The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-01-08

been wiser. But how could it hav
entered my thoughts that guests coul
prove so unworthy ?-that an Office
of SO high rank, although All enemy
could break his word OF honor, an
to a woman, and while a guest bt
meath her roOf?''
"fhey are Roundheads, mother,
H. answered her daughter, turning, ha
round from the window, ''and such
7 / am told, inherit neither by natur
nor training, the noble and hig
sentiment of royalists, But sine,
it is done, mother, no need to fre
over it. Rather let us think what W
can do
She paused abruptly in her speech
and uttered low cry as she lean
again out of the window. Afar OF
her quick eye had caught sight of I
group of hOrsemen, in advance o
which she distinguished the floating
white plume and white scarf by whicl
young Lord Percy was known ever
TO his enemies in battle. And with
pale lips and hushed breath, the
young girl stood helplessly watching
the advance of her lover into the
tolls laid for him.
What could she do-oh, what could
she do to save him Already the cry
of the sentry had alarmed the Round
head garrison, and there was stir
in tho court below. And rushing to
the other end OF the suite of rooms to
which she was restricted, she looked
down upon the court, and there be-
held the treacherOus Cromwellians
arrayed in the garb of the Dunsmore
retainers, the more readily to deceive
and entrap their unsuspecting victims
She even caught a sentence from the
lips of Langstaff himself, as with one
OF his men he hurried beneath the
window.
"Aye, and by my troth he shall
pay dearly for the death of Hardacre.
Twas his sword struck him down ;
and | saw the blood spirit upon the
very white scarf that he wore--curs-
es be upon him.
Despairingly the young girl rushed
back to the window, whence she
could now plainly perceive the figure
of her lover, and even distinguish
the wave of his white plume alOft, as
he waved his cap in signal. Had he
already perceived her at the easement
which lie knew to be hers, and from
which she formerly had so joyfulIy
responded to the welcome signal p
She dared not now wave her hand
kerchief in return. She could only
clasp her hands in silent prayer for
his safety.
Suddenly an idea flashed upon her
mind. Quick almost as thought, she
sprang and seized upon heavy silk
en- embroidered scarf of her m others,
one of those lengthy and voluminous
scarfs which were worn in those days
crossed upon the breast and tied
behind, falling upon the rich train of
ShC oitSo ~ SGtfCu
TO loop up. This she quickly fasten-
ed, With trembling but firm hands,
to one of the iron stanchions of the
window, and instantly mounting upon
the deep stone sill was next instant
suspended without. with naught be-
tween herself and the rocky ground
forty feet below.
So intently were the regards Of
the sentinels directed to the ap
proaching hOrsemen, not above six
or eight in number, that it was the
wild shrek of Lady Dunsmore that
attracted their attention to the WIN
dow. The intent of the manHuvre
was instantly OWNED, and with
uuterred oath, Langstaff himself
rushed into the apartment, and lean
ing forth, drew up the half-fainting
girl. But her plan had succeeded
The apparent attempt 10 escape, and
the sound of Lady Dunsmore's wild
shrieks, had warned the Royalists
that something was wrong, and in
tuitively they guessed the truth.
Lord Percy's first impulse had
been to urge his horse forward at a
greater speed, and ha ma, A-,-h--i~t
within bow shot of the castle, when |
the form of his hetrotbed. roughly
grasped by the gaunt trooper above,
was drawn in at the window out OF
his sight. Then he turned and spur
red his good steed to be out OF dan
ger.
He was only just In time; for at
that very moment the gates of the
castle opened and forth dashed about
a dozen of the Cromwellian troopers,
striving by rein and spur to cut off
the Royalists. The horses of the
pursuers were fresh, and they gained
upon the other party, until the latter,
turning suddenly from their direct
course, disappeared behind a point
of distant wood.
The Roundheads, confident Ofover
taking their enemies, still unhesita-
tingly dashed after them around the
wooden point just mentioned. But
here they found themselves outwit-
ted. ~
A reconnoitering party of about
thirty, from King Charles's camp,
were instantly upon them, and almost
before they knew it, the Cromwell
lians were prisoners and disarmed.
81 thought as much," said young
Lord Percy, surveying the cropped
heads and borrowed garb of the cap.
tives. And his cheeks flushed and
his eyes frightened as he added
"Noble, generous lady! 1t is to her
that we owe our safety and at the
risk of her own life"
"Worthy the blood of DunsmOre
and name Of Percy-hey, my lord p
responded her father, with broad
smile. "But most unfortunate is it
that Dunsmore should be in the
hands of those miscreant traitors ut
this time when we shall most need it
as a stronghold in the coming strug
gle.''
"Methinks it bodes an immediate
advance of the Parliamentary forces,
and they have thus anticipated US
The castle is strong, and few may
hold it against an army"
"Stay, my lord" interrupted Percy,
hastily. "May we not obtain pos
session without the aid of an army I?
let us adopt the favOrite plan of
these miscreants and the borrowed
II Al