Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-11
CHAPTER vUI.-continued.

This made me hope that Sir Peter
would not be present, for | thought
our chances of getting off would ma.
terially improve if he were not on the
spot.
The play was to be ovcr Mt half.past
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 W. 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 mako 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
and impede it as much as possible, so
that it 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 a good supper at the tavern. We
were in a gale of rapture then. 1t
seemed to us both as II we were 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 it was. 80 we shall capture
the incompatible, In the Lady Arabella,
and We will disable the Xantippe--ha!
ha!-in my Lady Hawkshaw."
This I thought a very fine joke In.
deed. and we drank to it.
"Dicky," began Giles again, wiping
bis 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 1t was the last one | saw
loved the best. But since | knew
Mat witch of a girl, St. Anthony him,
Self could not be more i%mpervious to
female charms than your humble serv
ant" which was true enough. And as
.or Overton-that psalm-singing devil
i defy him. Give me but a week,
and he shall see Arabella hanging
upon me so fondly! Let him have her
100000; tbs 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 l have a
great mind to take my Arabella tc
Vernon Court and show her what may
Dne day be hers"
So he raved and roared out snatches
like
IN Bacchus' Joys III freely roll.
Deny no pleasure to my soul,
let Bacchus' health round freely more
For Bacchus is the friend of love
And he that will this toast deny,
Down among the dead men let him lie
And ] took up the chorus and
bawled It OUT. for l, too, looked for nc
more crosses In this life. having Daph
ne for my wife.
So the time passed until ten o'clock;
and at ten o'clock wa sailed forth.
1t val a starlit night In early De
cember. The cold high blue heavens
above us seemed to radiate happiness
the myriad stars twinkled with Joy
We scarce felt the ground under ouI
feet.
The tvo post.chaisss awaited " on