Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-31


first put some distance between him
and me; but. coming to a bad piece OF
road. fell away again, and he. urging
his horse. gained till he rode beside
me. He was about to grasp my rein
when swerved on to the turf beside
the road. I rode on dry ground, but
my pursuer. following me. struck a
bog, In which his horse ioundered, so
that made my escape.
One day 1 rode by the home OF my
fathers old friend. Sir John Seymour.
I was told that Sir John had held his
property, but how I know not, for he
was stnnch supporter OF the king.
Mayhap he whom regicides call the
lord protector hoped TO win the knight
TO his support and on this account
would not dispossess him. l was tired
OF my life as a highwayman and re
solved to go 20 Sir John and ask him
to take me in till l had communicated
with an aunt in Scotland. who had
some property ard whom l hoped
eventually might take me in. l would
stay with her TIL I could find some
more respectable way of gaining
livelihood than cutting purses. To tell
ny 1 had taken, and my own means
that 1 had brought from home had
now become so exhausted that I 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 a
gown and other articles of woman's
apparel and one day betook myself
to Sir John Seymour's manor house.
he was in the garden as i 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 me with tears
in her eyes.
l made known my purpose in COM
ing 10 them, and Sir John swore that
l should never depart. They begged
me 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. l told them that /
had been knitting purses for a 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 grievously wounded at |
Naseby and had not until lately been |
able to go about as other men. He |
was now in London-they feared in I
some conspiracy for the return of King 4
Charlie-but would be home in a few /
days. Herbert's portrait, painted when |
he was a boy OF ten, hung in the hall, .
and 1t recalled him to me when, as .
a little girl. l had run races with him 4
in our own domain, for, as I have said, /
my tastes were those of boy rather .
than girl.
When he returned and heard I was .
in the house he came hunting for me |
at once, finding me in the library.
where l was pretending TO read. but 4
in reality waiting for him.
"Ah, little Madge," he said cheerily, |
what a woman you have grown to
bel / wonder If you can now beat
me in a foot race or throw me as you
could when we were children
THAT would not be BETTING 10 one /
of my present years" l replied
The moment l spoke he stood, as it
were, wrapt in some memory.
your voice reminds me-" he said,
"of one l have heard speak before
Suffering from my wound / was rid
ing in coach on the highway one
night when my valuables were de
handed by one whose voice betrayed
her for a woman. Having no money
with me, I gave her a sapphire ring.
in that voice has haunted
me ever since. \ second time she D.
manded my purse. ! made II known
that I recognized her whereupOn she
turned and ran. Ny horse fioundered
in a bog, and / lost her.
Every effort was needed 70 enable
me to retain my equanimity. I had
The ring I had robbed him of on my
finger with the sapphire turned in
ward and was grasping # while he
spoke, with my fist. So tightly did I
hold # that il cut the flesh, and vet
30 terror stricken was ! that | felt no
pain. Alas. by this | betrayed myself.
What hold You so tightf" he asked,
MS eyes fixed TO my clinched fist
My cheeks were flaming, my head
swan. He seized my fist and tried
o open II. I held so tightly that IT
vas a long while before he succeeded
Then when l could struggle no longer
Ie pulled my hand open and saw his
Il have caught yon at last, my rob
,err' he exclaimed. catching me IN his
rms and covering my face with kisses.
And now the tables are turned. 1t IS
who rob YOU Of kisses. every kiss be
ng worth 10 me more than the ring
-ou extorted."
That's long while ago. The king
5 with us, and our estates are re
tored to rs Mine is united with that
+ Sir Herbert Seymour. He says he
ell in love with a robber for her
dice end married her to get back HIS
wn. retort that 10 repay him for
aking his jewel I have given him an
state larger than his own.