Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-04-28

the rope again, after passing it round
tue table, which was fastened firmly
to the floor, and waited.
Speedy the rope became taut. He
pulled at the ladder. 1t was capable
of bearing double his weight,
81 guess-I guess!'' he smiled to
himself. ssYet Sir Everard must
know someone helped me; 1 could
not have escaped by myself, and l
would not bring even sneaking Silas
into trouble from the suspicion OF
bribery. If the ivy were but there
yet?"
Getting into the window recess, he
looked out. There was the ivy,
about ten feet down. 1t had only
been cut from near the easement.
Returning, he rapidly tore up the
sheets of the bed, making a rope of
about twenty feet. Securing this to
the table, he threw it out of the case
ment.
"Sir Eyerard will imagine l lower
ed myself to the ivy by that" he
laughed, "and sucpect no one. Now
for the rope ladder"
A few seconds and he was descend
ing, thankful that tall neighboring
trees cast into deep shadow that part
of the hall.
The ladder swaded so little that he
knew it was being steadied by some
one aC the foot. A wild hope came
to him that Isabel might be there
but he blushed at his selfish desire
the instant after,
On leaping to the ground, he be-
held, net Isabel, but old Margery.
''How, good mother?' he eXclaim-
ed, pressing the hand of the wrinkled
old woman. do | owe my liberty
to your"
$40 me and another, lad," she re-
joined.
"Ihat other know. But l pray
you, run no risk, mother?'
s'RisS, lad? Tut. Yet what would
/ care if did? Dost thou remember
Master Baldwin, when thou and the
wears son saved old Margery from
a ,Iucking in the horse pond? Good
deeds reward themselves, my son,
and / have lived to show my graft
tude this day. But haste thee, Mas
ter Baldwin; you have small time to
spare. Sir Everard has already dis
| patched a messenger TO Oxford, aud
expects to deliver thee to the kim
tomorrow. Fortunately thy enemies
! forgot thy boat, which is yet among
the reeds in the river. But stay one
moment: let us destroy the secret OF
thy esdape.''
Approaching the wall, she unfast-
encd the rope from an iron ring there
when the ladder came down with s
rush. Martin aided her TO drag il
among tue bushes, then prepared tc
depart.
"And Mistress Isabei?" he asked
'Has brave heart, which beats
faithfully to thee, despite all. Soc
sent thee her love, and prays for thy
safety in the fight tomorrow. Now
away; thou ta,riest too long
Martin Baldwin obeyed. Bidding
her farewell, and trusting that hap
pier times were nigh at hand, he hur.
ried through the trees, possessed by
"a full sense of the delights Of free
dom as if he had been prisoner
weeks instead of hours.
Reaching the river, he soon wa:
shooting his boat along its bosom
and was far away, when Sllas, hal
waking from dream, thought with I
grin, of the prisoner he believed SC
perfectly safe.
Weeks anti weeks passed. Every
where the army of the commonwealth
was victorious. The royalists he,
before them.
Martin Baldwin, q captain now,
had been noticed and praised by th,
great general. The country was be
ginning to hope for peace soon, bu
AS yet war Redeemed the land.
Martin Baldwin had never agaii
been near Strellyn Hall, but had oc
casioually heard of its inmates, ant
the last news had been that Sir Ever
ard, having raised troop, had join
ed the kings standard.
Il am soriy,' reflected the youn4
soldier. MAY we two never meet. ,
There was scarcely q likelihood
they we're at distant parts of the
kingdom, and Martin rejoiced. III
could not raise his hand against bis
fathers friend and Isabcl's parent.
One evening, as he was seated il
his tent, his attention was arI esteC
by the sound of a woman's voice.
"Alack! - it remarked shrilly, "le
the lady pass. Have not the soldier:
OF Cromwell any civility? My lady
would speak to Captain Baldwin.
Springing up, be went to the open
ing of the tent. Before reaching it
it was lifted, and cloak and vcilet
female figure entered hurriedly.
"M adam" he began, dowins
the hat he wore.
When, throwing back the veil, tht
lady, as she tottered forward, ex
claimed:
"Oh, Martin! Do you know me?'
"Isabel!" he clied astounded, a
she dropped on his shoulder, "wha
does this mcan2 You here, darling
so far from home! What has hap
pcned? You are faint; you are I'LL?
"Not ill, dear Martini she an
swered, ''but in grievous trouble
My father-oh, how can speak it?"
"Is he wounded, Isabel!"
"Worse; he is prisoner in tn
hands of the commonwealth. He wa
seized while the bearer of secret ant
dangerous dispatches of the king
"This is bad, dearest; hut fear not
/ He is but a prisoner of war;"
''Nay; he has uttered words, o
done / know not what, which ha
brought him to trial; and his san
} tence'-tears checked her speech
, space then she addea-''death b.
the headsman's AK"
Il can not be; it shall not bel
: calculated Martin Baldwin.
''Would / could say the same
But my heart despair. Directly
: heard the sentence | thought of you