL Is.
have no temptation for marriage"
'will you give me her manner"
II care not who knows her name. I
/ Ia Margery st. john
Trusting my hand In my pocket,
drew forth wallet In which had
placed FLO and put 1t In his hand.
"what's thisY' he asked.
I made no answer for could not
My heart was wild With strange emo
lions. He opened the purse and tool
out the money.
II have guessed Alright" he said. =
knew you. Margery. the night You rob
bed me. the moment heard the soun'
4 OF your voice. and tonight knew yo
as soon as caught sight Of that figure
1t for queen. My heart has bled 70
you, Margery. and am resolved tina
the differences the civil war has mad
between Us shah not separate me froI
my love-"
started up to leave, but he put nl
arm about me and held me till ha