Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / May 10, 1908, edition 2 / Page 7
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CHARLOTTE DAILY OBSERVER, MAY' 10, 1903. " - - I had alwars had my doubt of thi loyalty .'of-George Carlisle Jo .His ' his ashes!), and aa .I sat alone by th dying Are on that bleak December - hi in ih venr ir our Liorauon. tl town of. Coventry., thoee doubt bora heavily upon my mind. I lay that night aome Ave mllee ' from the main body of our rear guard . . ifl,-ttfAti -,AMnnanfa rf Irlfth fool. UU n mi inui . uiiii.i...... . . w v A kam, rianuted to waxen Toraweii i Ironsides? who were lo winter, guar . ters -only t ew mye away.. , 1 (HI K 1DUUK U- HOIS . ,i.,uj ' nursed my - bands by the flickering com and go upond.be weather-stained . . ' van nr. that, old tavern. ' Our arms , defeated: ; ur Klnf about to? become am -afi. itur tvst men - &nn nnDiesz ' gentlemen lost vpon the Wl-fated fields of Msreden . Moor: -what won; i- - der that we - who In disaster aa In - nrosneritv-still elunr to the fortun , an eagle eye, to detect thaJeaat slga .- of disloyalty 40 the King. s; I nad never had caus to: suspect Carlisle: he had aver borne ' himself 'mt gentleman, and In council cham- . . . . , . a.u . n A y shown himself ever brev and- in ' trepld. 8dmMhera were of mx com :: radaa. who. noting that I scanned m ,'' actions' mora closely . than was my wont with hls'fellows, had smlld and y said that 'twas te fair , face ot in sweetest maid in England which came - (between us and that were It not lor "the trar vea of Edith COirax. we wnnlt Ra K.wtn vnmninlom. ?- - . I .. I. - . whlh tnlfla TnV r Wjrnp ia luai. " . - mind turn to him that mgnt, as u.o 'wind w-hLitled around that old tavern, j . - .. ......., mm Mkf. . and th uaawrLvu vt m a w tu j v - dews., r 8ttang Ulea .might - those t,i..it.j aiiia tail 'snid rher but unriiig mun snrtoa, uivu a . rali tales ot mar and courag. of faaatinc and. revelry. - v Ha! well do , I remember that on tha v of the tattle of Maraden , : jioor, now winrj wvi v n " ; loyal .gentlemen oat there in thla vary room, and amidst song and laughter, , drank, to tha confualon of 'tha traitors ' on.tho tnorrow. and aucceaa to the mu.JT Hl M11NIT. lit! &.IUI. ' Bravo hearts, true nearia, we u nam : no mora hilt to hilt 'neath the old ' Itannaav . mnM Will W feaSt tO , gether 'with' Ught and cheer. Rome T. . I at A laa tnere rw or you wno iwim m ! flwtftt Jeep "vpon that trtcken field, .. ." Att . Ma . rAnlih a in - - iinkiiAwn rravea ' neath the green sod. of did . MMttVa At.lv ferhflll . a)ivi uiviiuw v" , change I ; , ' , . t Such. were my thoughta. when, with , '' a., mat of a now and sleet : the : door creaked ' open, and there stood -upon ,, tne. mreeuoia inM.vn7'ienuran i . whom 1'bad.muaed-Oeorgo Carlisle, Tot It was with Joy that I greeted " havo welcomed the fiend himself, aa a oleaatnr diversion from my ' black ' ; -Wnat!" he crted. ' "Tha - gallant . Captain Hard-n? And not; sign of a petticoat! I vow I would have edon ' expected to see -the King himself. M you n tois oesertea noie.-. i . - - Hi omile waa frank and' hearty, as n shook my band, but. somehow iia vorai raajf .aia npvn 017 ri . He had spoken too. quick as he stood 4n Ka ami Asvr aa tH.VaiarVi a had oerted to nnd me there, it was tnen witn. xeen eyes tnai I acaan4 his face, aa I returned hla greeting. Long, oharp, It was the face of a thinker one whojn'bt- devlae any daring scheme, and having devla : ed, would havo the courage to carry -r-it out coat what It might His long black hair, scented and curled as was tha fashion of the day, hung upon his 'unouiuoraj ano aim uobi-boi aura; ajreo met mine with a rase, which, it seem ed to-me. a' not without a trace of X defiant confidence. f v .'.!.'.-';.'..1 . But It waa hie dress that struck ma :s s being strange at that . time and ; vla ITIa tivahla waa nf llarKt lilna - alllv aFfahlv Mmm, anA .A.mphaa1 mnA : viia. aava. . aara.avu, aaa. .his great lace- collar hung half iway nown rua anouiaera. wnno , a roia -rhaln was fastened around hie neck. - tha hrtarHt metal anarltllnar and rlaanrh. - aaaaa a... . . i. . a - ho naa notea - pernaps me - lame ehade-of aurprlaft which' crossed1 my face, aa I beheld trim so garbed at ' such place, and casting off the dark cloak which he wore, he croesed the . room and aaatd .himself by the Ore. - n uy run, mi gnr ufruiaui 1 r said, a smile' lurmlag' up his race c wnj nvif'nm um uu, a. ivir vim hours, and then oDimon. wny ot - enjoy it as we may?" As for my at fre. His but a few miles to Oolfsx 1 House, and ' I would ride over and ' creet the fall Edith before I set sail. ' "T leave England thenr I asked. ' aa I . seated mvaelf ObDOslte. and sprawled out Iny feet In front-of the blase, "In truth, wo should--keenly -' aai .a. canals am nUtMS VI . rYlV VllA VI1IVB BV a inirv a)oiiiviiHuf w .' lfjng needaxavsry loyal arm- But my Jl au-arda? how passed , you them 7 t ' 1 ra, 1 irs,ve fjnrmna, 110 miwci. ; ed deliberately, his hand stroking the little pointed beard wnlch ae wore. - '"Tis on a irilsaion for His Majesty, . wmrn wnmur nia Ja . c. a. koiuiv. ' close, i 1 (would riae to-morrow . iw Tiover. Where I take saif for France. As for the yatcb think you not that ':' thv are - nroof asalnst gold? - In ooth. -a coun la 'of rold pieces, and came through as though I were His TJajesty. himself, -ana