MISTRESS DOROTHY LESTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2080, 4 January 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

MISTRESS DOROTHY LESTER.

A ROMANTIC SHORT STORY

(By Percy James Brebnor, , “Christian Lys”.) On a certain November nighi, when the weather without was as baiTus it well could be—fog, driving rain, and mud rendering tho streets almost impassable, and calling forth strange oaths from mail-coach drivers, chairmen, and linkboys—a merry fire chattered upon the wide heart of a room in a coffee-house in Coveut Garden

“Foot’s” it was familiarly called, and numbered among its patrons men of fashion, and young blades notorious for their gallantries, besides a sprinkling of the more sober sort, who came there because of the Indisputably good liquor and the fact that the news retailed at “Foot’s” was likely to be of tho latest At a round table, drawn close up to tho firo, four men were seated, of such distinct and dissimilar characteristics that they would hardly have been expected to consort .together but that the love of play was ever the cause of strange friendships and enmity was easily forgotten for a while over tho dicebox. The rubicund host had just departed, having set more wine upon the table. “Knowing the prejudices of Carew and Captain A’icarv, I will say no uiore,” remarked one of the party, evidently concluding a conversation which the landlord’s entrance had interrupted. "You do not consider that I have any prejudices, then, Sir Benjamin?” "None to speak of, my lord,” was the answer. No greater scandalmonger existed between Pali Mall and Change Alley than Sir Benjamin. Bailey, and—if rumor were to be credited—l.ord Daromouth’s reputation for an honesty which bordered on Puritanism was ill deserved. “I maintain that if only a women is pretty enough she is ever a :ready mark for scandal,” said A r icarv, tho youngest of the party. “The prettier the woman, the greater the scandal—and the greater the lie, as a rule, say I. AA 7 ho evor heard of a piquant story about one whoso charms were not worth a turn of the head or a second glance?” “Oh, the enthusiasm of you th V’ J murmured Sir Benjamin. “Would! 4 that I could go back a few yeai's.”/ “A few!” exclaimed the fourth man, who had been silent for some time. “Yes, Carew. I grow old rery slowly, I am thankful to say.” - “And became an old reprobato ;arly in life—eh?” “Oddslife, man, so they say! But 1 scarce know how I succeeded in winning such a reputation.” “And do you endorse our friend A'icary's opinion, Carew?” auked Daremoutli, flicking some imaginary dust from his coat-steeve. "I am not as young as Vicary, and may have lost some of my enthusiasm, but I never talk scandal about a woman myself, and liave a contempt- for any man who does.” There was something in the sober dress and reserved manner of Jasper Carew that won him respect from all kinds of men.

“You seem in tho minority, Sir Benjamin,” said Daremouth. “Truth often is,” was the reply. “But 6ince we talk of women,” Daremouth went on, “should not a woman’s name servo as a toast for the new bottle? I call upon Vicary, tho youngest and most enthusiastic amongst ua.” “Faith, the wine’s good enough to make mo none too scrupulous whom I toast!” said Sir Benjamin. “Her name, Vicary ?* Carew had looked at each of his companions at they spoke, some curiosity in his eyes, perhaps a iittle contempt in them; now he glanced at Vicary with more than usual interest. “I would be excused,” said tho captain quietly. “Arc we not good enough company to toast the lady?” asked Sir Benjamin angrily. “Perhaps there is no lady,” said Daremouth. “No lady—at his yearsl” said Sir Benjamin. He was an eager brawler, from tho consequences of which his age generally protected him. He was pleased to believe it was his swordsmanship. “There is none I choose to name,” said Vicary. “Must we respect prejudice and assume that Captain Vicary has ample reason lor - refusal?” said moutb“At least, tho refusal makes the wine sparkle no less invitingly,” Carew remarked “Will you givo the toast, my lord?” Daremouth rose, with a glance at Vicary, raised liis glass and said: “Mistress Dorothy Lester!” The toast was drunk, and three g! u-cs wore set down oil the table —— again; the fourth Vicary held for a moment, and then flung it behind him. shivering it into fragments against the wall. “That no less worthy a toast may be drunk from it,” ho explained. Sir Benjamin scented mischief, and was not minded to let it pass. “May that be the Mistress Lester who is ward to Sir David Ormsbv?” > “The same,” said Daremouth carelessly. “And she carried an ample fortune in her hands, unless Sir David has helped himself during her minority, which I have heard some affirm,” said Sir Benjamin. “Do you know the lady, Captain Vicary?” “Too well to bo desirous of discussing her, Sir Benjamin. A most worthy toast, one duly honored by me. And now I fear I must leavo you. gentlemen. I travel north tomorrow, and must bo upon the road early.” “To avoid Starlight the highwayr man?” asked Sir Benjamin; and theu he went on, ■when Vicary had left yyi

