Rock Island Argus., 1907-01-02
DAILY. STORY
HE KEPT HIS PROMISE.
1Original.1

to place uSurper on the throne IN the
person of Lady Jane Grey. The fail
ure of the plan brought on one of the
most affecting tragedies OF English
history.
| With others sent to the Tower of
London for completely In the move
ment was Henry Hamerston, who was
to have been married to Harriet Bur-
leigh. a,young lady of rare accomplish
ments and beauty. She had pleaded
with her lover to keep aloof from the
conspirators, but the dangers attend
| ing the attempt We're as alluring to
him as they were repellent to her.
He had gone heart and soul into the
| effort, fought valiantly for the cause
and when it fell was made a prisoner
to await trial and probable execution.
Hamerston, being a man of rank
and not having been a leader in the
attempted usurpation, was accorded
privileges usually granted to such per-
sons. He was lodged with one Of the
Tower officials and permitted to have
| his own servant and such luxuries as
he desired. His devil-may-care disposi-
| ton kept him up even in the shadow
of the block, and when his fiancee
came to see him it was he who sup
ported her sinking spirits instead of
her doing as much for him. Never
fear, sweetheart" he would say cheer
lily; "this head will never roll into the
basket. My wits will surely get me
out of this scrape. You may see me
any moment. Keep the fastest horse
in your fathers stables saddled. Some
day will mount him and before they
can catch me will gain the coast, and
away to France" The girl considered
this merely intended to keep up a show
of spirit that she might not break down
before the tragedy came.
Hamerston was such agreeable COM
pany that his keeper never tired OF
being with him. He would frequently
ask his prisoner to drink a bottle of
wine with him. One day when they
sat down to drink Hamerston made a
wry face at the taste of the wine.
''Hoot, man. exclaimed the keeper.
What dye mean by making face at
wine 1 have myself imported from
Burgundy?"
II don't like it," replied Hamerston.
'I have much better wine in the Gel
lar myself
Nonsense! There's no better wine
in France than this
But 1 don't like French wines.
Give me your permission to send to
the cellar for some wine 1 have there,
and I'll show you what good wine is"
''Send if you like"
Hamerston's servant was called, and
his master, looking him in the eye
meaningly, said:
go to the cellar and fetch q bottle
Of Oporto wine. Do not make a mis-
take and bring any of the other wines
have there. Bring the Oporto.'
Now, this was n signal between
master and servant that no one recog-
nized except themselves. The servant
went away, and the two men contin-
ued to discuss the merits of different |
wines, the keeper standing sturdily by
those Of France, his prisoner advocat-
ing those of Spain. Time passed, and |
the servant did not return.
1.-The man has stopped to drink"
said Hamerston, land likely is lying |
on the floor drunk. I'll go to the eel |
lar myself"
Jumping up, he left the room. In |
the corridor his servant was waiting |
for him.
"All right" said the man. Here is
the key"
"And the keepers man?"
81 persuaded him to go to the cellar
for the wine, followed him and locked |
him in.''
Hamerston quickly inserted the key
handed him in the door of the room
where he had left his keeper and. turn
ing it, locked the official in. Then,
changing his velvet doublet and hat
for the coarser one of his servant that
he might attract less attention, he
walked awey with no one to stop him.
Keeping as far away from those pass
ing as possible, he walked leisurely to
the main gate of the town and passed
put, the guard never dreaming that he
was prisoner of state.
Harriet Burleigh was sitting in her
room, attempting to embroider to di-
vert her mind from the tragedy that
hung over her. She was dreading that
her lover might any moment be
brought to trial, and as there was no
defense he must surely be convicted of
high treason. She was thinking that
she would In that event go and i'm
)lore the queen to spare his life. Sud-
1enly her maid called to her from the
''Lawk. my lady! Is this a ghost
up from the gate?"
Harriet ran to the window and at
,nce recognized Henry Hamerston in
he apparel of servant. He was
Walking leisurely, with seeming uncon-
,ern. Catching her breath. she ran
Town the staircase and met her lover.
81 told you I'd come, sweetheart.
Have you the horse ready%
The girl flung herself into his arms
or moment. then led him to the sta
lie, where she showed him saddled
lorse. Mounting, he stopped for a