ne laugnea , low. mellow laugh, as ha looked p st tn fscs.;r--f 't-V'iw... f'1;- ; ; I aaid nothing as I watched him, - ,oniy resolved that the -morrow should flarl a tarall flnrrad fellow. COUia 1 nna him who had passed Carlisle by. Tor W . . m.mmmlmjk .A .ItltfWMal " If VrV anaa wHa tVMuioaaed m, sold crOWn COUld Willi T ' M tia . ' . . Vfiw t had sees " too mucTi oi humanity.' In court-and fleld. not to . l.tV.t that ama (nAnMntoua nndertak . ... . v..ii.ia.a : m m T Ing waa u)u -v, imiv m ... . . ... - - watched him that bleak December night - There- waa upon him that nervous, expectant air of one - who iwatehes for the-coming of some long wished for hour, and chafes : impa tiently as ne awaits u even n fiery charger, eager - for the . chase, . tramps his bit. with Impetuous) . beat V waa first to -break the silence, v "Captain, the u.ay Editn is at coi- fax Hall to-night A truce to dull war and care. Come with me. Who Vnows? Perhana to-nirht will-mark the flood-tlde in your life or mine." 1 a. J aW a. T 'k-tl S. a, aarBlN aa ItaaiMIU attlil (JW IBUII wf Ml a-V U1J "S1 1 mm. mm. jt 4atl A aa. I tl V I SV Iki W fm M.t V I eJev. - Thee thougbs-of It wes like old wins - upon me to ride to-nltrht out of this dull world into, the light ot the eys crrtnsj rairesi maja in England. TSTjat mattered it the morrow broug-ht the same dull found of care and la bor, .if to-night . I. could but live? .1 .h. TH.k lAAt . 1 - a, iwb-aii .nan I'va, 11 a. v VI ll!3in. Bnrpo this nlsht of al others Crom wtli should sally down vpoa my llltio eu'pt. and I away?- What then? Carllsl had watched ma narrowly from under half closed Ud, -as I re'-j ' i.iy Lady Conqners . . ' Kiith'or of '.'For , the kbve of Lady Ma'i-garc t, " Etc. , .. ..BY YTOJJJUt THOMAS VILSOX. . ' vojvetl theft things In my mind, and now . faint' sneer passed over his face.--.;-, .;.:,,. "What? Afraid a ride with me to Colfax Hall? Or perhaps you -fear that the eyes of the fair maid' will not fall upon you. when, they behold my doublet -For- shame! to think the lady, so . fickle. -' Or . If yoo- will but stap Into- yon. room. I will ex change clothes with you, and then you can ride fitly caparisoned.".,. . The thought and his manner stirred my blood like tire, But I answered calmly enough: . iv -y"-: : " "I do not fear to Hd vlth you fair sir, neither am I ashamed of my garb, for it is that of a soldier, not courtier, I only thought of my men; and of their condition here, should Cromwell descend upon them." ' ' -"'What on Saturday, night ? hs cried. "Trust me, ray dear captain, the Roundheads pray to-night loud enough to be heard in London. And tho sound of the psalms from their outposts can be beard from th vil lage, - As well budge the tower ot London, as Cromwell's men to-night." and with that he-arose to his feet and gathering- op bia cloak prepared tO gO, . ' . K .O 1 would offer you a glass of wine, did I have it" I said, as I too arose; "But In sooth, our far here is of the leanest .and I have not drank a cup of decent wine la two (weeks.". "It doea not matter,"- he answered. "1 know your hospitality, and that did you have aught to offer, It would have been laid before mi without the asking. and It was of that I thought when I sug gested that you fide with ms to-night and taste of the winter's cheer.- Tut! man. what can it matter ten years from now, whether you sat ta this god-forsaken soot ' and nursed your hands over yon dying embers, as dead as the fortunes of Hts 'Majesty, the King, or whether, you basked in the golden mile of my lady?" " . "Eir ueorge, you snail answer to me for this!" Icrled.' "for 'tis treason. pure and simple." . . "Tut tut. man," tie answered sooth ingly, his face blanching somewhat at my . threatening . words. "Tou know His Majesty boasts of no mors loyal than I, and Itwas but a slip. But I must gowill corns with me r not?" And, ha crossed over to tha door, and opening it stood With his hand upon the Jatclv ' - , It was plain to me that mors than I dreamed of was In the-wind to-night Why did Carlisle want . me to -tide with hlna o Colfax Hall? tWas It plot to enable Cromwell to descend upon my men. or waa It soma dark scheme of his .own to decoy me Into th- hands - of the Roundheads, - or having- gotten mo out' Into the storm, to lead mo where I could be put out of his way without trouble?. But I was always somewhat of A fatalist; If death sought me, he could find ms as easily among my men, as out In the night or at Colfax Halt Besides a wise man who read the stars had predicted of me years before that I would die an axils In a strange land. after having won a great treasure and tne aame mgnt losing it. , It might be that danger threatened Edith, lf.lt did If was best that I should bo at Colfax Hall, and with thaW I mads up my mind. , Carlisle read my decision In. my race before I spoke.' .... "Tou will go ?". he, said. . ;v. '. - v "Tea,' I answered, "mm," - and drawing my cloak . around .: me, I led the way out Into tho night r - . It was but a step to- the stable. where I kept my horse, and neither of us epoko on tha way. I stopped at the houss where my Irish lay. . They held high revelry there to-night; every nook and cranny - beamed with ligh t and from . the broken window there cams out a veritable roar, as they shouted out the chorus of some drink ing song, keeping' time with the hilts of their swords upon the table. So great was the-noise -that I was fain to beat upon tho door, with all my might, oeforo X could ' make my self heard. - And 'twas some minutes before it was opened by a shock headed rogue,' who. with a muttered oath v glared : out. . Hts oountenanc changed so quickly, that I . could scarce suppress a smile, as I bade him saddle - my horse and tell Corporal Hall to step outside. , The corporal reoognising my voice hustled out Immediately, amidst the dead silence which reigned Inside, for the rascals know me, and there waa scares a one who had not rather Xaca the flend himself than Henry Harden, when aroused. . . . ' ., i r , In a few words I -told him that rode abroad to-night, and cautioned him to keep strict watch and ward, I would bold him personally re sponsible .