trol his ambition/’ paid Daremoutli. “Tho lady has very different views of her own, I believe.” “I have heard so,” said Carew. ‘‘Sir David’s house and my own are barely ten miles apart.” “Ah, you have a snug retreat near Moukeu Hadley, I remember.” “A little off the high-road, Sir Benjamin. Von have hut to stay at the Bag o' Nails to inquire the road, and you'shall find a welcome, I warjsmt, whenever you choose to visit mo.” “And, perchance, he even more welcomed by Starlight on my way thither.” “Dy all accounts the fellow seems a daring scoundrel," said Daremouth. “aAnd gives much to the poor, they v say.” said Sir Benjamin: "though why a man should put his nee'k into a halter for the sake of the poor passes my understanding." '“He’ll givo little more if ever 1 get within firing distance of him 1” laughed Daremoutli. “If you advertise him of the time you travel the North Bond, I dare bo sworn he'll give you ample opportunity of ridding the highway of his presence,” said Carew. It wf s evident that Lord Daremouth had little dcsi - e for Captain Vicary’s company, or 1m would have told him that he, too, had to journey north early next morning. And his business was pressing, for, well mounted and with loaded pistols in his holster, lie had covered some miles of his journey before \ icary set out.

The latter rode leisurely and dee)) it thought. Either he had no desire to reach his destination quickly, or he was doubtful what courso to pursue when ho did reach it. He rode carelessly, too, and was quite unprepared for attack, when a man slipped suddenly from some brushwood by the roadside, causing his horse to rear and plunge violently. The man, garbed as a yokel, had a folded paper in his hand, which he held up, and he did not look dangerous.

“What do you mean, sirrah, by startling my horse in that fashion. - ' ’ “Be you called Captain Vicary? ’ “Of what concern is that to you! - '" “None; only if you b© Captain Vicary, this letter is for you ’ For a moment Vicary hesitated, fearing some trap; but umless the mesenger were genuine, how should ho know his naino. “I am Captain Vicary.” And ho took tho paper. The man immediately dived into the brushwood again, and was lost amongst the trees. “If you have any desire to serve Mistress Dorothy Lester,”— Vicary road—“go no farther than the inn known as tho Bag o’ Nails. Stay there until you have news of her.” There was no signature to the letter, yet the writer must surely have some knowledge of the dreams which lay nearest to his heart. Few persons knew of his acquaintance with Dorothy Lester; to none but herself had he spoken of his love. Certainl. ly Dorothy had not written tho letter, but she might have inspired it; ’’“"and Vicary put his horse into a gallop. He was in hasto now, and eager to probe the strange affair to . the bottom. The Bag o’ Nails, so it had come to be called, although originally named tho Bacchannals, a ghostlike satyr still showing on its weather-worn sign, lay back from the high-road in a hollow behind a plantation, almost as though it were desirious of hiding itself. The landlord was standing at the door alone when Vicary rode up. “Has anyone inquired for Captain Vicary?” he asked. “No, sir.” “I must then,” he said, flinging himself from the saddle, as the boy came running from the stables to take his horse. “Do you expect company to dine, sir?” asked the ilandlord, showing his guest into a spacious room. “No; I expect a message, and may have to wait some hours for it. 1 care not what I get to eat so long as it Is served with a bottle of your best, landlord.” “\Ve see but few guests nowadays,” grumbled the landlord. “They hurry on to Monken Hadley for fear of Starlight.” “And does he ever give you a call?” Vicary asked. Tho man looked at him in silence for a moment, and then said slowly: “There was a man cantered up to the door one evening just after dusk. It was the luaro he rode which took my attention —one doesn’t sot eyes on the likes of her for breed and stamina V every day—and as he rode away, I says to myseflf ‘That’s Starlight!’ Of course, may have been wrong. Starlight always wears a mask, and this man hadn’t one.” “Havo you heard of him lately? <r “He stopped Sir David Ormsby not a month back—not to rob him, they say; but just to tell bun that ho was a scoundrel and no fit guardian for tho fair Mistress Lester.” “Faith, this Starlight speaks the truth, then, on occasion!” laughed Vicary. The hours dragged slowly evening and no news came. Had ho been foolish to act upon the letter 5 Might not someone have purposely kept him from there to prevent liis rendering help to tho woman he loved? Many times during the day ho walked from tho inn to tho high-road to look steadily along it, north and south, but no horseman ■nor quickly driven coach could he

eee. He went again just as the dusk was merging into darkness, and then went back to the inn, determined to wait until morning. Not a mile from the Bag o’ Nails the North Iload enters a wood, and dips for fifty yards or so, to rise ■sharply again. Trees overhang thishollow, and a dense undergrowth borders the highway. At tho top -of the rise the tress fat! back, leaving -a few yards of greensward on either ■side of the road. On this greensward a horseman had stood motionless for some time. His hat was drawn low over his brows, and a mask concealed his face. There was a pulsation in the air presently, which gradually resolved itself into the beat of horses’ hoofs and the grinding of wheels, which were accelerated as the heavy travelling carriage plunged down the dip, and then grew labored as it breasted the rise. . « “Hailt!”. ... f....

