The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-08
TRUE TO THE DUKE.
HOW A Boy SAVED THE GREAT
MONMOUTH.
A story of Thrilling Adventure In
the Days of King Charley.
BY T. G. HARBAUGH.


He was a stout, good-looking lad
with fair features and chestnut coloreo
locks, inclined to curl. Beside him lay
a cross-boW with q feathered smart
in the groove, and the boys name
could have picked up the weapon a.
a moments notice.
For some time he had been Watch-
ing the gambols of two squirrels JUS
beyond bowshot, and in hopes thal
they might come a trifie nearer anc
give him a chance TO bring one down
The spot occupied by the young
marksnan, whose name was Perry
Preston, was the summit OF a gentle
rise which commanded fair view OF
the surrounding forest.
While Master Preston lay there he
thought of the great battle fought g
few DAYS previous at Sedgemoor be-
tween King James men and the Re
bellious Duke of Monmouth, then q
fugitive, with a kingly price upon his
head.
The boy had heard of the battle; in
deed, his uncle, a Mendip miner, mao
fought there for the lost cause, ano
at that very moment was hiding some
where out Of reach of the kings hunt-
ers.
No one seemed to know where Mon
mouth was and the kings soldiers were
securing the countryside for him
In a short time il would be night and
the CLEANS of sunlight, which lit uE
the forest, would give way to shadows
Presently the boy put out his hano
and picked up the cross-bow; but al
the time he kept looking at the squlr-
rels.
one of the little animals had frisked
to within bowshot and Master Preston
did not want the game to escape.
The English boy quietly raised him
self upon one knee and took deliberate
aim at the squirrel, then liberated the
bow-string and watched the arrow III
its fight.
The shaft went true to its mark,
for the squirrel tumbled from the log,
upon which it had perched itself, and
Master Preston, with an exclamation
of triumph, ran forward.
The further side of the log was well
banked up with leaves and into these
the game had fallen
When the little marksman reached
the log he looked over and then drew
back.
To his establishment he was looking
at a man half buried in the leaves, a
man dressed in peasant costume, but
with 2 kinely -looking eye and hand
some face.
Perry stood dumbfounded, and could
only gaze at the man, speeches. and
full of fear.
DO YOU want your squirrel, lad?'
said the stranger taking from the
leaves the dead game, which he held
up before Master Preston.
.'Tu take it i you please, and the
boy took the squirrel, but did not
stir.
Bv this time the man in the leaves
had risen 70 his knees and was look
ing at the boy
I'm a peasant who might be wanted
by those men who are after the soldiers
Of the unfortunate Monmouth he
said; but Perry laid one hand on his
dirty sleeve.
You'll find me true" he answered.
81 know you. You are His Grade, the
Duke"
The man started violently and drew
back.
I the Duke?" he cried. Look at
my garments, boy. Surely no Duke
ever masoueraded in such"
But YOU are His Grace" persisted
Perry. ~ was in Taunton when you
entered the city and 1 remember quite
we'll how YOU lifted your hat to the
people and how your voice sounded.
Then / am lost was the reply. Il
have come to this at last-to be be-
trayed into the hands of my enemies
by a Somerset bow
Not 50. I am not an informer. But
you are in danger. They have been
hunting along the hedges down yonder
for l saw lot Of rough riders beating
the bush this morning"
Beating il for door Monmouth. On,
if 1 had an army once more at my
back
He stopped suddenly and looked
away While he seemed to tremble.
They are quite near US" said Master
Preston. There is a chance for you. u
What sort Of chance, boy?'
The Old milk-house."
Yours? ~
YES. 1t is an old affair. but it has
a false floor put down by its builder
long ago But you cannot go to it
While it is light
Then back 10 my bed of leaves I
must GO said Monmouth, with a
smile. If I escape, boy, you may
some day be duke yourself
A few minutes later Master Preston
trudged homeward with his squirrel
and dressed il in the cramped front
yard by the humble home
He said nothing TO his mother, a
widow, about his encounter with the
hunted fugitive and eagerly waited for
dusk.
BY and by he went to the old milk
house. now rarely used, for the kings
men some wears before had taken the
Widows last COW. and there he pried
up board and disclosed a commodious
hiding place underneath.
The last place they'll look for the
Duke in said the boy He will be
safe here
Away he went to the wood and like a
keen trailer found the log and the
fugitive behind it.
Without a word the two hurried
back to the milk house by a circuitous
path. and Master Perry concealed the
great duke under the old boards
AS Monmouth pressed the boys
hand in parting. he looked UP into the
youthful face and said:
May you be duke some day whether
I become king or not" and then Perry
put the boards over him and went
away.
THE ENQUIRY.
Hardly had the boy reached home
when six men rode I'D to the house
and called the widow out
They were members of Feversha1n's
army-the general who had defeated
Monmouth's forces-and they were
locking for the fugitive Master Pres
ton came cut of the house with his
mother and looked at the gaudy but
dirt-spattered regimentals and the
rough faces of the cavaliers.
The moment one of the fellows spied
Perry he covered him with his gloved
hand.
That's the boy" cried he. Come.
you little jackanaDes. What We're you
doing in the wood today?"
Ct shot a gray squirrel in the forest.
"a -, 4