Evening journal., 1905-01-25
Ole HIGHWAYMAN
IorielnaLl

One autumn evening IN the year lo4b, |
the year after the battle Of Noseby, |
when the royalist cause in England |
was irretrievably lost and the Cavaliers ,
scattered to the winds, the day coach |
numbered along a muddy road between
London and Hertford. The occupants |
were two ladies. mother and daughter, !
who had been to London to shop and I
were returning to their home When |
aaylight and night were mingling the |
roach 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 Off and |
was swung with a grand sweep along !
his horses fank, its plume almost |
touching the road. The hats removal, |
besides revealing more perfectly 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
We're but indistinctly visible, especially
the younger one, who sat on the oppo-
site side from the highwayman
tLadies.' he said, these are unfortu-
hate times The kings service has glv-
en- way to service on the road. Never
theless you have only to say, Long
live King CharleF and you viii not be
expected to pay toll"
Long five King Charliew gasped the
elder woman.
'And what says your companionT
asked the highwayman
"She snys the same.1 the mother has
tened to reply. I'VE are royalist fam
ilyr
But the companion uttered never a
word. The robbcr, 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 n Roundhead I must ask
some contribution to the royalist
cause said the highwayman.
Straightway the girl pulled a ring
from her finger and handed it TO him.
At the moment wheels We're 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. i6ls, at
nrN NrI InIHn 80 NNanHN
Hertford. IN England
Ruth My Bciovod-I have but few
minutes before the postman rides 20 say
that. my uncle being dead and my cousin
having been killed IN q brawl the family
estates come 20 me- I follow this very
soon 70 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 see
ing her. and was about TO advance to
take her in his arms when he was
stopped by the look with which she re-
gnrded him.
"Ruth." he said reproachfully, have
waited all these years for nothing?
Am I to be made miserable when I
expected to be made happyT
1T is several years since have had
any account OF your dolngs, Roger.
First assure me that you have not
lived as so many Of the young royallst
officers have lived since the wreck of
our hopes. / am told that as many as
hundred captains after Noseby took
TO the road. II is true they treated the
kings adherents kindly. but levied on
all ROundheads. Others, / hear. have
spent the time no better employed
abroad Tell me, Roger, what have
you been doing these three years2"
The young man hung his head.
Let US skip that wretched period.
dear Ruth. There is much in them
that is'painful for me to remember"
At that moment he caught sight OF
the girls finger on which three years
before he had placed a circlet Of gold.
"Oh, Ruth. you have deserted me for
another. You have accepted pearl in
place of my golden circlet"
mo, Roger, have not Father gave
me the pearl. What you gave you had
right TO take again"
Il take againi You speak In rid.
dies"
Listen. One evening two years ago
just before the November frosts. moth.
er and were journeying home from
London in the day coach when one OF
those royalists who had turned high
waymen rode up to the coach window
TO rob us. He took or his hat. and ]
saw the scar left by the wound that ]
had myself bound up after the battle
The young man took step back
ward. putting his hand to his forehead
conyulsively TO conceal the telltale scar
Il would not shout for King Charli,
under comDrlsion." continued the girl
and rs had no choice but TO do so o.
five up the only thing of value hap
pcned % have with me took of my
ring and gave IL TO him. Doubtless h,
has IL now
The young mar covered his face witt
his hands
If you would Ike to return it to me
Roger. l viii accent II Of yous said thl