Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-23

liz SSAouG uN NV ululy. llhS lluI luUIc
accustomed to u horses back than
tiled floor. The colonel led him into
the great dining room. one end of
which was occupied by shattered
window, while the other was crossed
by u gallery, and above all, very dim
in the feeble illumination of two can
dies and some smoky torches, could
be distinguished the knobs and projec-
tons Of timbered roof.
The vast room was almost complete
ly bare of furniture, with the eXcep-
ton of high backed carved chair.
which doubtless belonged to it, and a
stout oaken table taken from some
other part of the house, replacing the
long hospitnble board that had wit
messed many n festive gathering, but
which had been used for firewood by
the troopers. The general gazed about
the ample apartment for moment, as
one who had never seen it before, esti-
mating his bearings with the shrewd
eye of practiced soldier; then he
pushed the table until 1t stood length
wise with the room, instead of across,
as before; glanced at the gallery and
table, as If making some computation
regarding their relative positions, drew
up the chair and seated himself, setting
the two candles by the edge farthest
from him.
HAS Captain Bent arrived with his
prisoner?"
"Yes, excellency. He came at sun
set"
as he sure of his MANI"
"He appears to be SO, SIR"
Were any papers found on himY
Eyes, eNcellency."
"The other prisoner. Wentworth, is
little more than youth, am told"
"He is very young excellency."
"How came he to be set on an I'M
portant outward post that night?'
"rhere was danger of attack, and l
placed him there of deliberate purpose.
He was most reluctant to go, making
one excuse and then another, saying
lie was i'll, and what not. For more
than n month lie has been under sus-
picion of communicating with malig-
nants. although we had no direct proof.
He had been seen stealing away from
the domain of Lord Rudby, the chief of
the disaffected in this district. On the
night in question he was watched, and
us soon as he supposed himself alone
he deserted his post, put spurs to his
horse and rode straight across country
to Rudby Hall"
"And was arrested there?"
mo, eXcellency. An unlocked fol
event happened. He rode out from the
grounds of the hall, fighting his way
as it appeared, against a band of Rud
by's followers, who were attacking him
and ran into the arms of our men, who
were watching for him. The attacking
party, seeing, as they supposed, an un
known force of rescuers, turned ant
fed. The night was dark, and the &c
count Of what took place is confused
but Wentworth was carried back t,
COrbiton, tried and condemned for de
sorting while on duty and holding com
merce with the enemy"
"Umph! What version did Went
worth give of the AFFAIR.""
Gle maintained he was no traitor
but did not give any explanation of hi
absence from duty"
II thought Rudby had surrendered al
arms and had taken the oath to re
main neutral?"
i Ills men were armed with stave
J only, and so Wentworth, better equiv
e ped, held his own against them"
= "What view did the court take c
G this affray?"
"rhey thought it merely a feint [
cover the retreat Of discovered ira
tor. The night, as said, was darl
and our men, being mounted, could n,
move silently. Knowing the hous
would be searched If Wentworth w,
hidden, this plan of seeming emit
against him was prepared beforehan
in case of discovery"
How old man is Rudby?"
Nearing fifty"
"What family has he?"
"His two sons are supposed to |
with the king at Oxford. There is OF
daughter at Rudby Hall"
"Humph! Is this the young ma
who is said to be n son of the la
scoundrel, Stafford"
Eyes, excellency."
Gin that very blood is hatred of Il
people, contumely and all arrosanc
AT heart he must be royalist. Al
yet-and yet Where was he broug
up?"
ION the estate of Sir John Warbu
| ton, dead these some years back. Wa
| burton was his grandfather"
"Where is the Warburton cstate?"
ut adjoins the lands of Rudby."
| cash! Is the boys mother living?'
| mo. His only relative is sist
who seems to be the most bitter xii
hater in all the land"
as there not n chance the boy W
on his way to see his sister?'
| at was thought not. She has be
at liberty to visit him here and b
| done SO on various occasions"
] HAS Wentworth ever been in 9
4 TOM"
| "Oh, yes, excellcncy, and he acqu
i ted himself bravely enough"
4 mo hanging back, no wayering
i the face Of the foeY'
! "No, excellency."
"Humph! Send Captain Bent to I
with the papers. When he is gone
wish you to bring me trooper, Sol
is silent man who can be depended upc
an unerring marksman."
he When Captain Bent arrived, he ha1
an ed to the general the papers he b
w taken from Armstrong. Cromwell G
ne amined them with great minuteness
y. the light of the candles, then set thu
ed in bunch on the table without CO
cd ment of any kind.
TO did your prisoner resist at all
make any attempt ut escape"
mo, general"
is "He made no protest then?"
is "He said England and Scotland W.
IN at peace, that he therefore needed
OF passport; that his arrest was illeg
he and that you would be the first to ,
81 NIT as much"