The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-24
THE EVENING STORY
When Lady Betty Held the Candle.
DIV Ormond GREY

When Lady Betty Held the Candle.
(By Ormond Grey.)
Jerry, said my uncle when he
caught me su1king and demanded an
explanation, "alI women are good at
neart, but all women are abnormally
uncertain. They will go their own
way, whether we like 1t or not, and
perforce we must put up with their
WITNESSES and make the best of it. II
your cousin Betty is capricious. give
nef TO understand that you would
rather have her that way than not.
Then she will no longer have any de-
sire to keep your head whirling.'
This was one day after Lady Betty
mad trif1ed with my love and dignity,
and had gone to Sir Hugh Rivington.
OF patrons, to declare that I 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 a spinster.
Il think myself that the FLY has
romped long enough" continued Sir
Hugh as he laid a kindly hand on my
shoulder, "and that the halter should
now be slipped over her head. But
how to do it, 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 marchioness of Littleton,
nine leagues distant, there to tarry
for the space of two weeks. Natural
ly, her maid accompanied her, and be-
sides the coachman and fOotman
there were two armed and mounted
servants to prevent the knights OF the
road from coming too close.
Sir Hugh and myself were to fol-
low on horseback two days later, or
so it was understood. Scarcely had
the nf sight
when the good man pinched my ear
in playful way and said:
1.-THE plan worketh thus far with
out hitch or suspicion. The adven-
lures of the night wilt give thee a
bride within a month. Jeffry. the
capricious FLY is battered
At 3 o'clock that afternoon, when
the coach had reached Featherstone.
hardly more than half the journey,
the capricious Lady Betty decided to
remain there for the night. At sun
down she decided to push on to the
White Hart inn, two leagues farther,
saying it 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 pre-
tended highwaymen hired for the oc-
casion. and the guards should have
fired shot Or two at them and then
fed, as per orders, but, alas, for our
wel1-laid plans against the maid!
Our hired varlets lost their way
and did not appear in time, and the
two that did come forward We're gen
uine members of the profession. Our
Lady Betty and her jewel box and
hang on to them until meeting me on
foaming steed, and I was then to
drive them away in short order with
pistol and rapier, and rescue the DAM
sci all forlorn.
In her gratitude and admiration
how could she say nay when I asked
that the marriage day be named and
that there should be no more stri1ing?
Fate ordained that my horse should
cast shoe and that I should be an
hour late at the rescue, and even then
it was to learn that the Lady Betty,
suspecting my plans, and determined
to ba1k 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 a simple maid
had brought our endeavors to naught.
The weather had changed and the
rain was pouring down, and yet ]
must ride back to Featherstone and
secure confederation of the maids
story before I could feel at ease. Back
I rode to be told that when the coach
left the inn Lady Betty had taken to
horse to complete her journey by an
other road.
If she had accomplished this with
out adventure, then I would have been
a butt of ridicule indeed. Fate was
waiting to play her q shabby trick,
however.
The highwayman who had stopped
the coach on the east road had gallop-
ed away to the west by a crossroads,
and as she reached this in her ride she
fell into their hands. hut in the
woods, in which they were making a
temporary home, was close at hand, and
thither they conducted the frightened
and lamenting 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 plumber.
Flowing my way over the execrable
roads amid the downpour, my eye sud
denly caught the twinkle Of light in
the forest, and I dismounted and ap-
preached on foot. Through the open
windows heard the talk OF men, Pass
ing. to the rear: OF the hut, drew my
self up to sashless opening and softly
called to know If any one was there.
THANK heaven, It's thee, Jeffry!"
came the voice of the Lady Betty in
prompt response. II am In the hands
Of highwaymen and almost dead with
fright Hast thou sword and pistol
with thee, dear boy?"
s'In truth I have, but as you have oft
asserted that the former is but toy,
and the latter danger for a youth to
experiment with, I know not how such
arms can aid you in this emergency"
NAY, nay, Jeffry. I may have spoken
slightingly, but it was only the way
of a willful maid. However, If thou
hast taken it too much at heart, or If
thou doubtest thy courage or skill
Then I was beside her and my arm
around her. It was well that had not
remained longer outside. OF a sudden
the men in the front room rose up and
flung open the door between us, one OF
them having a f1aring candle in his
hand, and at sight OF them the girl
moaned and covered her face with her
hands.
The ruffians stared for moment and
4har, drox pisfnls from the belts. The