Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-08-19

and don his hat where Seymours, Sidneys,
pedigree as far back as the reign of Henry
Beauclerk, stood uncovered? What else
an be surmised, but that he knew his right,
and kept the secret for the time, to shield a
mothers love.
Men felt that evil days had cone, when
Charles lay stretched upon the bier Of death, !,
and James Crofts (his open name, fearing
his bigot uncle James, sought again the
Hague, and strove to forget ambition, and
a crown for peace and Lady Wentworth's Is
love. He had been married, when mere
child, to one Anne Scott, the daughter of
6he noble house, Of Buccleuch, whose por-
ton counted full ten thousand pounds a
year, but she had not the winning art or
grace to hold her captive long. They part
ed at his fathers death-bed, never to meet
again, until the fairest brow in England
was doomed to quiver meath the fatal axe.
There is another waiting for him at the
quiet Hague lone whom, through his pros
porous advancement, he has ne'er forgotten
yet one whom, in his fathers presence,
,he has never dared to name-his kind and
gentle mother. The secret now could be
unfolded, if such there was, for death had
broken every pledge of faith. Was he the
true-born son Of royalty or not? 1t was a
secret worth the solving secret only she
.Hho gave him birth could solve.
In her quiet mansion at the Hague, she
had often been informed of her dear sons
renown in deeds of arms, and of the honors
that the king conferred upon him, and it
sent thrill of joy unto her heart. And
now she felt that the suspicious hour had
come when she again could clasp him to her
breast-her noble, generous, darling son.
The shades of night are falling fast, and
they are closeted together. Together they
have mingled tears Of happiness and joy
She calls him son, and he, the great Duke
Monmouth, is kneeling at her feet, as when
a little child his head is pillowed on her bo-
som for she whom ribald lords has called a
leman at the English court, has proved, be-
yond a doubt, that he can call her by the
endearing name of mother, with no flush of
shame to tingle in his manly cheek.
]. Draw bolt and bar, my noble son the
very winds without might listen to our con-
ference"
Monmouth did SO, after he had risen from
his kneeling position, with his eyes stream
ing with tears.
''My poor, unhappy, ill-used mother!v'
he exclaimed ''Let me know all
IL will, my son, but thou must prove
most circumspect. The world is hollow,
and more false than thy pure, trusting ma
kr1r ho11 DIT
not thy trust in men. They smile the most
on those they would betray. James is des-
potic, avaricious, cruel. Those whom he
loves not surely meet one common doom.
II will be advised by thee in everything,
my mother. .
''And thou dost right my son. This is
not the suspicious time to rise for truth and
justice. James is but newly y-born to pow
er, and, though no favorite with great
mass of his subjects, he at present holds the
reins of government with a firm grasp
But when the fires of Smithield are again
renewed, as they most surely will be, then
subjects will rebel against his tyrant rule,
and thou my son, may hope to sit upon the
English throne. How. fares thy bride, fair
Anne of Buccleuch? Hast thou learned to
love her yeti"
Il respect and honor her, my mother !;
but cannot love. My heart is centered on
another"
'Lady Wentworth 2" she said, with a
slight frown Beware, my son; this
iaison may lead to danger Forsake her
while you have the power, and cling to
Anne, whom you swore to cherish and pro-
.tect, at Gods high altar It is mother
prophecy: fair Anne Buccleuch and the
English crown the Lady Wentworth and
and-I dare not tell thy fate"
'.Nay, dear MOTHER he, exclaimed, as
he kissed her pale cheek Il fear that you
have heard my history wrong I had no
will in my most childish marriage gave
my hand, but not my heart All said the
match was favorable, from courtier to king,
and [, boy-like, consented to give up my
future life to one could not love. 1 was
a child, and doomed to play part in that
act Of my life, but grey-beards were the
prompters to the scene. Fresh from this
peaceful place, and dashed by the splendor
ofthe English court, I scarcely had thought
or will that could safely call my own
The marriage feast was fit to serve king
the guests SO numerous that my silly brain
was turned"
s'There was but one guest present when
your royal father gave his love and faith for
mine" she said, in whisper-ssthe priest
who joined our hands. Go on"
Welded, but not wived, and forced to
smile with anguish gnawing at my heart
no sympathy betwixt myself and wife, save
duty and respect-what wonder that I wan
dered from the path of right, and sought a
mother love-one who possessed as high an
intellect and ambition, fit to mate with mine
to reach the darling goal. My mother,