- for consequences. - With that t swung myself into the saddle, my. horse having arrived, and gather ing my weather-stained cloak, about me cantered out into - the . darkness, Carlisle by my side. As I turned a toend in the rbad. X chanced to glance back, and the corporal was still standing before the door gaxlng after me, the light upon his sliver hair and weather-beaten face., - .;.." .'-- But in few minutes I heard the song strike up once more, and knew that those simple souls feasted again, and mads merry In their rude way. oblivious of what the morrow held that morrow which was to dawn so dark and cheerless, for me. Ah, me? twenty years and more behind. now, but I remember H as though It were yesterday, so . indelibly is It Impress sd upon my mind, and will remain till memory shall leave me. But to re sume 'my- story,- :"; .. i..--,'.' Mile - after , mile did we ride that" night' the enow falling thick opon until tha smart .cloak of Carlislo could scare be . distinguished - from my sorry garment - - For muddy and travel-stained was all my attire, from the7 fcuiT doublet with the marks of blood from . the fields of . Marsden Moor yet thick upon it, to the Jack boots., caked with . mud and torn with briers," . . v'. ' . - And yet my heart, was Hgnt within me, as I thought that behind yo dark woods there sat a maid, th color In wnoss cheeks would perhaps deep en when, she saw , me. Ah! strange world, strange indeed, (hat such a iij Us thing could mean so much. Light after light we passed as we galloped on. shoulder w shoulder, .for the black I rode was second 'to no horse in England. I cars not from whose stable It cams, for he was di rect from Araby Itself, and the gray which Carlisle strode - seemed scares Inferior. It made no difference how fast or far we rode, he gave not back pace, and th only -sign there was of the- distance we had come was the hit foam which, flecked our horses' necks. . . ..Once, twice w had- met IHti se tered groups of men, I know not hether of our side or Cromwell's, but w had dashed by them before they could draw sword, and had vanished into the night pursued by their shouts nd cries. At good twenty miles we must hav come, and I could feel tho great o-atlng heart of my charger ndr me, b(vre either spoke. "Yonder .lies . th bouse," Carlisle said finally, as breasting the top of a bill, we cam upon tha long, low- tur rets of Colfax Hall, which now seemed oarsr and deserted, save where a few twinkling lights sparkled In one wing. . My heart sank at the sight so dif ferent from those ' old days that J knew, when every window was aglow, and th whole great rambling house rang-, with laughter. .It had been two years sine X had been here, and two years meant so much In those trou blesome times.' But "it seemed but yesterday einoe X had sat with Jovial old Sir Philip, and listened to hts tales of war and tho chase, whll Edith sat opposite and sang to me until the great haU re-echoed thoas - 4 sweet notes. -. " ... . -..--; ,; ,: ' W had reached the great hall door, and Carlisle, alighting from hi horse, beat opon the old - iron-studded panels with the hilt of his sword. , No answer only the hoUow .re-echo of th sound; and somewhat alarmed, I swung myself from the saddle and ad ded .- my fist to his sword upon the door, making enough noise between us to arouss th dead. . ' . " -It - was While tha noise waa at Its loudest that-the deep bay of a stag hound resounded In the hall the lit tle grating over the door swung open, and who should b demurely gating down at us,' but tha' fair maid, Edith Colfax..; a ; ; v' -. : ' I am afraid ihat 'my fac wore :a somewhat shameful "expression, as ' I rased up at her. for I remembered that ws had made more noiaa than was perhaps seemly, and indeed it was of that tht she first spoke. , , "Fie, fie, fair sire? ' X thought that some thousand of Cromwell's Ironsides were upon us at least And lo, as I look. I see hut two mud-stained gal lants. Of truth, sirs. X have half a mind to lfav ou cutslda, . for juu have mad .enough noise .to frighten us out of our wits," and she smiled down tesslngly At vs. ths-candl la her hand lighting up th darkness be hind her, and framing, as. . is , some dark wood, the smiling .face of -the lovely Jady. ' . '" .. '. . - " Frorn out oi the ' long dead past there arises before me, as If It were yes terday, that fac, so. fair so swost Ths cheeks, pink and dimpled; tho red Hps with th sweet smile; the round throat .with Its deep curves; that proud slender little figure, on little shoe Just peeping -'out from under neath her dainty skirt Th tantalls' lng toss of the head that provoking little dead with. Us crown of shining balr. (:-.' .r;- .;.., V- A call her name, and from out of the years passed, dear, dead years,. she comes, and with her the glowing fire of youth. ' There ' opposite she stands, and smiles hack at me that smile so sweet, so true; - again those frank gray eyes meet mine with thatold divto. light I stretch . forth my hands ' and ' call her - name "Edith!" 