The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-27
PART I.


Those Of my lord marquis house.
hold who like myself were noble, or at
| least gentle-born, were wont to serve
him at his meat, and to remain in at
tendance, until my lord went into his
| closet. This was at high noon; there
| fore it chanced oftentimes that Scuba
more, Clough and others among my
mates were not risen from their meal
until three of the clock. In faith, on
| this July eventide, 1645, twas higher
| four when we saw the tables bare, and
set to oSplay at bowls in the lower pleas
aunce. The RIGHTEOUSNESS of the times
rumoring his majesty's defeat, kept us
| within bonds, and the confinement
which il occasioned caused us heav-
| mess of sp;rit, so that the sport went
| but tamely. Truth to tell, / was as deep
| in the dumps as well could be a stout
lad of seventeen, and was idly kicking
my ball over the clipped turf, when one
of the pages came to the wicket, crying
that peddlers were at the great gate
with news of the war. At the word,
we were all off, spurnfng the grass with
our heels, nor were we late at the feast,
for on near approach we found old
| Cooke, the gate-keeper, two men-at-
arms, and a score of idle grooms hold
| ing parley with the chap-men. Scuda-
more and 1 stood aside, hearkening to
the fellows tale, which, as we saddened
to learn later on, was very tissue of
| lying, but which then, as 1t spoke of
| victory to the kings forces, warmed
L - D.rx h.1
been perforce SO well kept within wall,
that we were wearied out and 80 gave
the tale more credence that at buster
moments. Yet even /, although held
the fellows words In o fair belief, did
not spare my doubts, by reason of his
villainous appearance and shifty eye,.
and was no less inclined to credit him
for the glibness of his tafe. Moreover
/ fell to inward laughing at the sim
| plicity of his audience, WHO stood about
with their mouths agape swallowing
the tale as twere their s1Aall-bcer, and
breaking in with. reverential "ohl"
"ahl" marry nowi" as though the ped
dler were no less than Prince Rupert
Cooke was such an old shrew, that
!, was not loathe to behold him so gulled,
and fell to much laughter when the
peddler was borne or to revel in the
I Kitchen tower. Strangers were not
readily admitted 70 Raglan in those
days, nor perchance would this one
have been, had my Lord Charles, or my
lord of Worcester himself. been stirring
to see him pass. But earlier that day
dispatches had been brought in haste
to the marquis; he had at dinner shown
much preoccupation OF countenance.
and was even now closely comforting
with my Lord Charles and DR.. Bailey,
so that twas no great wonder he was
not about to behold the peddler's tri-
Umph.
was deeper than ever in the dumps,
and was returning slothfully to my
histaseful pastime when Moyle, my
lords usher, called to me that was
looked for instantly In the closet. So
lhither turned my steps. glad of any
occupation, and tapped respectfully
upon the panel.
Twas my lord himself bade me en-,
Ter, and the instant closed the door
behind me felt plucking mt my heart
that told me that this was no trivial
Grand; that here Jay my chance to
make or mar my fortunes. For my
lords voice rang deeper than with its,
accustomed garrulous pipe of age, his
brow was deeply ploughed with
thought, and when he fixed me with
his eye twas with p dreadful, probing
gaze, as 'twere to challenge my fidelity,
very different from his usual habit of
testing tolerance.
Mine honored master. then gray in
years, was a man OF girth and great
bulk, much enfeebled by his infrmi-
ties, so that he rarely stood or walked
about, but sat continually in great
chair by the window. DIR. Bailey, his
chaplain, sat over against him, and
made a squint at me TO express reas.
surance, for my lords sternness of Wis
age had cast me into hurried self-cat-
echism as to my misdoings.
My lord began without preliminary.
hearkening at once to the core of the
matter.
Roger selby," he said, folding be-
fore him one withered hand, abr.
Bailey here has given me such hopes of
you, that have, on his advice, chosen
you from those Of MY household, for an
especial service"
This preface, so gIaddened and
amazed me that could make him no
adequate answer beyond bowling and
murmuring my fidelity.
"You are, know a hardy and active
youth" proceeded my lord. in the same
/ dcepened voice. IL have the assurance
of DIR. Bailey that you nre faithful and
brave. That you are discreet I have
voucher by your bearing In my house:
bold. This is. above sii, an opportunity