Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-23
NO. 81.

previous to the conversation which she had
just heard, entertained doubts as to who
her fathers guest really was, these doubts
her last stolen conversation entirely dis
persed.
When, several minutes after, Bertha's
father enters the room which he left to
visit his guest, he finds all signs of the
morning meal to have disappeared beneath
the diligent- hands of his daughter, and
the latter. sitting at window engaged in
some feminine work.
1t is near the close of the afternoon of
the same day upon which the events, just
narrated, occurred. Bertha and her father
sit in the principal room Of their house,
the former engaged in reading, and the
latter, by the fire place. smoking his pipe.
Suddenly, tramping of feet is heard
from without, accompanied by loud voices,
and soon followed by loud knocking up
on the door which forms the outside en-
trance to the house.
Berlha's father ceases his smoking, and
his countenance assumes an aspect of
alarm The knocking from without is re-
peated, this time louder than before, and
one exclams in loud voice:
"Open, open the door! or we'll break il
down; and that in short time, too!
We've no time to waste in parley."
"What seek ye here! says our heroine's
father. What dost thou wish that am
disturbed here in my humble homer"
I'VE SEEK" replies the same voice from
without, "Charles Stuart, the base fugi-
tive; whom we suspect to be harbored by
you, in this house. In the name of brave
old Oliver we demand the instant unfas-
tening OF this door, or few seconds will
see it down.
"In Heavens name, let them ~ ex-
claims Bertha, who had become terrified
at the words she had heard. "It is i'm
possible to keep them out, and they may
murder us if you resist"
Bertha's father, seeing that it will be
useless, and perhaps, dangerous to resist
longer. unbars the door.
| Immediately four men enter the room;
each one dressed in different costume,
but all their dresses having manifest mill
| itary characteristics.
No sooner have they entered. than Ber-
tha recognizes, in the person of one. James
Vane. 1t is with great difficulty that she
suppresses an exclamation at his unexpect-
ed appearance but James, seeing her
surprise, motions her to keep silent.
The one who acted as spokes man from
without the house, now performs that Of
| flee within. He is. from appearance. the
Oldest of the party, and apparently in
| command of it.
Sir" he says, addressing the royalist.
"we have tracked to this house, and are
confident that you have sheltered in it, the
royal renegade, Charles Stuart. If you
deliver him to us at once, your punishment
| search, severe punishment will be In
l nd mo air
And is this the reason for my being
honored with the presence of this party ?"
says the royalist. "But, sir. though hast
brought thy men upon FOOLS errand: he
whom ye seek can not be found here"
| ''l1ear him men-hear him !" says the
spokesman of the band. 1.-The fool is ly-
ing.--Will ye, then, persist in denying
that the fugitive is in this house p''-
But we will leave them. engaged in
| their earnest conversation, while we mar
| rate matters of more Importance as con-
cerning our hero and heroine.
Bertha, while her father is endeavoring
to convince his unwelcome visitors that
he whom they seek is not within his dwell
ing, manages to gain the attention of her
lover, and, beckoning him to follow, glides
from the room. Our hero. finding ia
vOrable opportunity to leave the room in
an exciting part of the conversation, fol-
lows
They meet in the passage at the foot of
the stairs before described.
"Step softly" says Bertha, "and follow
me; viii lead you to the room which
contains the Prince. Do not speak, for
the others may hear"
Noiselessly they ascend the stairs, pass
| along Il corridor and up another short
flight, until the door of the room. where
Bertha had heard her last stolen converse
ton, is reached. Bertha informs him that
this is the room.
James knocks upon the door: but no
one answers from within. He attempts to
open the door, but, locked from within. it
resists his efforts. After several vain en-
deavors to cause it to open, the door at
length yields to his increased pressure,
and, sprnging open. our hero, followed by
Bertha, enters the room.
But the apartment is vacant.
HE has gone" exclaims James the
Prince has escaped y
An open window shows the manner of
Prince Charles exit from the room.
Our hero hastens to this. Attached to
the sill of this window is one end of
rope. At the other extremity is the Prince
whose feet, as James first sees him, have
just touched the ground.
| Quickly James descends the rope, and,
having reached the ground, swiftly pur-
sues the fleeing Prince.
| An open and extensive field lies be-
tween the house and large forest. To
the latter the Prince directs his flight.
| When about half Of the way to the for
est is traversed, Prince Charlrs stumbles,
and falls. Seeing James so near him,
and knowing that 1t will now be useless
to attempt to escape, he rises, and having
drawn his sword, exclaims:
Come on and take me, if ye can-but
methinks ye will not capture Prince
Charles living!"
Our hero. reaching the place where
stands the Prince. draws, from his rasty
scabbard, his ancient sword.
AS they both pause few moments. BY
mutual agreement, before commencing
the, perhaps, fatal contest, our hero can
not help thinking of his brave ancestors