1! tho shadows' lengthen she Is gone. I spoke lirst, or Carlisle stood look ing ud at her In silence. "Fair . lady, w crave pardon ' for our seeming rudeness; but of a truth, we had despaired ot over making our selves heard, and our choice lay be tween such noise as you speak of, or In taking our departure without being admitted, v Between r - th two, i w chott the former," and : I ? smiled up at her serenely, ;iv ; - . - . ' ."Too shall answer to me, sir," she cried demurely. "But I keep you standing." With . that she de scended from her perch, and I heard her fumbling with tho heavy lock. A moment and the door came open, and my lady stood courtesying upon the threshold, . . ' " "Deign to stop inside, fair sirs," she cried, with mock humility, although a merry smile 'dimpled her' cheeks. I little expected to see two gallants to night" - V - v Leaving : Carlisle ' outside to tether th horses,. I stepped Into' the great hall, and bending low over that little whit band, X carried ft to hay lips. ,- "Sweet lady,' 'tis long sine I have seen so fair a vision. And, though you may laugh at me if you will, I vow that all England cannot produce such' another." ' ., --v; '? j ' She laughed at me right royally, as ah gently withdrew her hand from my grasp for-1 fain would have de tained her a moment.. . "Tou have not lost the subtle art of flattery, fair sir," sh said archly. "And of a, truth, in . the passage of words you ' bear yourself (bravely. With that she turned torreet Carlisle, as Oloak oq.arnvth bowed low be fore her. i ,, --; .- For a moment, as I stood there, and watohe'd the gallant cavalier, who. with many fair words,, vowed that he had -counted th days sine he bad last seen Lady . Edith Colfax, there cam a hesitating doubt .. I must have presented a sorry spec tacle beside the richly clad -Carlisle. My torn, stained garments, all spat tered with snow and caked with mud, any Jack-boots still showing the dark spot of blood from th Ill-fated bat tleground. The very feather In my hat broken and draggled. And aa I thought of the fickleness of a maid, and of the value which they ever set upon the Ud vantage of a brave ap pearance, my heart sank a moment But .what mattered It? If the lady cared so much for th tinsel of Ufa, and so little for the real man. . Carlisle might win her for all X eared. It seemed to ms that the color In th cheeks ot the maid deepened for an Instant as she returned Carlisle's greeting, but she gave m scant time to observe these things, for turning she ado us follow her, and, candle in hand, began-to ascend, th great winding stair. . : . . . Carlisle followed behind her, and h waiting only long enough to secure th door with th "heavy chain, made hast after them. But brief ss bad been , my stay, when I reached tho head of the stair neither Carlisle a or the lady were In alght ' . y , Now this Strang conduct somewhat played upon ; my temper, that I, a guest should have been treated In such fashion, and turning upon my heel, I made as though to descend the stair. - Aa I did so, X heard plainly the : faint sound of th opening of a door somewhere far back in the great bouse, and there floated down to me a low laugh, mingled with a half -muttered oath. - . , ' . Aa Instant later my lady gilded out of the shadows about me, (for the bug hall was but dimly lit by ths! great tapers), - The' scarf had fallen from her head, and her (angled balr looked as though it were some rich coronet woven by th Angers of Venus herself. The candle light falling up- ca Its ruddy glory flashed oack' as If from virgin gold th radiant splen biv Frem sfts bare arm. the light slesv had fallen half back, and re vealed . Its rounded curves. 'as the maid held the candle in ber smalt hand. . - : , I stood a moment half dazsled bv th beautiful picture, and then I opened my lips to chid her that she left- me thus alon. but sne laid one finger upon her red lips, and motion- leg m to foliow her, turned and trip- i ped quickly, yet softly, down the hal, - Several nights of steps we ascend ed ; thus, the lady gliding along on tip toe. hen- skirts held tightly In one hand; I, sword In hand, at her heels, my- mind vainly endeavoring to solve this stranse mvsterv. , , - Suddenly, without., warning, y she halted at one of the many doors about ca. and tapped thrice upon It She waited Impatiently, only , her quick Dream Defraying her excitement.