The Democratic advocate., 1905-08-12

wood
No word passed his clenched teeth;
his grip upon the hilt Of his
sword, he stood there in the darkness, grim
and silent.
Again the sergeant hailed him:
"Thou answerest not, then; thou
would st rather die than live"
Again unbroken silence.
"Burst open the door, cried the ser
geant.
A trooper, eager to be first, put his hand
upon the latch and lifted it. To his amaze
ment the door opened, for there was no
lock to it. He advanced few feet into
the room with drawn sword The next
moment he reeled back among his fellows
with stihed cry.
Twas not in vain that Mark Haywood
had practiced on dummy Roundheads.
The sergeant now wedged his way to the
front, and, calling on his men to follow,
rushed into the room.
Then came babel of clashing swords,
oaths and curses, followed by sudden 81
lence, broken only by the hard breathing
of the combatants and the moans of the
wounded
And with that stiffness came another
sound from without, the urgent cry d the
troopers who had remained on guard in the
road. 1t was well known cry in those
days of civil strife.
1.-The Cavaliers! The Kings menr'
With one accord the men rushed for the
stairway. 1t was both dark and narrow,
and the small door at the foot belched
forth mass Of tumbling, struggling hui
manity, bruised and angry, but fearful
also; the desire to escape uppermost in
each breast
Already their comrades were flying
wildly across the stretch Of open common,
pursued by body of Royalisl horse
'Craven cowardsr' cried the sergeant
with a mighty curse, as lie joined his men
in untethering their impatient, nervous
steeds.
But it was too late. Before a man
could reach his saddle the Cavalier horse
man, twice in number to their own, and
with Sir Henry Ragdale at their head,
drew up at the gateway.
The Roundheads were caught like rats
in trap, and the next moment were sur
rounded and dsarmed
Leaving his prisoners safely guarded,
Sir Henry spurred on to the house.
A pale faced, trembling figure watched
his approach from the balcony. In mo-
ment he was at his wife side.
"'They have not harmed thee, then?'
"No, dearest; there has indeed, been
no one near us. But what has happened
at the gatehouse? There has been sound
of fighting
"Mind not that now, dearest; | will
tell thee of it anon How is the child 2
For answer Lady Ragdale led her hus-
band into the room where little Harry lay
sleeping peacefully, with his old nurse
watching beside him.
There was no mistaking the altered look
in his face. He had come safely through
the crisis; the fever had left him. The
child had won his battle.
"When did the change come? p asked
Sir Henry.
"About an hour ago.
sThank God" said her husband, fer
vently, as he drew her more closely to his
side
Just then the child moved restlessly,
and, opening his eyes, looked up at them.
"Where is Haywood p he asked.
All! where indeed! That question filled
Sir Henry with a sudden, sickening fear.
He stopped and kissed the little forehead,
saying:
''Fear not, little one, Haywood is safe. y
''But they have been shooting; heard
them. o! they have not shooted Hey
wood, have they?'' he cried piteously.
May, darling said Sir Henry, sooth-
ingly, Haywood is safe. Shall Daddy 60
and find him?''
Yes" said the child, eagerly, his tears
stayed by sudden hope.
Sir Henry drew his wife out on to the
balcony.
:sHast thou seen or heard aught of
Heywood?'' he whispered.
"No; but surely thou dost not think
any i'll has befallen him?' replied Lady
Ragdale, looking up anxiously into her
husband face. -Four pistol shots and a
strange crashing at the gates was all we
heard
II will 20 and search for him. said
Sir Henry, and descending the steps,
mounted his horse and rode back to the
gateway.
There he found his men gathered round
their prisoners, who regarded their captors
in sullen silence.
A sergeant approached and said:
ssThere is a man sore wounded in the
upper room of the gate-house, who has
asked for you, Sir Henry
Handing over his horse to the man, Sir
Henry went up the dark stairway.
A lantern cast dim light around the
low rooted chamber.
Ranged upon the floor, with some show
of order, were the bodies of three dead
Roundhads; while in far corner, on bed
of straw, lay Mark Haywood, pierced with
a score of wounds.
Taking up the lantern, Sir Henry knelt
beside him, taking Marks hand in bis