The Four Canadian Highwaymen Part 19

'Father, I leave you to the mercy of the laws which you have all your life been a breakeen. I will try to get out of the country and go to the States; there I hope to become an honest man. I do not think that I deserve to suffer, because in breakeen the law I did not know I was do'een wrong. You deserve to suffer because you broke them knoween it was evil, and you brought me up to break them, which was worst of all.

So I leave you, capteen. In a little while the law will come here and catch you. I will not cry when I hear of your swingeen.' The unfilial convert then joined Roland and the two quickening their pace soon overtook Nancy and Aster.

CHAPTER XIII.

'ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.'

When the turmoil and the hideous danger was over, it was very sweet for these two lovers to sit alone and talk about the past. She had received his letter, and marvelled what he meant when he spoke of being detained in some place 'so near and yet so far.'

'Did you, my darling,' he asked her, as he held her hand, with its crooked little finger--which small deformity I always take as a sign of gentle blood--in his, 'care for me on that day that separated us for all this bitter time?'

She put down her head, and looked at him very archly.

'Well, I don't care, my beloved, what you say in answer, but do you think you love me now?'

For answer, she put her beautiful head upon his breast. I do not know what they said, but when they stood up--she to answer the door bell, for the servant was out--they were engaged; and she had his ring upon her finger.

He was at Aster's own house, sitting with her during the anxious hours of her father's illness. The shock of the abduction had actually over-set his reason; and it was not till he saw his daughter standing over his bed, and felt her hand in his, that consciousness came back. In a little while he was able to listen to a recital of the entire story from her lips. When she had ended, tears stood in the old man's eyes.

'I have treated that young man with cruel injustice. If he wanted to wed you now, my love, it would give me great joy to say "yes," and bestow my blessing.'

'He has asked me, papa;' and she hid her head to cover her blushes.

'He now wants only your consent. He is in the house.'

'Send him to me, dear, at once.'

In about a quarter of an hour, Roland returned from the room, radiant with happiness and leading Aster by the hand.

They were sitting before the cheerful winter-fire, when he asked her,

'What has become of Mr. Ham?'

'O! a fearful vulgar girl named Lydia Estabrooks, a Yankee la.s.s, is about to become his bride. She covers herself with chains and ribbons, and her fingers blaze with stones. He has given it out in an underhand way that he has thrown me over.'

'What?'

'O! pray, love, do not look fierce like that. n.o.body but Lydia believes him. Now that _you_ are back again, I am sure that he will retract.'

'He shall be notified to do so.'

'There now, surely, darling, you are going to have no more quarrels.

Had I thought this, I never should have told you.'

'Be easy, love, be easy,'--he kissed her between sentences--'there shall be no more parting for us.'

From all that I can learn, Roland was thenceforth a constant visitor at the house; and speedily a day was fixed when she was to drop her maiden name.

'On the first day of sweet May,' she said to herself, 'I shall be Aster Gray; what a pretty name!' It was agreed that Roland should come back to Oatlands after his wedding tour and reside there; for on the marriage day, Mr. Atwell had resolved to endow his son-in-law with all his houses, every acre, every beast and every head of cattle that were his.

As for Nancy; Roland accompanied by Aster, went with her to her father's house, and Roland told the old man the story of his daughter's life. He at once forgave her and took her to his heart. I may bound a couple of years ahead and state that Nancy married a respectable farmer who was pleased enough to get a handsome wife and a valuable homestead. This couple had a family of four children afterwards; and one of these is now a member of the Legislature of Ontario. I shall not say whether he is a Grit or a Tory, for that would be getting upon too dangerous ground. Nancy died a few years ago and she sleeps now under the shade of a weeping willow.

Roland induced the officers to shut their eyes while The Lifter pa.s.sed over to the States. In that country the smooth-tongued convert rapidly ama.s.sed a fortune. His son is a partner in extensive car works now, not a thousand miles from Detroit. I have met his grand-daughter and she is a most bewitching blonde.

The old woman and Silent Poll were caught; and they perished in prison, to which they were condemned for life. Murfrey was taken, tried and hanged, and went to his grave without a '_pax vobisc.u.m_'

from man or woman.

But when the officers came to the spot in the woods where Roland had left the captain tied, they found not that robber. There were marks of a violent 'personal' struggle, and it was concluded that he had freed himself. Thereafter he went to another wild place in Upper Canada, where he gathered two or three desperadoes about him, and the fame of his doings in that region went far and near. To his actual deeds were added many legends, and stories imported from English books, till the man's name was wrapped around by amazing web of history. I may, some day, sift the grain from the chaff, and make a book. There is certainly fact enough there, from which to create a thrilling story.

On the day of Aster's rescue, the magistrate came to Roland.

'I understand,' he said, 'that one of these robbers is at large; the fellow who goes masked as a Wesleyan preacher.'

'Yes; he is holding "revival" meetings at the Don. I shall go with you and your _posse_, if you wish it.'

When they reached the church door, a little church looking upon the Don River, they found a great number of people a.s.sembled. On enquiry they learnt that the Rev. Mr. Jonas had not yet arrived, but that he was expected every minute. Roland stood behind the door, and the magistrate and the constables mixed for the nonce with the crowd.

Presently a murmur went round.

'Mr. Jonas is coming;' and peeping out, Roland saw that saintly individual in a pung, sitting in pious state beside the foremost cla.s.s-leader of the church. He bowed cordially to all as he drew near, and as he pa.s.sed through each knot of people he gave some such salutation as:

'I hope G.o.d is blessing you,' or 'Is the good work improving?' or 'Shall many declare for Emmanuel to-day?'

He pa.s.sed into the pulpit, and stood there, his eyes closed, while he uttered some silent prayers.

The magistrate and the police had obtained a position directly under the pulpit, and just as Mr. Jonas opened his book, and after the usual notification read the line:

'G.o.d moves in a mysterious way.'

The former jumped upon the dais, and holding a large sealed paper in his hands said:

'Jud Sykes, I arrest you for murder, robbery, and divers other crimes.'

No thunderbolt that ever fell could have created sach a sensation as this.

Not one in the congregation believed the charge. Indeed, amazement had stupefied everyone, and there was no reasoning about the matter.

They simply believed in their gifted and saintly preacher.

Roland now stepped forward.

'I know this man;' then turning he looked Mr. Jonas full in the face. That stare was as fatal to the preacher as a musket ball. He said nothing, but folded his hands, which the next moment were bound together affectionately with wristlets of steel. There is no need to chronicle anything further respecting this event. Three months afterwards this pious servant of G.o.d was publicly executed at the town of Little York.

Mr. Ham was anxious to proceed at law against Roland for having challenged and wounded him, but the lawyer to whom he applied said:

'By the way, Ham, Gray was wounded, too. They also say that you fired first. Besides, your _acceptance_ makes you equally culpable with the challenger.'