The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-01-21
BY Menhinic Morphew.


ID nigh my life you would rob me
of sir. have no desire at all to marry
least of all maid I have never set
eyes on"
"Hold thy rebellious tongue, thou
malapert! To think that a son of mine
should defy me thus!" s
Sir" pleaded the young man holly,
you cannot think what it is you
would have me do. The king wants
men to fight for him, and you would
have me mate with roundhead's
daughter and bide at home by her
side!"
GAY, I have it," stormed the old
cavalier bringing his fist down on the
shining oak table with force that
set the heavy glasses ringing. TOO
young to wed, but too old to obey.
Too young, forsooth, to make such a
match as should secure to your father
and yourself after me our lands and
fortune, howsoever matters go with
king or parliament, but old enough to
spend your time with dice and wine
at the taverns of Oxford. I will have
none of it, boy! Thinkest thou will
be defied by mine own son? Promise
me now to ride with me tomorrow
and ask the girls hand of her father
or I'll lash every drop of blood out of
your body"
Il don't care!" he cried, defiant, his
hands clinched by his sides. "Flog me
all you will, but won't be beaten into
marrying a girl l know not even the
name Off"
This was too much for the fiery old
cavaliers patience. Spluttering forth
illusions to Absalom and other Scrip
tural scamps, he seized his son by the
collar.
An hour later Kit Carew found him
self locked up in an attic and seated on
the top of an old chest of prodigious
strength, which contained some of the
family plate and jewels. 1t was here
that old Sir Christopher stored his
most valuable possessions, and it is
quite in keeping that he should choose
this room as prison for his son,
who was to be made so valuable as the
link which bound him to what he
feared would be the winning party.
He hurled himself against the door
once, twice, thrice. The third time the
rusty old bolts, that were not half SO
strong as they looked. gave way, and
Master Kit fell sprawling into the pas
sage. i,
Free!
He got up and walked down to his
own room, where he changed his
clothes. and, taking the few shillings he
possessed, left the house and set out
on foot for Oxford.
Two months later Kit Carew was
riding from London to Oxford.
He had done fairly well for himself
since his fight from home. He had
obtained commission in regiment
of horse, and had fought stouuy on
several occasions. and now had been
chosen for the task of collecting con-
tributions from the royalists in Lon
don to aid the exhausted royal treas
try in Oxford.
Carew was tremendously proud of
being made kings messenger, and, UNI
fortunately, overwhelmed with the
I weight of his responsibility. He car
$4,000 in gold.
night before he left London he
on the hearse-like four poster
yern guest chamber, with his
lgs tied about his body like
User. s
bad between London and Ok
SO guarded by the forces of the
ent that Carew meant to ride
of Croydon. bennington castle,
1en north to Oxford through a
lct held by the king.
He made long journey the first day
Ind by dusk was within few miles
of Basingstoke.
The August evening was hot and OPP
l'ressive, sheet lightning played over
the landscape, and the faraway growl
of thunder was almost incessant.
For few moments he forgot the
treasure he carried, until turning the
corner of the lane he came upon q
swift moving troop. His heart leaped
up to his throat. The orange, tawney
scarfs cleaned in the disappointment
soldiers.
A sudden panic took possession of
poor Kit. He answered the officers
challenge by shot and, wheeling
about, galloped blindly away. A.
The roundheads gave chase, and
their untired horses soon gained upon
the animal that had done days jour-
ney already. A shot was fired. Kits
horse fell struggling $}s
He shook himself free and diyed into
the pine and broom woods thai
bounded one side of the road. But it
was 2 poor piece of cover, small, and in
some places open. Kit ran. stumbling
in the dark. some distance through the
wood and then came out into a
meadow. He could hear his pursuers
shouting and crashing through the
wood behind him, but there was nc
sign Of them where he stood.
Ahead he could just descry a dark
\ mass of buildings hig h0;,ae and a