Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-07-25
T H E
HIGH WAYMAN
How a Bracelet
Became a Keep
:: :: sake :: ::
BY EDNA l.. WITT
BY EDN A L. WITT

One evening in the year 104S coach
numbered along the main highway be-
tween Glasgow and Edinburgh to-
ward the latter city. 1t was the year
that Oliver Cromwell, having closed the
war with the parliament, defeated the
Scotch royalists at Preston and end
ed the war. In those days the roads
were unpaved and, being the only
means Of land transportation, were
much used and consequently In the
worst condition possible. Two per-
sons within the coach, gentleman and
his daughter, were tossed about as 1t
lurched In the ruts and mudholes which
the driver could hardly have avoided
even had there been something better
than an oil lamp on each side of the
vehicle to light the way. Presently a
rear wheel went down to the axle, and
the coach, careening on that side, came
to a stop. For some ten minutes the
driver dashed the horses in a vain eff
fort to force them to pull 1t out and,
after rest, was about to begin again
when by the dim side lights the trav-
elers were able to discern the figure
of n masked man on the road beside
them.
That he was a highwayman was evil
dent from the concealment Of his fea-
lures, but his first words were not in
the least terrifying "Wait Bit" he
said to the coachman, It'll 1 bring a
lever with which to get the wheel on
to dry land" And with that he disap-
peared in the darkness, returning in q
few minutes with fencepOst, one
end Of which he placed under the rear
axle and the other end on his shoulder
Then, calling on the driver to again ap-
ply the lash, the coach was lifted on to
flrmer ground.
Now" said the man who had secur-
ed this result to the gentleman in the
coach, "the laborer being worthy of his
hire, l shall have to trouble you for
your valuables. 1t pains me to do this;
but, the war being over and the king no
longer able to pay his soldiers, / must
needs get living the best way l can"
ALAS" replied the gentleman in the |
coach, that is a case Of one beggar |
calling on another for help. The Duke |
of Hamilton in order to pay the troops |
thSt Cromwell had so ably defeated |
has taken everything l possessed ex-
cept my home. am on my way to |
Edinburgh to try to make a loan on
that which will tide me over these
strenuous times"
I'm that case" replied the highway
man, please accept my services
gratis"
While this brief dialogue was being
spoken the lady in the coach sat con
cealed in corner so that the highway
man did not see her. But as he, hav-
ing mounted his horse, was about to
ride away she leaned forward and, TAX
ing a bracelet from her wrist, extended
1t toward him, saying:
ut is not meet that one of the kings
defenders should go unrewarded for
a service. Take this and may the day
soon come when his majesty shall be
able to take care Of his own"
There was sufficient light from the
coach lamp for the man to see that she
was young girl and beautiful. He
sat so absorbed In the vision of love
illness before him that for q moment he
did not heed her words; then, taking
the bracelet, he said
II shall return II in person."
IF you do" said her father. you |
shall be hanged for what you area
robber. My daughter and / are not
agreed upon these troublous times. Il
am with the parliament l understand
that many of the kings hirelings, now
that their occupation has gone. have
taken to the road Cromwell will soon
be our ruler, and he will then clear our
highways OF these gentlemen robbers"
Kindly tell me who you are" said
the other, that may give Old Noll an
opportunity to stretch my neck. He
VIII doubtless bring his sovereign to
the block, and would not deprive him
OF the pleasure Of bringing one OF his
majesty's loyal subjects to the halter
that Is, IL you can turn me over to
him"
u am Donald MacIvor, and my home
is on this road midway between Glas.
gov and Edinburgh. But | warn you
to keep away, for / shall surely turn
you over to the hangman II you come
upon my grounds"
The highwayman made no reply to
this, but, lifting his hat to the lady,
disappeared in the darkness. This
was his first attempt at robbery, and
1t Ill accorded with his rank or his In
clinations. He was younger son OF
Scotch laird who in order to save his
estate had taken neither the side Of
the king nor the parliament He left
the travellers but felt very Respondent,
Tor his first effort at highwayman's
career was not to his liking, and he
knew Of no other occupation unless he
went to France and became n hireling
soldier Of the French king, One thing
he was decided upon-that sooner or
later he would take the bracelet he
had received and clasp II with his own
hands upon the wrist from which 1t
had been removed
King Charles ]. was brought to trial
and beheaded at the beginning of the
following year. The fortunes of tn,
royalists We're at low ebb and were
not destined TO improve till King
Charles ii. was restored to the throne