"THE LONG ARM."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 17, 13 February 1909, Page 4

"THE LONG ARM."

"1 love him!" sobbed my great grandmother. ■■Love him!" roared my great-great-grandfather. "Thou dnrest to tell me that to my face, huzzyy Scoundrel! Poltroon! Knave!" •. The young man standing beside my, I great-grandmother made a step forward, | I ami opened his handsome mouth to J speak, but she slapped her hand upon j it. aud got in fro.it of him. trembling in ,verv lini'b from fright and anger.. She turned n very bcaiunul and tearful | lace to the enpurpled one of her raging ■ parent. j "AH mv life," she said between sobs, "I have been a good and dutiful da ugh-1 tcr to thee, and thou hast been a good I and indulgent father to me. Vet now. when 1 ask of thee the one thing want- | ing lo make my lite a perfectly happy j one, thou refusest it. All my life thou liasl granted all my whims, and now—" ' She was interrupted by a splutter of Va«e from the chair where, propped with 'pillows aud bandaged of fool, my greut-'great-grandfather sat in durance vile, a Victim lo gout and ill-temper-. . ! "Thou shouldsl 'not marry him," he M'hinkcsl thou my daughter shall ninny U traitor to his country'! A consortcr 'with M-allaw.igs and thieves! Thou art 'not worthy of the mother that hove 'thee, if thou thiukest so! As for thee, Wrrah— " ;

The young man was white to the lips. Hie did not as much as glance at my 'great - great - grandfather. Instead, lie 'turned his back upon him, .and, bowing 'low, he. took my great-grandmother's 'hum! in his and laid it on his arm.

'•Permit nil'!'' ho said, and lull her 1" 'tin- door and bowed her out, and stood J 'watching her with love shining in UU j 'face, as she went slowly up the stairs, 'with her flimsy wet ball of a haiidkev'ehief pressed to her eyes, and her slen'dcr disconsolate figure drooping like a 'broken flower, lie stood watching her 'until she reaeiled the curve at the landiiigjiiud then she turned ami paused for an instant, and smiled at him through 'her tears, and he smiled back at licv, ii-iid, in lieu of anything better, kissed liis Ivand. Then he dosed tlie door quite ■gentlv. and went back anil stood before 'the. old man, whose face was black with 'passion, and whose tongue was silenced 'bv rage. ', ' "My lord," said the young man, and 'the, full tones of his voice were eve:i 'and exceeding courteous, "I have taken 'many insults from thee, and have held 'my peace and bridled my oassion, bc'eause thou art a man of years, and the 'father of the woman 1 love. lly Lady 'Nancy " ' "Thou young dog!'' roared the old mail, "take not her mime upon thy lips again, or 1 swear " The even tones went smoothly on: "This evening thou hast said to me 'that which no man can say with im'puuitv, Wert thou a few years younger, 'thou 'shouldst eat those words." '• "Oust thou threaten me!" cried inv 'great-great-grandfather, struggling anil 'half rising from the chair, only to fail 'hack again with an oath and a groan. 'llis lace was distorted with pain, as well 'as with passion. A look of pity touched 'the young man's face for a moment, and 'ne was silent until the paroxysm was 'past; then he continued:

".My lord. I have a few words to say 'to thee this night, and thev are soon 'said. I love thy daughter, anil she re'lurns that love. She has given me her 'promise, and I swear before Heaven, 'until she voluntarily withdraws it, I 'shall hold her to it. J intend to make her my wife. I have asked they con'scnt. and thou hast refused it. 1 warn 'thee fairly. I shall marry her, either 'with or without thy consent; with, pre'ferably, without if necessary." ' The old man, spent with rage and 'pain, was lying back exhausted in his 'chair. The 'face was livid, but the dark eyes were burning, with a brilliant angry