- An Irjtant thus we watted, and then the door swung noiselessly open. Crossing the threshold. we stood In a large room, rthr scantily furnish ed, in which were placed some score or more of chairs In the shape of a semi-circle. " There were, only two oc cupant at present however. . One, who stood on th right of a ' great armcnair. placed-opon a dais within th centre of th chairs, . I knew at one. - For his great ted face, which he raised as th long Highlander . in his tartans had opened the - door, shone as bravely as 1 in the days it yore, when I had sat around his table ana listened; to his long-spun yarns, it was tb master Of th mansion,1 the father of th sweet maid who stood beside me Sir Philip Colfax; H ran t v rest shout of lov . at ths sight of my fac, which, at tho warning nnger of my lady, be stifled as suddenly as though he had been strangled. leaving him standing breathless and speechlear before me. Then he turned apologetically; in th other; figure, who had half arisen from the great chair to ipeer around at roe,-, I ran forward right gladly, and dropping - upon on knee, lifted the extended hand to my lips 'twas wis Majesty, th King. 'Eire," I cried Joyously, "I thank neaven that I can see your face again. xror now, tnat you- are here, your inenas can : take. Heart ' ajrauint and ress back these dogs who harass your devoted servants," and I gazed up eageny at bis face. His enemies may say, ' what they win or Charles, ttewart and of a truth, few have tx-en more traduced, but I, who knew him, both Ms virtues and faults. 'Will say this: ' That few there are who have- bees mors belov ed toy those with whom? they ram In dally contact' than this same Charles. There was something fin and gentle in his nature, which attracted man kind to him. and when once they had fallen beneath th anell of his masic. they wei his for life. . And sow he looked down at me, a smile upon his facs. - v - -"Oh, Captain I had we but some few score Ilk yourself, we would not now be an outlaw In our broad kingdom." "'TIS but for the' moment, Tour Majesty," X cried. "Tour loyal ser vants win not see you driven forth thus by this long-faced Cromwell and his traitor crew."' ; H laughed, a little sadly, at my vehemence, as he seated himself In tho great chair, and fell to Idly drumming upon the table with his long, slim Angers. A moment he sat thus, hts brow drawn In a half frown, as though h had forgotten my very existence Then he looked up again, a rare smile upon his face, and his gass wandered past me to where th white Jnald stood shyly waiting.1 ' x . - "Faith, sweet lady, had I but four scoro gallants Ilk the bold Captain, I would rid down upon Cromwell, and either cut down the arch traitor, or perish .in the attempt, as becoming my blood." And at the thought, his eyes flashed Ore, . and h mad as though to rise, carried away with the thought But the lire died out of his eyes in a moment, and h sank hack in th chair again. Of such a mould was the King; one moment ready- to risk all upon on cast of the dice, th next hesitating and1 vacillating, afraid to turn either to th right or left lest he make a mis-step. Ah! he wanted but little of those qualities whch go to make up a greu man, dui ne was , ever nam pered by that instability of charac ter, which was to cost him his king, dom, and finally his head. ' ; We had all waited ; respectfully about him, during these few moments. and now old sir Fhilln spoke: "Why not call together all of your toyai aanerents, I our .Majesty, and sword in hand descend upon these long faced fools. In faith, we would teach them a lesson that would be worth ten years of prayer to them, and he laughed grimly, - -"Slre-n, began imploringly. But he cut me short Imperiously. "No!" he cried. "The time is not yet ripe for It Until then I caa da nothing." .. :.:. That same peculiar tan sounded upon the door again, and the gaunt Scotchman, who had opened It before, crossed ' over, and after a moment's hesitation, unfastered the bolt As he did so, there shot Into the room ons of 'Sir Philip's old domestics. all agony with excitement On look at his hot face and dishevelled appear ance was enough for me to know thst he pore In-tldlngs,- even . before he opened, his Hps, "Crovawell's devils are at ths door!" he -panted. "Quick! for th love- of God." s. ' : '--;- . .,, ., A scream, shrill, high. v piercing. from without th hall, which rang and re-ecnoea -upon tn aight air; the . tramp ot many feet upon the stone of th court-yard; a boars word of command; then a great crash, mingled with the sound ot splintering woodthey had rammed the ball dOOr. ; ' --r'. The Highlander had hastily fasten ed th door of th room again, and now ho waa dragging th table over against it his great claymore in on haad, all th while humming a low savage tuna under his breath, his eyes shining with ths Joy of - the ' coming fray. : -; . . - .Now he broke Into a loud chant In Ms rude language. which sweilel louder atfd louder as th nols in th hall without drew nearer. His bias ing eyes plainly no longer saw the walla around.- him he. was back on som wild, windswept moor,- th fresh .wind beating upon his streaming balr, and red sword, as h struggled fiercely to and fro In a savag breast to breast struggle. The blood of a score of fierce primeval chieftains surged and beat on bis veins, and th dim memories of -long forgotten bat tles upon fields which now lay dark beneath th shadowe of great forests, tugged and pulled at bis heartHrtrings. Turning from him. I faced old Sir Philip, who fairly wrung his hand In perplexity In his extremity. Th King," I said "what of h!mr" I know not," hs groaned, "there" But Edith rH forward swiftly, - "Tb vault father," sh cried, "The King from there can escsps Into ths forest,", and sh turns'! eagerly , . ,1,, . ' - - vwsiui lliv uwr... "If they can bold them In chck until we can get a start" h rejoined uncertainly "but