Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-04
IRON HEART.
BY John Dickinson Sherman.

Copyright, 1901, Daily Story Pub. Coz
It's the fashion of these latter days
, to hold that Oliver Cromwell, the great
Lord General of Parliament, was OF
such hardness of heart that none of
the emotions that sway the common
clay found Judgment in his breast.
Therefore do | adventure this state
ment that my children and my chill
dren'S children may have 1t on record
over my sign and seal what Old Nell
did do for me that time | was Captain
of the First Troop OF the Ironsides.
1t began-where of a verify most
things do begin-with a Mis-
tress Margaret Fullerton. / loved her
and so did many, notably one Oliver
Hepsworth. Now, of a truth, this Hep
worth was not by nature mor cruel
and violent than other men, and we
were friends of a sort. But when Mis-
! tress Margaret had no ears for his
suit he straightway conceived a most
bitter hate for me. And in this he was
u~nwarranted, for, though l was sick
with love for Mistress Margaret, |
Worshiped afar off, not daring to make
my passion known. Now, when wal
was proclaimed the girl did go with
kith and kin, as was most natural, n
SO did our side with the King, while
Hepwerth and l made haste to offer
our swords to Colonel Cromwell, who
was our neighbor and much looked up
to by us. AS the war went on we rose
in favor with Our colonel until we
both were given a troop. And then one
day we clashed and Cromwell had Cap
tain Hepworth transferred to a reg
iment of foot. Whereupon Hepworth
straightway came to be named as a
man who had no mercy in him and
his fierce zeal made him a major.
= 4
Then came the day that Lord Will
lCugkpy. the commander-in-chief, or
| dered that Grafton House should be
taken and put the undertaking in the
charge Of Major Hepworth, giving him
| choice of foot and horse and some ord
nance. Major depworth chose a ON
rany OF his own regiment OF London
ers and mire own troop of the Iron
sides. At this | marveled much and
had suspicion of some secret design.
We drew no about the wall that sur
| rounded the park of Grafton House
and made formal demand for its sur
[ render. The answer came back 70
take it # we could.
Hal" cried Hepworth, "nhe ma
lignants refuse our terms and send
back violent defiance. Lord, l thank
Thee" And then he shouted. with ex-
ultation in every tone: Il order mo
| quarter spare none, whoever they
may bel"
l slckened at his words, for l guessed
that in Grafton House malst be women
and children, but they were soon for
got III the fierce JOY of the onset. My
troop wass in the great hall. Inside
was a rabble of musketeers and pike
n1en and beyond them the great stair
way was crowded with retainers and
servants, among them women and
children Midway up the stair stood
Lord C~hilEngford, my companion OF
college days, and clinging to his arm
WIS his bride of a month. And just
behind them stood Mistress Margaret
Fullerton!
Lord Chilli2gford caught sight of
NE and babe his men lay down their
arms, saying that l was known to him
and would grant honorable terms. And
then, while I stood there, dumb with
the horror of the pit that had been
digged for me, there came the first
IRISH of Londoners. shouting: mo
quarter! Death to the Papistsl Smite
the malignnnts hip and thigh"
yes, Lord Chillingford,' | said like
a man in a trance, you shall have