The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-04-11
had betrayed my sex put spurs to my
horse and gatlopefl away

had betrayed my sex put spurs to my
horse and galloped away.
One night | was waiting beside the
road to waylay some unlucky traveller L
when | heard the sound Of horses I
steps | determined TO attack what I
appeared to be a horseman stopping
the way as soon as | could discern the T
dim outline of horse and rider. / cried: +
Halt. Your money or your life.'
"a hi, my lady," responded man /
$50 | meet you again. recognize ron
for the highway woman who robbed
me OF my ring. There be that in your
meiodiouS voice Which bespeaks your
sex. nave been hunting for that
voice ever since. and now | have
| waited to bear no more. but. turn
ing. galioped away as fast as my horse
would go. The man gave chase. At
first | put some distance between him
and me; but. coming to a bad piece of
road. fell away again. and be. urging
his horse. gained till be rode beside
me. He was about to grasp my rein
when | swerved on to the turf beside
the road rode on dry ground. but
my pursuer. following me. struck
bog, in which his horse fioundered. so
that made my escape.
One day | rode by the home of my
fathers old friend. Sir John Seymour
was told that Sir John had held his
property, but how | know not, for he
was a stanch supporter of the king.
| Mayhap he whom regicdes call the
lord protector hoped TO win the knight
to his support aud on this account
would not dispossess him was tired
of my life as highwayman and re-
solved to go to Sir John and ask him
to take me in till | had communicated
with an aunt in Scotland. who had
some property and whom | hoped
eventually might take me in. | would
| stay with her till | could find some
more respectable way of gaining
| livelihood than cutting purses. To tell
the truth, | had given away every pen
ny | had taken, and my own means
| that had brought from home had
now become so exhausted that | was
near the end of my rope. Moreover,
| the country being now settled. dreaded
| lest bangle at the end of another rope
placed about my neck by the sheriff.
So | sold my horse and with the
money received for him bought me
| gown and other articles of Woman's
apparel and one day betOok myself
to Sir John Seymour's manor house.
He was i'll the garden as entered and,
seeing me- came to meet me- When
/ he recognized me for his old friends
| daughter he took me in his arms and
kissed me and then led me in TO Lady
Seymour, who received nae with tears
in her eyes.
made known my purpose IN com
ing to them. and Sir John swore that
should never depart. They begged
NE to tell them all that had happened
since / had been turned out of my
home, and. not being good liar. had
much trouble to account for the time
that had lapsed | told them that |
had been Knitting purses for living.
which satisfied them, and | was glad
OF it, for they were fast driving me
into a corner
Their only son. Herbert, they told
me, had been grievousIy wounded al
Naseby and had not until lately been
able to go about as other men he
was now in London--they feared in
some conspiracy for he return OF King
Charlie-but would be home in few
days. Herbert's portrait. painted wher
be was a boy of ten, hung in the hall
and 1t recalled him to me when, as
a little girl. had run races with him
in our own domain. for as | have said
my tastes were those of a boy rathel
than girl
When be returned and heard | wa
in the house he came hunting for m'
at once finding me in the library
. where was pretending to read, bu
: in reality waiting for him.
"Ah, little Madge." he said cheerily
i what a woman you have grown Il
: be! | wonder If you can now bea
me in foot race or throw me as you
J could when we were children"
) THAT would not be BETTING to on
i of my present years" replied.
e The moment spoke he stood, as i
! were, Wrapt in some memory.
"Your voice reminds me-" he said
s "of one | have heard speak before
Suffering from my wound. | was rid
ing in a coach on the highway on
J night when my valuables were de
manded by one whose voice betraye
her for a woman. Having no none
with me, / gave her sapphire ring
! Something in that voice has haunte
IT me ever since. A second time she de
= manded my purse. | made it know
$ that l recognized her. whereupon sh
e turned and ran. My horse floundere
in a bog, and lost her.
Every effort was needed to enabl
me to retain my equanimity. ha
the ring | had robbed him of on m
ie finger with the sapphire turned il
~ vuord ond yyoc cninO II while +