The Glenwood post., 1909-06-26
CHAPTER vIII.-continued.

This made me hope that Sir Peter
would not be present, for l thought
our chances of getting off would ma
terially improve if he were not on the
spot.
The play was to be over at halfpast
ten, and it may be imagined that we
had plenty to do until then. We en-
gagged four of the best pairs of nags
in the town. We arranged to pay the
postboys according to the time they
took us over the border, and we felt
in ourselves the strength of Titans, to
overcome whatever resistance might
be offered. OF course we counted on
the surprise, and we determined that
the best disposition to make of Lady
Hawkshaw was for Giles Vernon to
appear suddenly, when the people
were coming out, place Lady Hawk
shaw in her coach, and then make
that bold dash for love and beauty
which we had determined upon. Our
postboys, who were not new to the
perils of elopements, grinned at the
prospect, and were instructed to re-
main near Lady Hawkshaw's coach
Auu illpCuS IL dS lluCH d5 pOSSlult, 81
that 1t might be the last to reach the
door Of the theater.
Our arrangements were complete by
eight o'clock, and from that hour until
ten we employed ourselves in dispos-
ing of good supper at the tavern. We
were in gale of rapture then. 1t
seemed to us both as il we we're in
that happy and exultant mood, when
the enemy is within gun-shot and the
ship is cleared for action; and we
only awaited the signal for victory.
We had some punch, but both Giles
and myself knew enough to be ex-
ceedingly careful in attacking it.
"Dicky, my lad" cried Giles, bang
ing me in the back, this day is the
anniversary of the day we whipped
the Indomptable and the Xantippe!"
and so 1t was. so we shall capture
the 1ndomptable. in the Lady Arabella,
and we will disable the Xantippe-ha,
ha!-in my Lady Hawkshaw"
This l thought very fine Joke in
deed, and we drank to it.
"Dicky." began Giles again. wiping
his mouth after the punch, Il never
thought / could be constant to any
woman, as / have been to Arabella.
BY heaven, the whole sex Is SO Sc
ductive that it was the last one / saw
! loved the best. But since l knew
that witch of girl, St. Anthony him
self could not be more impervious to
female charms than your humble serv-
ant" which was true enough. And as
for Overton-that psalm-singing devil
Il defy him. Give me but a week,
and he shall see Arabella hanging
upon me so fondly! Let him have her
100000; It's so much dirt and dross
to me. And she may be Lady Vernon
yet. Do you know that old rapscallion
Sir Thomas Vernon's estate is in this
part OF the country? Though nearer
York than Scarborough. On our re-
turn from our honeymoon I have
great mind to take my Arabella to
Vernon Court and show her what may
one day be hers"
So he raved and roared out snatches
like
In Bacchus' Joys I'll freely roll,
Deny no pleasure to my soul,
Let Bacohus health round freely move:
For Bacchus is the friend of love-
And he that will this toast deny,
Down among the dead men let him lis."
And I took up the chorus and
bawled 1t OUT. for l, too. looked for NO
more crosses IN this life, having Daph-
Nc for my wife.
So the time passed until ten o'clock;
and at ten o'clock we sailed forth.
It was a starlit night in early De-
csmber. The cold high blue heavens
sbove US seemed to radiats happiness;
the myriad stars tWinkled with 3oy;