Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1885 — An Amiable Highwayman. [ARTICLE]

An Amiable Highwayman.

On one occasion, when the way-bill of the English, Dover, mail bore the name of Miss ——, two inside places had been booked three advance. At the' hour of leaving the coach-office, two cases, two carpet bags, two trunks, covered and sewn in the whitest linen, two dressing cases, besides the smaller articles—baskets, reticules,wrappers, etc.—had been duly stowed in the inside.. Presently, the growl of a King Charles spaniel, thrusting his head out of a muff, proclaimed the advent of another occupant of the two vacant seats. A gentlemanly-look-ing man, with fine open features, and what was at once written down by the old lady as a charitable expression, much wrapped up with shawls, etc., round his neck, stepped into the mail. He caressed,! admired, and noticed Bess. He helped to adjust shawls, and placed the windows entirely at the disposal of the ladies, though he looked as though he might be suffocated at any moment. The conversation was animated, the stranger entering freely into all the views and opinions of his fellow-travelers—politics, agriculture, history—endorsing every opinion which they might express. Both inwardly pronounced him a most charming companion, and blessed the stars which had introduced them to such society. “You reside in the neighborhood of Charlton, madam?" “Yes; we have a lovely villa on the edge of Blackheath!” “Blackheath! That is a favorite neighborhood of mine. In fact, lam going to Woolwich to join my regiment this evening, and I intended to get out at Blackheath to enjoy an evening stroll over the heath.” “Are you not afraid of being molested at night over Bla,ckheath? Isn’t it very lonesome?” “Sometimes it is lonesome; but I often meet very useful, agreeable people in rambling over the heath.” Arrived at Blackheath, the two ladies descended, and feeling that they had established a sufficient acquaintance with their polite fellow-traveler, they invited him to partake of a cup of tea at their residence, before proceeding on his journey, which invitation he gratefully accepted. As the evening wore on, a rubber of whist was proposed, the gentleman taking “dummy.”- After a short lapse of time, looking at his watch as by a sudden impulse, he observed that it was growing late, and he was afraid of keeping them up. “I shall now take my leave, deeply impressed by your kind hospitality; but, before I make my bow, I must trouble you for your watches, chains, money, and any small articles of jewelry which you have in the house.” The ladies looked aghast, hardly able to realize the situation. Their guest, however, remained inflexible, and having, with his own dexterous hands, cleared the tables of all articles sufficiently portable, was proceeding to ascend the stains, when one of the ladies uttered a piercing scream. On this, he sternly assured them that silence was their only safety, while giving any alarm would be attended by instant death. “Then, having possessed bimself of all the money and valuables he could command, he left the house, telling thij ladies, with a smile, that they had conferred a most delightful and profitable evening on Mr. Richard, or as he has been more generally called, Dick Turpin.—Sir Walter Scott.