Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-08-24

not 10 Iflgnteu tnee- LATER uI tne Sign
of the Red Heart found good proof Of
his perfidy. learning from the officer In
command that all the passes were
guarded and that I, with thee, was to
be arrested the next morning. By heav-
en-, Margaret. behind an iron grating
could not save thee-could but lie there
like wild thing, Gagged lion, unable
to rescue thee from thy cousins awful
intriguing. Sweet, for time the blow
was so heavy that was near bereft Of
my sensesx
He drew sharp breath.
'aThe situation that confronted me
was so desperate that fairly sickened.
Then gathered courage, knowing that
thou hadst no one but me, and resolved
to escape that night and take what was
our one chance. the path through the
forest to Sterndorf, where methought.
once there, with bribes OF land and gold
to hire fellows to ride back with me,
kill the guards, storm this rotten prison
and rescue thee. For two days, desper-
ate, beside myself with n desire to ad-
vance, thinking always Of thy suffer-
ing, l feverishly cut and pushed my
way through the dense and gloomy for
est, fearful to lie down at night on ac-
count of the wild beasts that come
from their lairs ut nightfall and too
eager 10 get on to rest Damme, but
twas time to make the stoutest heart
grow faintr
''On the third morning, when / had
drained the last drop from my flask
and was in great distress that might
have lost my bearings, methought I
heard the sound of a human voice
shrieking in great agony. Drawing
, my sword, ran in the direction Of the
noise and came suddenly upon man
brace of mountain bear. So intent
was the animal upon its prey that 1t
did not notice my approach With one
well aimed thrust ran IL through the
heart, and the beast sank with con-
yulsive motion to the ground.
''The man, exhausted and bleeding
from many wounds, fell at its side, un-
conscious of his close proximity to his
dead foe and dead to everything about
him. Sweet, / stanched his wounds
and from a brook near by brought cool
water and bathed his head, so that his
wandering wits returned. But the
man had received a blow on the heart
and so many broken bones that he
could not live. / saw that he was
sinking rapidly SO, kneeling at his side
asked him his name, offering to de-
| liver any messages he might wish to
| leave. To make a long tale short, sweet
Margaret, as we have not much time
rUr tarryfng, the PROSTATE man was a
| famous Puritan from parts distant
from here, by name Ezekial Mason,
and was on his way to Cragenstone to
sell his invention of prison lock; also
to conduct the affairs of thine execu-
J ton. When he had told me that much
and given me the password he expired.
Hastily searching his clothing and q
| packet he carried, / found bread and
wine, which 1 ate and drank ravlshing-
ly; also the lock he wished to sell and
letters of introduction to the elders
and councilmen from prominent men
of his belief. Margaret, the mans face
had not relaxed in death ere 1t had oc
| Cured to me to don his clothing, stain
my face and beard with the juice oi
| leaves and berries, as EZekial Mason
was dark and swarthy, and return tc
Cragenstone representing myself to be
this man. BY the Lord, twas seri
Gus undertaking, but with what sue
| cess all was accomplished thou dost
know tonight"
Gods mercyw she exclaimed softly
| trembling In his embrace. Thine ad
] ventures were desperate and terrible
| but praise him that the man fell in thy
way, otherwise 1 fear we had botl
been lost"
| Just then light sound as Of foot
| fall under the window was heard
Both sprang apart, listening with pale
/ faces. La Fabienne, donning his hat
/ pulled up his coat collar, carefully
closed the door upon Margaret and
! going by the recumbent figure Of Mat
thew Allen, walked out of doors and
gave a careful, searching glance in al
directions, but all now was quiet. NJ
sounds reached his ears save the whin
nying of an impatient horse not fal
distant down the roadway. So, after
1 convincing himseR that no intruder
was about, he re-entered the prison
going at once TO Margaret's cell.
''All is well," he hastened to assur,
her THE wind Is rising, and the
sound no doubt was but the creakint
Of loose grating. Gads, the villager:
sleep soundly tonight that they may
get good rest for tomorrow's gala day
But we do tarry here too long. Here's
Puritan bonnet-'twill disguise thee
Margaret-and throw this cloak ovel
thy shoulders. In passing through th'
guard thou must droop thy head ant
appear languishing as thou art sup
posed to be n maid suddenly taken IL
Of the pest Of measles now prevalen
about here, whom We are anxious Il
take TO her home at Sterndorf. Al
friends of Ezekial Mason he hath per
mission to see thee and thy relative:
safely out of the village"
Sir Godfrey laughed grimly.
by our lady, tits a grewsome joke
sweet, but thy face looks downcast
Thou vert ever one to enjoy spice
Of danger What gloom hangs ovel
theeY
His glance expressed great tender
ness as he clumsily tied the gray bon
net strings
"Tis the awful fear OF my cousin
that still lies heavy on my heart" sh'
replied, hurriedly fastening on hel
shawl "Mayhap he hath suspected
thee, Godfrey, and may entrap us yet
NAY, love, put by such fearsom'
misgiyings" La Fabienne laughed
lightly. "Parbleu, in all this villag,
no man rests so securely in the trusti
ness of the new jailer, no man hatl
such confidence in the stem Puritan
Ezekial Mason, as thy kinsman Josiah
So throw fear of him from thee, Mar
garet. No man will molest U.S."
Taking her hand, he led her to {
small door at the back OF the prison
that was opened by the slipping bacl
Of some heavy bolts, and he stepped
out on TO the ground.
As the cool night wind blew ON hei
face and the broad expanse of country
stretched out before her, with freedom
so close at hand, Margaret, trembling
and terribly excited, drew back. Hei
lover held her hand strongly In his
own. Still she hesitated, afraid almost
to venture forth.
L ~n4 r~x~ 4afr