The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-20

man was than the girl had promised to be.
 Several years had gone, and some thing almost matronly had become up. on my cousins beauty. something so noble and so tender that I must swear forever no woman's beauty were per feet lacking that. The waves of her chestnut hair were rolled away from the pure outline of her face. I could see her little ears and the full, milky throat below the golden head.
 For an instant feasted on her beau ty. Then my eyes wandered to my brother. He looked less slight than of old, but his Apollo grace and fairness, which I used to think unbeconing 4 man. had not deserted him. The whole scene was so peaceful, so full of home, that 1t made his heart ache who had doomed himself to be homeless And then a thc~ght came to me that sent the blood surgins to my head. Why, 1t was home scene I looked upon, and this pair, with their happy quietude, were no lovers except welded ones!
 had willed it so. or the dead had willed 1t for me; yet I turned to the night with an oath on my lips and despair in my heart, for never until then, I think. had I realized my love for my cousin. And so, swearing l would not come again, lest worse be- fall I strode off to the dell in the wood. where my Saladin paved the ground, and neighed the way I had taken.
 We. gentlemen of the road. drop out of the world we once knew, as much as If we were dead.
 Two years did Tom Selby, Dick La- vader and myself lead the highway mans life and If I said 1t had not things to recommend 1t I should err
 There came a night I rode alone. as fate would have it, and was scarce thinking of business, but leant by wayside gallows in the shadow of wood and unused as was my wont on the wherefore men were born into the world, only to leave it with not hope fulfilled
 Then, far away in the moonlight. I saw a great coach coming toward me
 There were four horses, ridden by postilions so much I could see, so it was at least five to one against me. but it consorted with my desperate mood to take the coach single-hnded.
 Now I saw the vantage the woods gave me. and were these fellows as great towards as I have often proved such Varlets to be. the enterprise were safe enough. Therefore as the coach rolled beneath the hangman's tree, I stepped out and crying, Yield. knaves, to me and my mem" I iourished my pistols in the face of the first man. "Oh, Lord. highwaymen" I heard him sob; and indeed. the woods sha- dow might be full of us.
 The horses fell back on their haunch- es and the great equipage came to a standstill. I bent forward. calling to my imaginary comrades to stand when suddenly, a great oath broke from the immovable figure of a man that sat on the box of the coach. and turning at the sound, I saw the four positions scurrying like rabbits as fast as their feet would carry them.
 Send your pistols after them. good highwayman" wheezed the figure on the box; and, in faith, forgetting what | ambush there might be. I blazed away with both pistols, so that the rogues might have real fun for their money Thank you, friend" said I; but l whom do you carry with you?' My mistress, 2 lady so beautiful that when you have beheld her you will not hurt her. for you gentlemen of the road do not war on beauty" There was something of anxiety In | the fellows voice which touched me.
 Fear not, friend" said I, T will not