The Lambertville record., 1908-03-18
When Lady Betty
Held the Candle.
Copyrighted. 1905, by Jessie Morgan.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY ORMOND GREY.

JeHry, said my uncle when he
taught me sulking and demanded an
explanation, ''all women are good at
heart but all women are abnormally
uncertain. They will go their own way,
whether we like it or not and perforce
we must put up with their whimsies
and make the best of it, If your cousin
Betty is eapricious. give her to under
stand that you would rather have her
that way than not. Then she will no
longer have any desire to keep your
head whirling"
This was one day after Lady Betty
had triaed with my love and dignity.
and l had gone to Sir Hugh Rlvington
the dearest of relatives and the best of
patrons, to declare that l should At
once sail away for Spain and offer my
sword as a soldier of fortune | would
depart within a week, and as for Lady
Betty. she might marry whom she
pleased or die splnster.
~ think myself that the filly has
romped long enough" continued Sir
Hugh as he laid kindly hand on my
shoulder, "and that the halter should
now be slipped over her head But
how TO do 1t. Jeffry-how to do it?
Indeed, let us plan"
And plan we did.
-Four days after our planning the
Lady Betty set out for the country seat
of the Mnrchloness of Littieton, nine
leagues distant, there to tarry for the
space of two weeks. Naturally her
maid accompanied her. and besides the
coachman and footman there were two
armed and mounted servants to pre-
vent the knights of the road from com
ing too close.
Sir Hugh and myself We're to follow
on horseback two days later, or so 1t
was understood. Scarce had we waved
the coach out of sight when the good
man pinched my ear In playful way
and said:
"The plan worketh thus far without
hitch or suspicion The adventures of
the night wilt give thee n brides within
n month Jeffry. the capricious flly Is
haltered.o
At 3 o'clock that afternoon, when
the coach had reached Featherstone,
hardly more than half the journey, the
caprcious Lady Betty decided to re-
main there for the night At sun
down she decided to push on to the
White Hart inn, two leagues farther,
saying 1t would be romantic to ride
beneath the stars of the summer night
Her great coach had rolled out OF
the courtyard. The last league had
been entered upon, and the night had
become fairly dark when an uproar
suddenly occurred. That uproar should
have been caused by two pretended
highwaymen hired for the occasion,
and the guards should have fired n
shot or two at them and then fled. as
per orders, but alas, for our well laid
plans against the maid!
Our hired varets lost their way
and did not appear In time, and the
two that did come forward were gcnu-
ine members of the profession Our
two merry thieves We're to abduct the
Lady Betty and her jewel box and
hang on TO them until meeting me on
foaming steed, and | was then to drive
them away In short order with pistol
and rapler and rescue the damsel all
forlorn.
In her gratitude and admiration, how
could she say nay when | asked that
the marriage day be named and that
there should be no more trlhing?
Fate ordained that my horse should
cast shoe and that l should be an
hour late at the rescue and even then
1t was to learn that the Lady Betty,
suspecting my plans and determined
to balk them, had actually remained
behind at Featherstone and sent only
her maid forward in the coach. Sir
Hugh and ! had planned according to
military tactics. but simple maid
had brought our endeavors to naught.
The weather had changed, and the
rain was pouring down, and yet | l
must ride back TO Featherstone and
secure confederation of the maids
story before could feel at ease. Back
| rode to be told that when the coach
left the inn Lady Betty had taken to
uOl sc " NOhpiCtt JVuihNs py
other road
If she had accomplished this without
adventure, then l would have been a
butt of ridicule indeed. Fate was wait
Ing to play her n shabby trick. how
ever
The highwaymen who had stopped
the coach on the east road had gallop-
al 20 In t.v
and as she reached this In her ride she
fell into their hands. A hut In the
woods, in which they were making
a temporary home, was close ut hand,
and thither they conducted the fright
ened and lamentlng maiden, TO shut
her up in the back room while they sat
down In the front one to eat, drink and
make merry over their plunder.
Flowing my way over the execrable |
roads amid the downpour, my eye sud
denly caught the twinkle Of light In
the forest. and dismounted and ap-
preached Oh foot Through the open
windows | heard the talk OF men. |
Passing to the rear of the hut, drew
myself up to a sashless opening and
softly called to know II any one was
there.
'"Thank heaven, it's thee. Jeffry"
csme the voice of the Lady Betty In
prompt response. 81 am In the hands
Of highwaymen and almost dead with
fright. Hast thou sword and pistol
with thee, dear boy?'
"In truth have. but as ye-: lave Oft
asserted that the former is but toy
and the latter danger fol youth to
experiment with, know not how such
arms can aid you in this emergency"
"Nay, nay, Jeffry may have spoken
slightingly, but 1t was only the way
OF willful maid. However, II thou
hast taken 1t too much at heart, or II
thou doubtest thy courage or skill"--
Then was peside her and my arm
around her. Il was well that ] had
not remained longer outside. OF sud
den the men In the front room rose up