"Xii traitor to good" King (icorgi shall luivi' tin. hand of my daughter, ami that 'I. tak.. oath on." In. B aid. -Tiitil this 'lo«- fellow Washington turned tliy head. 'I did,not look ii|h>ii thy suit wilii groat 'disfavor, lint now I tell thee, once anil 'for all, marry my daughter tliou slialt 'not, unless thou givcsl up thy following 'of this scoundrel " '•Cenlly, my lord/' interrupted the 'young man, with the lirst note of anger 'in his voice. ' ••■l'luni slialt not imirry her with my feonsciit; an' thou canst get her without, 'then will I bid 11,,.,. (jodspecd, and ,1cVlaro thee the bolter man of the two. 'Hut. mark me, my young sirrah-there 'he lew men ean outwit my land .Stirling, an' thou will Jiud to' tliv sorrow. 'Air tliou canst snare thy bird, thou 'mayst have her." The young man bowed grandly. "I am beholden to thee, niv ionl." he said. "May 1 ring for lhcc'<" And. 'touching the bell, which the old man 'was trying in vain to reach, he honed 'again profoundly, and followed the softYooled negro servant who answered the (iiimmoiis from the room. ' '.My great-great-grandfather was one <>f the early settlers of Virginia., hiving 'oeen given a grant of laud-by the Crown, tind was a loyal adherent of King KJcorgo. Besides his vast tracts of forItile land, he was possessed of a. pretty daughter, and a tempestuous temper. 'And the pretty daughter was -/assessed, besides her dower of beauty a red gold, M n pretty will of her own.' Whienee it l-anic that ill the nature of things she (gave her heart to the young suitor, one frail-fax, a 'brave fellow, a' follower of kleorge Washington, and an open de'nounccr of the Crown and its policy. 1 AVith (he polities of those troublous Rimes this tale has nought to do. It 'is hut the story of a woman's heart and ti man's wit.

•" '"• '"'" ■' "• •-"«". i'"'i'i"' 11 ''and bandaged and suffering, hi b •thoughts were bitter ones, llot-jtoin "" 'poreil. opinionated, prejudiced, narlrow " Hint loyal, his one absorbing passion T hiexl to thai of his sovereign, was hi s love for hi-, daughter. She had gmwi " ffroni babyhood beside him, with n< ! ' -woman's care, her mother having iliei ? -when giving her birth, and he had toeei ilo her lather and mother, and she ihai ! ' •boon lo him his little ewe lamb, ivhiel hi' bore in his bosom tenderly. As he sat and brooded, with his Jicu ■ v "upon his hrcasl. the suit spring da\ V Urcw to a fragrant close, and the twi '• light fell. From the liehls the call <> '1 Hhe hands returning from their ivorl 11 Vame to him; and the notes of the bi.rds I' find the low of thecal lie. And the vfimi 'that stirred the dimiry curtains brought - «a- breath of the lilacs that lifted Ifhoh '■ 'sweet faces above the wide wiudowsall. The old man's eyes closed, and a fccai 11 Volled down the ruddy cheeks. He .sai 1 'sunk so deep in thought that, he did mot '■ liear the door softly opened and closed -' "nor the footsteps that canie lightly - 'across the room; and so it was that he 1 'started violently, when he felt a Jight ■ 'touch on his forehead, and, looking up. ' 'met his daughter's eyes, f "Dear." she said, "dear father!" Ami 1 then she fell to sobbing, as she knelt ' 'beside him, with her arms about him. '-and her prettv yellow head on his. - In-east. ' ' " 1 I The clinging: arms aroused all (hi* • latent tenderness of his nature, but hi* ' (lid not respond to the touch, for l-o I *.vas sore wounded. > "Dear." she said, sobbing. "I have coane 'lo plead with thee again. An' tihoii fovest mo. father " He put his big hand upon her lips. "Hush!" he said. 'T shall not apeak 'to thee of this again, Xancy. I have ■•liivra my linal and irrevocable answer. 'Thou slialt never marry this man with Iny consent. An' thou eanst marry him 'withoui if, well and good. Buttlnm •knowest me well enough to believe that 'he who outwits me need have a keen 'wit and a long arm, _\uw ring the hell, 'madam, for lights." • My lady Xancy kept her room for the 'most pari ia the days thai, followed, and iny lord, having rccovereil from his goul 'and his rage, rode about his plantation •in very good humor with "himself, thiiik'in«r to have put au end lo all nonsense 'between the young pconje. and bavin" 'faith in bis oower to i.rcveiil any fur"I'ther lovemaking or intrigue. Prodi.'Lady Nancy found herself; under survcil-' lance. Though her liberty ivng not cm-

'tailed, she needs must take all lier walks 'abroad with her faithful mammy in at'tendance, who had her instructions to 'keep eloso watch on her young mistress, 'day and night. And orders were strict 'that young Fairfax he not permitted to ishow his countenance on the place.

