The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-06

| his window. IIobbie was for storming
the tower, but his kinsfolk urged upon
him that, by border law, he could do no
such thing. having agreed to meet the
Reiver and fight their quarrel man TO
man. SO Earnsciff set on, to convey
Miss We're to her father, and Hobbie, with
his kinsfolk, rode back TO the Hughfoot.
A despairing man was Hobbie when he
reached the cottage where his family had
taken shelter; but his sisters received
him with giggling, which aroused his ire
at first, until, looking around. he saw,
wrapped in one of his sisters plaids,
Grace Armstrong, safe and sound. That
Hobbie found his love safe at home
again was due to the following facts
Will of Westburnhat, after his demol-
ton of the farmstead, had passed by the
hut of the recluse and Elshie had ac-
costed him. demanding to know what he
had done with Grace Hobbie had been
gone from the hut scarce half an hour
when the Reiver appeared there. having
just come from performing another piece
of business in the abduction line. Fair
game and the spoils of war said the
mand shes cen now with Charlie
Cheat the Woodie, bound for Cumberland.
My mask fell Off and the girl knew me,
so / took her safe. But she shall suffer
no HARM There's a lady going out to
America, and we will cen send Grace
alang wi her-she will want handmade,
and good pay, they say, is gotten for
such in the colonies"
Hear me, ruffian,' Grief Elshender,
will gold restore the maiden unscathed
to her kin?'' "Ah, weel," replied the
Reiver, Il cannot say but if the price
was right she might be overtaken and
brought back before Cumberland was
reached" Here, then, take this paper"
ITO the steward?" inquired the Reiver.
Eyes, to the steward, as you have done
before. He will give you the money, and
you have back the maiden safe at once
or dread my wrath
He threw the Reiver piece of writing
and withdrew into his hut. 81 ken not
how 1t Isl called out the Reiver, I'VE
seem but a poor man here, Elshie, but
these written words of yours make gold
shower down. So Willie of Westburn-
fiat dispatched swift follower to bring
back Grace to Hughfoot and then re-
paired to his tower, where he had sent
his other captive, Miss Isabel We're.
AS Earnscliff rode by Miss Vere's side
on the way toward Elieslaw she told
him the story of her captivity. She had
been walking with her father and one
servant in the grounds of the castle
1&,v hoy s,f
armed ruffians led by the Reiyer, her
father and the servant had been over
come and she had been carried to walt
ing horse and taken captive to the tower
of Westburnfiat. She had been treated
with consideration by her captors, but
had been, of course, much alarmed. OF
the reasons for her abduction she could
form no idea.
The party under Earnscliff had gone but
little toward the castle Of Ellieslaw
when Mr. We're and party of his friends
and retainers were sem approaching.
After the abduction of lis daughter We're
had been found unhurt and said he had
fallen to the ground in the encounter
with the ruffians because his foot had
slipped. He had led the search for his
daughter in every direction except that
of the tower of Westburnfiat and de-
clared to his young kinsman, Ralph Mare
schal of Marschal Wells, that he believed
Earnscliff to be guilty OF the abduction,
showing him a letter which he had In
tercepted from Lucy Ilderton to the young
laird, in which Lucy urged Earnsclin
to attempt something of the kind. The
he AZ
ter the abduction of Isabel was Mr.. Rat
cliffe, person whose position at Ellies-
law was something of a mystery. We're
seemed at once to fear and hate the man,
yet allowed all his business affairs to be
managed entirely by this bailiff or stew
ard. and was, seemingly. very anxious
to keep on good terms With him. Rat