standstill. “Off with you and stand at their bonds I” the man commanded, and was instantly obeyed. Then tho window rnttlod down, but the head thrust out from it was quickly withdrawn at the sight of the levelled pistol-barrel. “Hands up, and out with you!’’ “Have you no courtesy for a lady?" demanded the travel-Vr as he tumbled from the carriage. “I may show something more of courtesy than you of courage!" said the highwayman, springing from his horse: and before liis victim had time to make even a show ol resistance. ho had slipped a cord round his arms, pulled him hack to a tree, and securely tied him there. “If you want to be made a target of, you have only to utter a sound.” Then he went to tho carriage, and, doffing his lint in gallant manner to tho girl in the corner, he said: “Pardon me, Mispress, what is there here belonging to the gentleman? This valise?” "No; that is mine,” she said firmly. “This coat, then, and this. Compose youself Mistress; you have nothing to fear.” "Indeed, sir, I am less afraid now than I was a few minutes ago.” 'riie highwayman laughed as lie threw the cloak and other belongings on to the grass. "l T p with you,” he said to tho postboy. "Good-night, Lord Daremouth. The lady it seems, prefers my courtesy to yours.” The man tied to the tree groaned, and even as ho did so a pistol cracked. ■•Did I not command silence? Now. sirrah, away with you,” ho called to the postboy, and vaulting into his saddle, he rode beside the carriage. "You have killed him!” said fho girl in horror. "No, Mistress, only frightened him. He is an arrant knave and a coward.”

The carriage turned presently from the highway, and drew up sharply in front of tho Bag o’ Nails. "You have a guest here,” said the highwayman to the landlord, who had hurried out at tho sound of the wheels. Vicary appeared in the Tibrway as he spoke, and started when he saw tho masked horsc-

“Did you see a moro beautiful mare?” whispered tho landlord. ••Well, sir, what is it you want with me?” said Vicary.

“Faith, I want nothing,” answered the highwayman, “but there is cuio within there who may answer differently.” Just then the window was lowered, and a sweet faco in a hood peeped timidly out. “Who was it spoko then?” asked the girl. “Dorothy"’ Vicary cried. “Then it was you who wrote the letter.” “Letter! What letter?” “I’M drink a tankard of ale, landlord,” said the highwayman, and then, turning to Vicary, ho went oh: “Mistress Lester lias been most grievously used. Her uncle having dissipated much of her fortune, and being in such a difficult case and in the power of Lord Daremoutli, lias conspired with him that he should run away with his ward. Well knowing that by fair means she could never be made to wed him, ho has sought by these foul ones to compel her, his price being Lord Daremouth’s silence respecting the diminished fortune. I chanced to meet the runaways, released her, and since she cannot return to her uncle, I have brought her to you. There is the carriage, and I am told you will find a relay of horses at the next village. “Who are you, and why do you befriend me in this fashion? “I knew your father a little, and inspected him, though, perchance, were he living, he would have nothing bit contempt for me. I am tho highwayman Starlight.”

“Starlight! Then I ought ” “But you won’t,” laughed tho highwayman, raising to hie lips the t.uikard which tho landlord has b ought him. “Your, healths. The 1. dy grows impatient and would be g me. Lord Daremoutli stands tied to a tree a mile away, but someone will release him presently. I’d wed In r and have her safe, captain, without delay. You’ll get Sir David’s consent fast enough afterwards when you agree to terms about the fortune.”

“What am I fo do, Dorothy?” “I cannot return to my uncle.” “Landlord, nay cloak 1” cried Vicary. “And my reckoning quickly. Keep the maro until I send for her. Quick I say! There is no timo for delay. As for you, sir, I owe you thanks which ”He turned, but the highwayman was gono; and as Vicary looked about him in astonishment, he heard tho sound of galloping hoofs in the distance growing less distinct every moment. A few minute.* later tho postboy was urging the horses on towards London; and in the coach behind him a pretty head, from which tho hood had fallen back, rested on a man’s shoulder.

Lato that night Jasper Carow sat alone in his hone off the main road near Alonken Hulley. There was a smile upon his bps as he put a mask a wav in a drawer, which ho carefully locked.