I As the days wove away, however, uiy ' lady became less and less muody, and ' when, ww and then, her lather heard a gay snatch of song, or her light laughter, he smiled in his turn and felt eonlidout of victory. Which showed that lie was ill versed in the ways of women. Now, it fell out that about this time ny lord's coachman was stricken with i 'low fever, then raging iu Virginia. It ,vas especially unfortunate, lis my lord ivhs planning a trip across country to the next county, by private conveyance, ,o the home of a kinsman, where, as a ■iward for her docility, lie was taking Saucy to spend a fortnight with her I'oung cousins. Jly lord did not brook interference iu his plans, and fumed a ,'oud deal, and found that what before ntd been a wish had now become a necessity. Oo he must; yet the servants ivere needed on the plantation, and even ,vere this not s". there was none whose services lie could trust as this man who ay a-dving. They had planned to go ill a Wednesday, ami it -seemed to my ord a shabbv trick in I'riivide'jce lli.it .lie man should have laden sick the iveek bclore, instead of Hie week after he journey. llul earlv oil Monday morning, while le strode ('baling and fretting about I'm vide vcrandalis, from whence he euuld ook down on the sweeping Potomac, ■ame a man with a letter from good .'arson Uvi rbv, one of my lord's chos'Ui .pirits, and a'great leader in those days if fermentation. The letter ran:

"Dear Sir.—Hearing of your dilemma, and having'in mv employ a good and faithful fellow, who would, I feel sure, .prove of service to you, I beg that you itvill do me the favor of allowing me to recommend his good qualities. Not only does ho thoroughly understand .horses, but lie is also brave and honest, lie is at your service, my dear sir, until such time as you choose to dismiss him from it. "With my best wishes for yourself and my homage to my lady, 1 am, sir, your obedient humble servant, i "James Ovcrby."

The bearer o( the letter was a tall slriMiglv-buiU fellow, with a dark swartliy face and closely-curling blac: hair. A foreign-looking, silent ma'a, an

one whose appearance was no great recommendation. But the parson was oik whom it was safest not to offend, as lit was a power in politics as well as li the church, and his friendship was ol value. Hie was a jovial fellow, wh(

loved to cross his legs uader my lord's mahogany and drink his wine; a man who could sing a song or tell a tale or drink a bumper with the best of them. He and my lord were most congenial, and, while my lord did not think much of tho parson's taste in servitors, he despatched a messenger with a letter thanking good Parson Overby for his courtesy, and early on Wednesday morniii" they set ont,"beini accompanied bv several trusty men on horseback, well armed, as were the squire and his coachman. For the spirit of lawless adventure had spread from (he old world to the new, icnd a Eobin Goodfellow is not a pleasant fellow -to meet when one is alone and defenceless. The fields were green with springing grain, and through the forest the flowers were blossoming in bewildering confusio.i. i\y Lady Xancy sat back in her corner quite demurely. There was a little (lush on the sweet face, and now and then, as she glanced at the old nodding negress on the front seat, beside the straight-backed coachman, she smiled a little wicked smile.

Her father, well content thai his plans had-not miscarried: that the new man understood the liaiidlina of horses; and that his old coachman was better of hi» fever: talked garrulously all l he day: of politics; of the crops; of the latest fashionable intelligence from England: and now and then unbent so far as to twit mv ladv gently with her own iucoustancv.

"Ah. Thou young jade!" lie said, "thou art all alike.' It is soon oil' with the old and on with the new!.. I doubt me not that thou wilt soon console, thyself! And who knows? Maybe, even now, thoa art travelling as fast as thou canst to thy destiny!"

.She took his raillery in good part. "Thou shouldst congratulate thyself, sire." she said, "on having taught inc such obedience. "Aye, thou wert ever an obedient lass," he said, nutting her hand, "and kuuwcst how to give in gracefully when thou art beaten.'' "Ves, -when t am beaten," she said, softly, with a dutiful smile.

Night was just coming on. and they were' about to cuter a small clearing, when one of the outriders rode up to them:

"My lord," he said, as he reigned in his horse. 'There is a squad of men just hc.Youd the hill, to the left. There seems lo be a half-dozen or more; they are riding this wav, and I feat trouble."

