The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-07-09
Mistress Dorothy's Wager.

20 Cousin Dorothy, surely you will
never undertake such an enterprise!
1t would be worse than folly to think
of it!''
Dorothy dear, you little know to
what you are pledging yourself. The
Heath is simply swarming with high
way men,"
"And the renowned Black Dick
would think very little of risking his
neck to possess himself of those
gems-that do not, in truth, outshine
the brilliancy of Mistress Dorothy's
eyes,"
Mistress Dorothy Pennington ex-
ecuted sweeping curtsy in acknow-
ledgment of the last speech, uttered
by an exquisite, attired in all the
bravery of Powered vest, plum-colored
costume, and elaborate lace ruffles.
II am overshadowed, sir. Neverthe-
less" (she glanced round at the little
circle that had gathered about herr,
81 hold to my resolve"
This conversation was being held in
the Assembly Rooms at Tunbridge
Wells, which at that time tit was to-
wards the middle Of the third Georges
reign) disputed with Bath the palm
of fashion. The subject of discussion
was wager made by fair Dorothy
Pennington that she would convey
herself and her famous emeralds, and,
incidentally, her great-uncle. old
Judge Pennington, in all safety to
London without the loss of as much
as one of her jewels or injury to the
same. Vain were all remonstrances,
Intellectual all efforts to dissuade her
from her project. With what her
staid English relatives termed an un-
usual amount of Irish wilfulness,
Dorothy pushed forward her prep
arations for the venturesome journey
across Hampstead path, with it's evil
reputation of highway robberies per-
petrated in the broad light OF day
and it's notorious denizen, Dick Har-
ford, BLACK Dick" at large.
The girls heart was set on return
ing with all speed to Ireland, and the
journey from the Wells to London was
the first stage of the perilcus home
ward path.
Meanwhile for this evening Doro-
thy gave herself up to full enjoy
ment of the gay scene, where she
queened it by virtue Of the triple
royalty of beauty, wit, and youth.
All the wealth and "gentility'' of
the metropolis we're there represented.
A royal duke had honored it with
his presence, and had conferred on
the fascinating Irish damsel the dis
tinction Of dancing minuet with her.
Had Dorothy but known, she had
that very evening threaded the
mazes Of pavane with a parsonage
Of far more remarkable celebrity. A.
bout his personality she was destined
to be enlightened under very exciting
circumstances.
Not many days later "a cumber-
some travelling coach, drawn by four
stout steeds, might have been seen
rolling heavily along, the highway be-
tween Tunbridge Wells and London.
At a certain point the equipage, des-
erting the main route, plunged into
a labyrinth of byroads, leading in
deed to the capital, but by ways so
circuitous that the distance was more
than doubled. This abandoning of the
ordinary roadway was Doro.ny's first
move.
Great-uncle Pennington. enveloped
to disappearing point in comforting
furs and woolens, groaned as the un-
wieldly vehicle swayed and pitched
through deep ruts, and loudly be-
moaned the time which necessitated
snch mode Of journeying for peaceable
lawlabiding subjects Of the British
crown. But Mistress Dorothy, erect
and resoiute, slipped back the hood Of
her crimson cloak and glanced with
satisfaction at the dreary waste out
side.
BE Of good cheer, dear uncle. Those
good gentlemen of the road are sure
~ watching for us on the Heath. They
little know how far out Of their reach
we are"
Alas! how is it that
The best-laid schemes Of mice and
men
Gang aft agley?
On sharp rise Of the road along
which numbered the coach, solitary
horseman was stationed, back dot
against the sky. Everything about
him, including his horse, was OF the