The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-06-28
AN ENGLISH TALE,
CHAPTER X.
A PRISE Err.

principled men exist, and wear the garb
Of gentlemen and mobiles Of the realm ?"
exclaimed The Duke de Bridgcnor,h with
agitated voice and manner. Then he ad-
.ded quickly: II can bat credit fully thy
tale, good Margery, for l have been made
to feel the truth Of it in my own inprson-
nent here. But, canst thou not find some
way to aid me in efecting my escape, so
that I may assist thee in helping to save
thy mistress from the base Vaccinations Of
these two wickedly disposed mcn2" he
asked. "-..-
"Yes; It's for that ! am here to-day /;
for l felt that, were you once out Of
prison, you could find some way TO relieve
Y my mistress from the continued presence
Of these men, and ! felt, too. that did l
not reach you here, then it might be many
along day ere your hig|lness would be
released replied the girl. adding as she
noted that the duke VAS about to speak,
and wishing first that be understand fully
the situation Of those she had left al the
i.inn:l Iqg7 Par ,aa5r
u "My master-Georgc Whitaker-.till
f lies very low Of his hurt; and Dame Jcn-
ME is constantly with him; while his
dwarf son. Nigel, and l have been forced
10 attend to the matters Of the house. !
have left Nigel with his parents, while l
came hither this afternoon. The youth is
.2well-nigh worn out with the hard labor Of
watching and attending to the duties of
the inn, which have never before deyolvcd
upon him. He has hidden me hasten to
you; for though, he at FIRST, supposed you
guilty, yet be has listened with me to tho
words Of the real conspirators, and now is
anxious for their punishment for the crimes
Of which we know they arc the wicked per-
: pctrators. Now. you must exchange
garments with me and go out in MY
stead, when the jailcr comes to open the
cell door," concluded the girl.
The duke gazed in astonishment, not
unmixcd with Incredibly, upon the fair
countenance Of Margery. Then, per-
ceiyiug that she had thrown aside her
thick veil, and long heavy trailing cloak,
be became convinced that she spoke in
earnest. and be replied, not without
trembling voice:
al cannot consent that you should take
my place in this lo.thsome prison cell, my
good maid. II there can 90 soma other
way found by which can gain my liberty,
then will take It at your hands; but, in
this manner, it must not be !"
"Oh, but, noble sir, it must be! Nj.
gel and I have planned 1t; aud he needs
thy help more than mine in the inn at this
time. Consent, / entreat thee, most noble
duke. 70 take thy liberty now, without
further delay aud then perhaps thou
q ,canst haste to some OF thy most powerful
friends at tho kings court and make
sufficient Of the subject known as will en-
: sure my release" pleaded Margery in
pathetic tones.
The duke paused moment. and stood
in deep thought; then his countcnance
lighted with bright, beaming smile, and
ho said, as be took the girls hand and
pressed ittsnderly and kindly ere acceding
to her wishes: aa 30, p.
V ~ consent to thy noble sacrifice, my
fair visitor; but it shall be only for short
space oftime; for as soon as possible after
my release, I will HE to King James
!. presence, and into his car tell the wicked
deeds that have been committed, and my
own Imprisonment and release by you.
The monarch was personal friend Of my
departed uncle, and will on that account,
the more speedily give me hearing and,
after that, your deliyerance will be in.
stantly accomplished, and the wickedness
Of Monsiur Dalgarno and Lord Dunbartou
punished as it justly merits!" and will
these words the nobleman envcloped him
self in the long flowing cloak the girl hat
worn, and which she held out To him, ant
then, with her assistance nd listed the veil
10 that It covered bis ccuntenance com
{ pletely, and none would have dreamed
that twas the Duke do Bridgenorth, ii
place Of the girl Margery, who stood il
waiting at the cell door us the keeper
footsteps sounded outside and warned thu
two to separate.
Nlargery stood back in the gloom Of th'
coll, which, OF its best light, was ensllrou
ded id shade; but the evening hour wa.
approaching, and thus the disguise could
not be so well inspected. And, as the
Duke de Bridgeuorth walked beside The
jailer, the latter had no suspicion of the
fraud which was being practised upon him,
and showed the supposed lady 10 lle outer
door, where with d "good even he left
her to pursue her homeward way.
When once the duke had emerged from
the precincts q the tower. be put aside the
habiliments, the cloak and veil which had
~ well protected him-and then, with
rapid steps, ha,tened to The nearest hack.
stand where he called for carriage and
was then driven rapidly to Lis lodging.
rooms. NJ
~ When be arrived there he did not stay
to satisfy the curiosity Of the servants who
came clustering about him, but fastened
to bis rooms, and arrayed himself in fault.
less attire, and then, as lie had detained
the hacktDan, commanded him to drive
him 10 the royal palace Of King James.
The fellow did as directed, and shortly
after. the Duke de- Rr;a oenorih -. ~,