•'Nay," said my lord, "thev are but travellers like ourselves, 1 doubt not. If vou are afraid of vour shadow " "! am not afraid, mv lord." said the young fellow, somewhat hotly, '-but 1 thought it my duty to warn yen. There! They are coming now." lie turned and pointed in the direction of a low hill, over the brow of which galloped six horsemen.

'Che coachman drew rein, as though to await orders, and the men on horseback drew closely round; the carriage. "Drive oil!" thundered my lord, and they drove on.

The approaching horsemen came on swiftly, and as they drew near, it was easily seen that their coming boded no good'. They were all well-built, sturdy fellows, the foremost among them, and evidently their leader, being a very giant. Their faces were concealed by masks, but they sat and rode their horses like gentlemen. yrhcir leader rode a little ahead and laid his hands upon the reins.

'■Stand and deliver!'' he said, and there was a laugh from his followers, and a note of mockery in his voice. Every man's weapon was out now, on both siih's. My fyiidy Nance sat up quite straight and pale in her corner, and did not Hindi before the gleam of steel that flashed about her. "Fire!" thundered my lord, and he aimed his own pistol at the leader. Then there was a laugh, a wild halloo, ami a rush! Hut not a shot was tired. My lord's pistol gave a futile snap. Again and again he pulled the trigger. II had been tampered with. '•Pools!'' he thundered to his men.

s -Shoot them down!" Hut every man's pistol was ; n like •. condition to his own. and by ihe time l tliev had reloaded they were looking s down the muzzles of I heir enemies" n "llv (his lime mv lord was out of the d ciiaeh and the coachman oil" die bos: ii old iniinimy was quite awake, and roekil inir and praying in tenor; My l.adv Ii .Vaui-v stood as still and white as one of the sweet marsh-lilies, her little ) hands clenched at her side. ,-s .Hul she was not beside her father. - \ who was storming in impotent rage, fj closely covered by a revolver in the i bunds of the leader of the cavalcade: . slie was standing very near the euach--1 man. in his blue coat, and she seemed L Iwlf divided between laughter and tears. r Suddenly, as if by a signal, the masks were lifted ami Hie guns lowered. And then my lord stopped in his t tirade, his heavy jaw dropped, and he ; I stood ill silent astonishment, looking .idown the muzzle of Parson Overby's -1 horse-pistol. A shout and a ringing laugh went up. in which he could distinguish, he thought, the silvery peal of "Nancy's mirth. He turned i-i her direction' then, and swore a round oath. She was standing beside the eonch- !' man, trembling a little, and her hand was on his arm, and she was looking ii|. with a world of love and meaning in ..and when mv lord caught sight of him II hi man started. The dark swarthy face, was surmounted by a crop of clii-clv-eroinieil curly yellow hair, which bullied oildlv out, of place above the heavy black brows, and in one hand he carried a black wig. It was Hugh Fairfax. "Thou art outwitted, mv lord," said tic narson. shaking with laughter. "All is fair in love and war. An' he could ru'.i ewav with his bonnv bride lie could ha.vo her. Thou saidst. Well, he has run oil' willi ho- under Ihv very nose, mv i |.,rd. J am a good friend of von Hugh • Fairfax, in spite of his nolilies-and of I I lie little girl, and of thine, mv lord.) Thou hast been out willed fairk: now"in- us fhv hand, man, and thy blessing. < lie has her now, and he'll never giveji her back t" lliee, T warrant. I know, i him well eiimv lo say thai. "We are all; i tliv j.'ooil friends here—thine, and his,\t and hers here's Ihe bride and the 'J groom, and the yii'rson. and Hod's own . n temple. Ihe L-reen forcsl-and her father | e to give her awav. I doubt ,'ot Hugh]!, has the .ring and IhcVeonse. 13t -, man,l t ami own fbou'rt beaten!" t

And thai is why my great-grand-1* liolher was married in Anucslcy woods, ate one spring evening, just as ihe ?uu I ,vas setting, aud the air redolent of jus- = laminc, and vocal with song; niarrieil ' n a little travel-stained linen gown aud j t little poke-bonnet, and given away by ' iny great-great-grandfather to liis own < jonchiuan.—Celia llyrover Kobinson, in the National Magazine. ■ —!— I