Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-08-20

'pyTa8HS 1879 Oy Dc % MCAAuEe NOsl
tinued. introducing the young lady and
to-point with Owain at such short no.
tice. no. as he is. passes me alto
gether."
Say nothing of it, Sir Arthur"
broke in Owain Vaughan; II was in the
wrong. and beg to thank Master
Heathcote for the great help he has
rendered my sister within the past few
days"
so YOU are he. too, nephew" said
my uncle. We'll. we'll, how queerly
things turn out But we'll get home
and you shall tell me all the news.
I fetched Whitesock and we moved
up the road together toward the house.
talking of Butley Croft and Worcester
shire affairs.
My Uncle Sir Arthur Vaughan, was
my fathers half brother. My grand
father was twice married, first to Mar
garet Lathrope, of a neighboring fam
lily: secondly, to Letitia Vaughan, a
Welsh lady. OF each marriage there
was one son, and. as my father did not
marry until late in life, Sir Arthur had
lived many years at Butley Croft on
the footing of heir-apparent.
Not long after my birth, his maternal
grandfather died-Sir Lewis Vaughan
of Nant-y-B ryn, and, as his mother
was an only child, Arthur Heathcote
departed for Wales. took the maternal
inheritance and name, and was lost to
Worcestershire.
My father Joined the kings forces
and was killed in, an attack of the par
lament troops upon fortified house
in Warwickshire. into which a num-
Der of royalists had thrown themselves;
my mother died within two years af-
terward, and / had been left to the
care of my grandfather. who lived to a
very advanced age. He had now been
dead some years, and, practically, /
mad been master of Rutley Croft since
was of any age capable of under
Standing a little of affairs
AS we walked on, the na-rowness of
the road parted us into couples, and
my uncle Jagged a little behind.
but your appearing in this sudden
and secret fashion, nephew" said he,
II judge that you are flying from
something"
You have hit 1t exactly, uncle"
l returned. lit is the old cause
rs it so?' said Sir Arthur. whats
on foot now?"
You must know" 1 began, what
eXc1tment and uneasness are prevail
ing throughout the country at pres
emit. There are many who believe the
power of the parliament army is run
ming to close, and on all hands men
are thinking that the sun is about to
turn on our side of the hedge"
II hear but little of these matters"
said my uncle. 1--WE are out of the way
of news Tell me everything
Willingly" said ]. 80 far as know
of matters. This unrest and the gem
eral dislike of the country being
dragooned by men who know nothing
rt nf ro
leading to many plots being formed
against the present authorities. and
partisans of the old cause are banding
together. in hopes of striking blow
to better things"
And you have been mixed up with
one of these affairs?"
II have" said L; but there was
traitor among US. for l had a word by
sure hand to tell me that Sir John
Postgate knew everything, and was
taking measures to lay us by the
HEELS
Sir John Postgate," said my uncle;
that bitter old independent fellow. Is
he still alive?"
He is, indeed" j returned, "and as
active as ever. I took the road within
two hours and. after making long
loop to throw off pursuit, headed for
your n mountains"
Twas impossible to do better" said
Sir Arthur You are safe here as
man can be. If it was known where
you Were force could not come through
the hills without our being aware of 1t,
and you have only to march half
mile beyond Nant-y- Bryn to haze thir-
ty miles of hiding places open to you"
l thanked him, and we We're by this
time in front of the house.
1t was a huge building. Very broad for
OSfr of
masses of the dark gray stone which
the neighborhood yielded plentifully;
the windows small, with the lowest
good height from the ground and heav-
lily ironed; the door of three-inch oak.
studded with stout bolts and nails.
You will think Nant-y-Bryn a mere
dungeon. / fear. after our beautiful
Butley Croft, nephew" said Sir Arthur.
waving his head toward the gloomy
pile; but 1t was built at day When
men looked more for strength than
comfort, and perchance we may need
its strength once more.
CAY. ay," said Owain, for we were
four together again, and the youlAs
lady looked grave.
My uncle blew n call on shrill
whistle which hung from button of
his coat, and man appeared from
within. Whitesock and the black horse
We're handed over to his care, and we
entered a large 1ll-lShted nail. MY UNI
Gle at once carried me to his library,
that we might finish our conversation.
1t was a long, low room one wall more
than half covered with books, dozen
volumes scattered about a broad oaken
table, and, near the hearth, great ell
bow chair, into which he dropped and
stretched his feet toward the ample
fire of logs and turf blazing on the wide
hearth.
$50 you must keep out of the way
for few months, nephew?" said he.
More than that, uncle" said l, IF l
am to save my neck"
"Pooh" laughed Sir Arthur; you
young fellows put too much importance
on your escapades."
Third time pays for all,'' said I.
What do you mean?" asked my I'M
Gle.
First said /, Il was with Pendrud-
dock"
'In 49," cried Sir Arthur. You,
boy!"
II was 49," returned. and as tall
as l am now. A dozen of us rode down
south from Worcestershire"
What followed?" demanded Sir Ar
thur.
Nothing, so far as was concerned"
said l. We paid out tenth to the ma
jor generals, but, of course, SO did the
rest of the cavaliers"
And next?"
II was with Sir George Booth, last
summer, at Chester"
II see" said my uncle. you've had
practice before at r,lppinfy