until re can get to the chapel, and 'we will be . safe. Yot from there we can easily escape. and arous th country." ' - "Hav no fear," I answered stead ily, "X will answer for it wMir mv life. If the Kcot will but slt me. we will barricade the hall - outside, n4-hol4 thm-t tey." - A nd- wtth u more ado, X cast open the dnor. and pulling the great table out Into the hall, I placed IV where a sharp turn ta the passage, some six or eight feet awty. seemed to offer th tet posi tion for a forttflcAtion. Swiftly. asWted by the silent High lander. X plnoed In position tb rhalrs and other light aitlcJ of furniture, which the other rapidly- broosht EuUn. tb old knigtit and ven th' King himself, did not disdain to Join in tne work, while the heavy tread grew steadily nearer,; as th Round heads systsmatlcally Searched room after, room. , -:;,- - . In ten minutes we tiad a very t air fortification for such short notice, -and wiping my hot brow. I rested a mo ment from my labor. A loud shout from In front ot us, and peering over our wail, who should I see but nJ quandom friend, George Carlisle, As Instant thus he looked" at me In silence.- and then he raised his voice, "Here?" ? he cried loudly. "We hav tracked th quarry to earth!" As X opened my mouth to answer. X heard a slight nols by my sld. and turning quickly,-1 saw the King, bis fac dark with anger. "Sine how - long hav you turned traitor to your King?" he said Quietly to Carlisle., but In a voice which rasg throughout th hall, as though it were a trumpet blast "I had thought I bad no more loyal gentleman." Carlisle - Uughed derisively. . "A true to pleasantry, Charles Stewart Tour sun -sinks behind) ths ' hortson. and -as It does so, that of. Cromwell grows more bright ' X serve a niaster who can reward" v . v- ,t ' What more he -would have said 1 know not but with a- rush, a bait score of trooper turned the bend in the stair.' and came In sight, as with a clank of steel they raced toward us. Mr Philip plucked th King by his cloak' with trembling hand,' i : " ? y "Qulck,, Tour Majesty! We must b gone!" And so reluctantly Char les turned, .but as he did so he. look ed at me a moment. Slowly a large bright tear '-welled fjpora his eyas and rolled - down his pal cheek. i'l shall - not-forget you.. Captain." he said quietly. , 'Thank God, there are those left to la 'cnt neither pow er caa tradue nor gold can buy. When X ooin..to my own again, be assured that you will be remembered. Would that I might stay tier. ' ana fight by your side. 'Take this to re member Charles Stewart,"- and - de taching a small gold star from bis cloak, he held tt out to me.. I had barely time to snatch his nana and-press R. to 1 my Ups, before old Sir Philip had hurried htm-away. As ha nsaaed ths HlsHlsnder, he cauea out som words In. Gaelic X know not what fa said, but tb fierce, wua fac ot th Scot lit up. and he check ed , his ceaseless chant a moment to call back at him. . Th flutter of a cloak, ss th King turned tb corner -rb was gon. k - Years have rolled by sine tnen; many-seas hav I crossed, and pene trated into remote lands. To-night with weary soul I wander an exus in sunny Franc. Countless faces pass ed before my eyes since tnen. soms fair and smiling, soms old and care worn, but- never from that far day to this,-hav I set y again upon my Bovereia-n. from whom X parted on that bleak Xecembr night ao long ago. But I resume my tale. As I watched th last gllmpss of Charles there cam a gentle sigh -at my elbow, and turning my neaa, wno should I find but that sweet, maia. Edith Colfax. Had I seen a ghost it would not hav startled m more. "I thought you were wltb tb lying, rried tn astonishment "Tou can not remain here, Lady Edith, for It Is only tha question or. a tew mmuun until vre will b cut down and Slain. Make hast after your father and the King." -i ean flsht with you." sh answsr. d composedly, turning away from my Imploring. looiu- .-tJive me a sworn, nd vou shall i see," and shs looked shyly up at me, the color rising In hat. iIear cheeks. But X was almost frantic, and proof aralojit the atlandlsbments or wire herself. - t . J' ' "You cannot must ' not stay here another Instant" I'crled beseechingly, for the quick clang ot arms and the tow exclamation of the Highlander, iau ms that the enemy 'was about to sweep down upon U. "Edith, for vmte father's sake for tny sakn goi . Sh stood an Instant undecided and (hen 1 had tn for no more, tor in a rush of gleaming steel the Round heads were on us. a rreat fellow had sprang at a hound noon th barricade, and stood there moment as he endeavored to regain his feasance. ' I hesrd th great claymore of th Scotchman whistle through the air, as with both hands he whirled It abov his head, 'rti-n the trooper went down, almost svr d in two br th keen Diaae. Several were . endeavoring to tear away th chairs from below, and so tonoie over ur fortlflcatlon while score Jostled and pushed each other in the r vain enaeavor xo gci si us, A rash a a dosen chairs went down, and through th (Tenfng tney earn, led bv a hort purly fello In a fray ed buff doublet, lanea witn crown, Ws" crossed -swuiui lur an instant But I had no chance to try his metal. for his fellows, eager to get at me, thrust him forward so tmtpatuously that he stumbled blindly,' and I cut him down Ilk a rat txrors ne couia recover himself. - The Scot split th next man as he would a herring, an 1 wo cleared a space arouna us in twinkUns. ' Tou. who havs never felt that keen thrill of exultation, as . you hear the quick clang of steel on steel, and ses tn glaring ey of th foe bent upon your destruction, - cannot know th great Joy vhlch filled ray heart that night as with ths keen Celtic hound beside me, we drove tn roemen bk. Th red glar of tne tspers upon the wall.