The daily Alaskan., 1905-05-26
HIGHWAYMAN
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 Ore autumn evening In the year i6iG, the year after the battle of NOseby, when the royalist cause in England was ir1etrievably lost and the Cavaliers scattered to the winds, the day coach mmbercd along muddy road between London and Hertforl. The occupants were two ladies, mother and daughter, who had been to London to shop and were returning to theh home When daylight and night were mingling the coach was halted, and a masked man, riding up to the window with cooked pistol looked within to discover the character Of the occupants. Upon sec ing the two ladies his hat came or and was swung with a grand sweep along his horses flank, its plume almost touching the road. The hats removal. besides revealing more per~cctly the glossy hair hanging In long cUrls over the wide lace collar, left uncovered a scar running diagonally across the mans forehead While there was enough daylight left to show these fea- lures. the ladies in' the closed coach were but indlstinctly visible, especially the younger one, who sat on the oppo- site side from the highwayman.
 Ladies" he said, these are unfortu. nate times. The kings service has giv- en way to service on the road. Never theless you have only 10 say, Long live King Charlier and you will not be expected to pay toll"
 Long live King Charlie' gasped the elder woman.
 And what says your compFnionF asked the highwayman.
 'She says the same" the mother has tened to reply. we are a royalist fam fly"
 But the companion uttered never a word. The robber, who evidently was not in love with his profession, was about to turn away when curiosity prompted him to say:
 Then let her speak"
 still the girl kept silence, drawing farther back into her corner.
 If you are a Roundhead l must ask some contribution to the royalist cause" said the highwayman.
 Straightway the girl pulled a ring | from her finger and handed 1t to bim. | At the moment wheels were heard com ing down the road, and the highway man disappeared.
 Two years passed. The younger of the two ladies who had been robbed was one morning handed a letter, which she opened and read
 Written on the 10th of April, ieSS at l Paris. in france. to Ruth Spencer at | Hertford. In England
 Ruth. My Beloved-I have but few minutes before the postman rides Co say that my uncle being dead and my cousin | having been killed In a brawl the family l estates come to me. I follow this very soon to claim my property and the only girl have ever loved. Your devoted
 ROGER.
 The girl had scarcely finished read ing when the writer. young Cavalier, entered, flushed with pleasure at sec ing her, and was about Co advance to take her in his arms when he was stopped by the look with which she re garlel him.
 Ruth" he said rerroachfully, have I waited an these years for nothingl Am to be made miserable when expected to be made happyy
 It Is several years since l have had any account of your doings, Roger First assure me that you have not lived as so many of the young royalist officers have lived since the wreck oi our hopes. I am told that as many as a hundred captains after NOsehy took to the road. It is true they treated the kings adherents kindly, but levied on all RoundLeads. Others, I hear have spent the time no better employed abroad. Tell me, Roger, what have you been doing these three yearsT
 The young man hung his head.
 Let us skip that wretched period tear Ruth. There Is much In then that is painful for me to remember" At that moment he caught sight ot the girls finger on which three year' before he had placed a circlet of gold. "oh, Ruth, you have deserted me fol another. You have accepted pearl il place of my golden circlet" "No, Roger, have not Father gav' me the pearl What you gave you had a right to take again" q take againg You speak in rid dles"
 "L.isten. One evening two years ago just before the November frosts, moth CT and were journeying home iron Inrlnn in the nar cnarh when one 0