Oxford Democrat., 1913-09-09

cheek paled at the sounO OF Dis Noic'
and whose bosom was heaving. dit
you not obtain an invitation. which
am sure my father would have sh'
paused. and the young man replied t.
her question before she had finished:
because l am prescribed royalist-
Placing her hand on bis arm. she LEI
him to a window seat where the!
would not be noticed. They wer'
scarcely seated before be clasped
bracelet about her wrist
"Go away from here" she said un
der her breath. "My father may no
tee that you are stranger and IN
uuire who you are. Should be recog
nize you by your voice. as ! have done
your life will pay the penalty Of you
rashness."
my life Is worth little to me. mol
has II been of value to me since thu
night saw your face lighted by
coach lamp. for | have been an exile
But recently have inherited the es
tate which my father saved by re
naming neutral In our troubles. Yet
besides my loyalty to our rightfui SOY
ereign, there IL but one act In my life
to keep me from enjoying my heritage
an act of highway robbery. l have re
turned the booty taken on that occa
sion, and | crave your forgiveness"
ut is granted. But my father-he
will never forgive you"
There Is q chance. He may MOI
recognize me as the highwayman
Should he not there is no reason why
I should not make myself known as
Scotch laird recently come into an es
tate, for the war has for some time
past been over, and there are. ! IN
derstand. to be no more prosecutions
for loyalty to the king"
But in the event of my father rec
ognizing you as the highwayman
would not give a farthing for your
life. He has often spoken OF thai
episode and vowed that should you
make good your words to return my
bracelet he would see you hanged high
as Haman. Keep it." she added. tax
ing 1t OF. II would not dare wearit"
"As a keepsakeT"
"Yes."
81 am resolved" said the young man
after q pause, Ito take the one chance
that deprives me of being openly your
guest | AM going to make myself
known to your father. II he does moi
recognize my voice my troubles may
be at an end. and-l may be with
you"
She pleaded with him not to take the
risk, but In vain. When she found II
impossible to dissuade him she put her
arm within his and led him to her ia
ther and said:
Father. this is Sir Walter Douglas
of northern Scotland. He has recent
ly returned from abroad and. finding
himself near us tonight. hns made bold
to come unbidden to join our festiVi'
ties"
The host looked ut Douglas inquiring
ly. Despite his siding with Round
heads he had BritOn's respect for
,ank.
"You are welcome. Sir Walter" he
said. II trust you are one of u.s..
meaning a supporter OF the parliament
"My father" said the young man
clearing his throat while speaking to
disguise his voice. took neither side
Now there is but one side to take"
The speaker glanced at the girl
fearing that she would betray him BY
her emotion rather than that he would
be recognized by his voice. Fortu
nately her father was looking at Doug
las and did not see her efforts to re-
press 1t. But at this noncommittal re
ply MacIvor turned away to his dn
ties as host. His daughter gave long
drawn sigh OF relief and led her guest
to another part of the house. After
another interview behind window cur
tains he left her with her assurance
that he would be always welcome.
That part Of Scotland lying beyond
the Grampian mountains was In those
days wild country. Sir Walter
Douglas went to his estate and. taking
no part In the later futile attempts OF
the Stuarts to regain the throne OF
England and Scotland, was not dis
turbed by the parliamentary govern
ment Later he made second appear
nnce at MacIvor's home to ask for the
hand Of the old mans daughter 1t
was gladly bestowed upon him. and
after wedding ceremony during
which the father gave bis daughter
away to the man who had robbed him
Sir Walter had the keepsake in his
pocket when being married-the knight
took his bride to his remote home
When Charles II. was restored to the
throne the pair were prominent at
court, and Lady Douglas often told the
story of the bracelet, wearing 1t open
" on her wrist, to the merry monarch
Il is needless to add that his majesty
greatly enjoyed It