- which flared and streamed in ths night brees; th dead men ni am stark, at our feet as- w tunned and stasrered in tn pooi ot feloi'd snd cut and-hacked s tnos puritanical dogs, wno cam sea fiercely at Us; th red shock of that rallaat Celt Who shouted Out his tierce war cries from time to time, as with some flerc charg they crov us back a.fsw pace. It sii comes ck to ms ss vividly as on Chat darkwtlght now Ion oast. . . - Com back, true bean, irom our or tha dim shadows of the spirit nnd, and. with that bold, high look upon your rugged face, meet my withered hand with on long last cis-p. vm for I, too. pass out to mart those other , shadows who wait beside you. Hot and fierce, they pressed us. two score seasonea veterans against to foot and myself.- Our poor barricade had been scattered to th four winds, sad th whole company pushed and thrust mi us In that. narrow halt A half dosen time -1 Tisd been touched, but not deep enough to Inter fere with my sword play, as still with arm which st last had begun to tire. I kept a precious footing upon ths slip pery floor. Bat hard waa I press ed that I had ao opportunity to ob serve my companion, or to look be hind ms to discover whether Lady Kdith bad fled or villi remained wltb us. ' i :. . A cry beside me, and the Scot stag gered an instant but he had gotten a home thrust, and he went down, his face to t he foe, undaunted and un- afrald.' Bitch a death as he would hav wTafied.To' tbe tune of the sword. anii-1 tbu shuuth of th foe. - Ad irnw there crossed swords with me another, for I bad cut down my man before the Scot had fa Hen. Right gladly I hailed him at that late mo ment for my time was short, and I had wHhed to punish him for his dis loyalty t- his King. "Ah. CarlluM I have walcTT-? for yeo in the Bght. So I may at last send your black soul out before t tSe I .... v fitting important i ; ; THE men's suits ouafitv,. The r AVJLNUH, suit styles. : The fact AVENUE -label ; guarantee of pertect workmanship. . . . .'. . . . . - Aii. your clothier for THE I'll TH AYTNXJE iutt. , Retail for $16.50 to $35.00. Mad and gtiaraatesd by McIlwaine Knight8 Co. NEW YORK n . , ftaktrt 0f 71m't Zxciftitnml Clothing ' , my departure," '. ' , H smiled, a little scornrulTyTTtt ne met my thrust . t : "Fool not yourself, my gallant Cap tain, George Carlisle shall yet live to be the greatest ot Englund, after the grasses hav grown over you for many a year. "It may be true," I answered stead fastly, ss I lunged at him, "and If sir. It Is best that I should go out now. For whenever England can And no better than yourself - to put in her highest places, then evil must be th times and scant th material. The shaft struck home, foT h writhed In sudden shame, and from Som of tha men around him there burst a roar of laughter. Plainly these 'rude soldiers, fanatics though they were, little relished their coni panlonshlp with a traitor to his King. But as I opened, my lips to leer at him the end came, for my fret slip ped in the pool of blood . which had flowed from ths body of th man whom I had slain, so that I staggered- blindly an Instant A smile was oa Carlisle's face and raising his arm, h lunged forward. 'So I am , to triumph at last!" be cried exultantly. Then there came a quick nutter or skirts. There was flung around my neck the softest arms, and Lady Edith Colfax received the sword full In th breast An junta in uui im u u n h in -. my arms, her light hair Just brushing my race, th ort 'breath against my cneeic, and then! felt her body relax, and she lay quiet her head upon, my shoulder. Quickly I laid her upon tbe floor, and kneeling besld h or, the horrified men around me standing sghsst, I wrung. my -hands and called her name. "Edith!" I cried. "Kdith, speak to me, dear." ' Slowly those great , eyes re-opened and gased Into mine, whll the red torrent of blood spurted from, the gaping wound. Then sh spoke soft ly, so soft that bending low I could scarcely hear her words. "X am content, sweet for X im happy , in th thought that I have saved you, for your country and your King." But I could only sob wearily, hop, lessly, thos great rude sobs thst tear ths heart, where naught stretches before ssve despair and tears, tin spoke again: "Dear, you will remsla wim the King until ths end." "Ts. I answered painfully ''until th end." And bending low with both her little hands, now so cold, In mine. I pressed my 11 pa to that sweet cheek. ' y, Bh lay thus a moment with my arms around her.' and then her eyes wandered beyond me, to Where tTT horror stricken Carllsl leaned upon am-UH 1 au.'. J L-U.su I -J -'- I- 'I" ' H-JL--SS I tlJUaaBaagaBeSaaai All Good Guaranteed Under the) Pur Feed Law and Prut Act. Whr pewd roar fled rwrfa. whw. for SUSlsht ar slant aructal Look I : for tbe Fare . Hula all aaranada. 3e3 dtrartwa ruaardarfrao.ua. Wearewhalaaaladla- trtbetars Is the enetier. a ad raanntse satiaf actios. mm amrt aafuaaaiL tlanda ah'raai ia Mat. slaia ' eeekasaa, unless aharma Braaakl at ericas srieaa in Walk tots. Booklet, can plate Kit and fail iaforrastto sillied ssj rea.es, . , . Os Ust sessad below W sssae fee loaaea and bnakaso. .' " fAtL rtlX OUAXTS) I ' - i' .' ' ,- 4Qta. IQts. XSQts.. Waatover fWtlve world eeer)....-. . ! S.S f S.M MialM.Mntll 3 Hsiao teU ears whisker) 1 Daaattt Keany BUM Wkiekey (JlclnaQ Stf Blue Kid so (Va. BwaBtein) .- 4.0 Huraa It tree In. extra Sne fbettlad ta bead)....... S.M I reel fcotlia Hat IxaSaoD) , skip? , Stprlcas Pr. UBatiwa's Bachs Cia (lodirtaal) .............. t.4 Kallr's Kral Cera (the Unoat) &M Kelly's Copsot MitilLad (bottUd In koed)... ......... S.M K-Ut' Madlriaat Mart bottled la tnad) &t Mia Teaiptiag tfiawt Marykud rr) . AM !sa!1aa I rear all Keararkf Kre..., salloa S-roar-oM Mei th Oiolta Cam nrrry W BTOKC Jugs, -BAFtXT pACJ.tr CA8E, AIL CHARCFS fJUuPAIO 1 sviiea rioiiaiid cia .......... I sallaei Eatra Flao PWry-.. ........... t salloa Porte Bice Rum ............ 1 salloa Eatra Guad Port Wise. ......... . j ima raar-oia maryauM -a saaBi fr-iraaraa rn-rmia npT-i nurjai a.. ...... spccial orrut - - I rariaae OH Nortk Carolina Car. .......... ..-u....AM allanaOU Kantueky kre ..-.. 0 S sallone fine Gia too S raliona Apple er reach Bready....... 4i sallone ef eithar above '. .-. S.M ia i pttict OS at an nttad ta Stat C4 orders Waat af the IflaiaML add Irtn Cap aw Dtaulled (battled ta band oe which pears.aad Abxbe MarVaaiUaadW tqaarta,stdU.01r UaaarU. Ity bYMeU Tne wholoaale srieos Qootad oa thaae aaaa ooaa era Sat. aad do aot owr expraoe ebarvaa. T-ovwaiar.,....... t'waia I iion4s"K". ....... ... Siajor Comfort......... NauHarde we (u Com Whlakey -tawaasmlastl Old pant Suae. . . . .. Valky ............. as ar toaa. Bertiod In Band liatroa iOYr, . nra CKUYCl,!::.. li - r itAXt. okDErj rnoxmr ruxra tdia K. Mess . y Loeal aad Loi l .'r.o n j ' Th2 Coat i . .,,,-. U That Fits B Vcll Around The Neck The)' fit t the neck isn't the nh Consideration '. in buyinet suit But, coar so : made that it tits rnuely and smoothly all over than . one that lacJcg thii feature.-'-Av':-' Sii'yP- FIFTH AVENUE is a line of noted for perfection of fit, gtvFe and man who huvs THE FIFTH gets stylethe latest New York of a suit bearing THE FIFTH (seeinside coat, pocket) ia.your : his sword,, a few . paces away. ftat lng her head, she spoke again for TTTB last time and her voice had all the sweet mellow ring as of yore. "I have conquered," sh said calm ly. And thus my lady lay stin and quiet, and with her there passed out life and hope, . . Th blrda hav never sung as sweet- ty sines that dark hour, when with breaking heart I knelt besld that cold figure.' I that blood-stained hall. Th sun has never sbon as brightly, for I know that soms where bark In old England there He 'neath th green turf that sweet maid, and that naver more upon this earth shall I look again Into those brave true eyes of gray. What 'matters the rest? How my wild Irish, led by Corporal Hall, whom old Sir Philip and the King had met and sent to my rescue, burst Into th halt, and put th whole company of Cromwell's men. Including George Carlisle, to the sword after a brief struggle. , J . And that Charles himself wrote me a letter of condolence, "to hts trusty and well beloved Henry ' Harden." Could th sonorous Words. even though written by majesty Itself, bring back to life th maid? And now I wander In this far-off land of Franc, an old worn-out vet eran of many' wars, and Charles Stewart - lies deep beneath the sod. r y ears nave no wo. sines mat aarx night and I havs drawn sword In a score of s causes, good and wtd, but never have I set foot -upon English soil and will not, until that day, now not long distant when they shall lay my cold body In tha last, long sleep. And so the words of th wis man. th reader of the planets, comes true, for I shall die an exile In a strange, land, after having won a great treas ure, the love of my lady, and the same nlait Inalnr I, - Yet I know that somewhere be yond life's little span, fsr' removed from all Its petty cares and struggles, X shall meet agala that dear maid, whose deep gray eyes one gased Into my own. as with a light almost divine, sh murmured those few sweet words, "X hav conquered." , ' - -. Ths End." y..' Rat's Strange Death. Ceylon " Observer.1 -, ' , yyy " . V ' A cocoanut was brought to me Just as picked up In a Colombo garden, with th head or a big rat fixed Into the nut the rat .being not long dead. Clearly the rat was op a tree nib bling at or rather -being, wen Into th nut, nearly full else, when ths nut tumbled and before -the -rat conld withdraw- it was crushed to death be tween the nut and the ground. meney for aotnondl ar rartt- the same SMoayyeseaagatU Foe Owrsnts which ' nasranctswniea ye It laaana Mora la TOO. 1 i aarh ta row. Too imy named. Write for apart! a 4-M T its . . t ll.M 16 lit .W ja.ro 1.4S 1L so ao . le w tM ULM .- AtX 2.60 rHUPAIO reaeo Branay ........... ...r- X.M r"Hirprr IN PLA1M KFG9 " wii holt CASING ' aaiaa. HateQaaal.aadSeaa4al aackan. .rlillrin..! f,a anh A na mtr.n.1. for orriara ootaida of Winrla, the Carolina, 7ie tur , SkHO tttma, ...... y " ipta. , lac -' pint quarto to . - 11 140 cue l"- .vi row to ou, r.L: 1 r w. 71 ea-,t:." r;;:i': aiai I .(tj-iuuiwra of will 1
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 10, 1908, edition 2
7
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