The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-18

came from Bishop Atterbury the royal boy had vanished.
 Frank and Harry looked at each other
 with startled faces. Both had the same
 thought: and as day broke they stood
 before the ancient walls of their anoes- tral castle. The King had arrived the evening before. they learned from the porter, and had supped with BeatriX, she keeping q couple of servants always In
 the room with her. Then he had gone to bed in the chamber off the chaplain room across the court.
 | Harry knew a secret way of getting into | this room, a way used by Father Holt for ! his comings and gongs in the old days at Castlewood.
 In the chamber they found a candle l burning and the King, dressed, asleep on l the bed. He started up at seeing two | men In his room, and drawing pistol from beneath his pillow, cried out in
 French. "Quiest la?"
 "It is the Marquis of Esmond." said the Colonel, "come to welcome Your Majesty to his poor house of Castlewood
 and to report what had taken place In
 London. By this time the Queen may be
 dead; and had not Your Majesty chosen
 to ride to Castewood the King might
 have slept in St. Jamess. We were ready; | there was only one person who failed us Your Majestys gracious 'Morbleu, monsieur, you give me too | much majesty" said the Prince. who now seemed to be looking for one of his visi- tors to help him on with his coat. Neither
 man stirred.
 "We shall take care,' said Esmond, not much oftener to offend in that respect l The King muttered something about a | .guet-a-pens'
 "Ine snare, sir" replied Esmond, was
 not of our laying We came to avenge,
 not to encompass, the dishonor of our family"
 "Dishonor? Morbleui There has been no l dishonorl' cried the King. Only little harmless playing, I swear" (Which was meant to end seriously" answered the Colonel. We have arrived in time. Frank. His Majesty has been writing poetry to Reatrx. Had the royal lover been happy, he would not thus have employed his time" And in fact there were scraps of boylsh verse on the table which the prince had been composing to his charmer.
 Sir" said the King in q rage. did come here to receive insults?' .nather to confer them, Your Majesty replied Harry. "If Your Majesty will ac
 company me into the next apartment l
 have some papers l would like to show you"
 Taking the candle he walked backward
 with great stateliness and ushered the 1 King Into tLe chaplan's room through
 which they had just entered the house. l Then going to a little crypt over the man i tlepiece, the Colonel opened fl and took 1 therefrom papers which had long reposed l there.
 l .'IIere, may 1t please Your Majesty" l said he. "ls the patent of Marquis sent l over from St. Germain's to Viscount cas- l tlewood my father here Is the certifi- l cate of my fathers marriage 10 my moth 1 CT and of my birth and christening. i was ehrstencd of that religion of which l your santed sire gave all through life so | shining an example. These are my titles. l dear krank, and this is what l do With l them; here go baptism. marriage, the marquisate and the august sign manual He set the papers afire in the brazier. 1 "You will please to remember, sire" said 1 he. turning to the King. that our family l hath ruined itself for yours; that my grandmother spent his estate and gave his ] blood and his son to die for your service. 1 That my lords grandfather-for lord you 1 are now Frank. by right and title, too | fell in the same cause That my poor | kins-woman, my fathers second wife, l after giving away her honor to your wicked. perjured race sent all her wealth | to inc King and got In return this inesti- mable yard of blue ribbon. lay It at | your feet and stamp upon It, draw my | sword and break it and deny you; and 1 had von accomplished what you designed, | and no more spared you 'hai Soui DIV i spared Monmouth"
 Aa inc Colonel broke his sword. Frank, who had been looking on stupdly, drew
 and broke his blade. saying: "l go with my cousin It's all Your Majestys fault | The Oueen's dead. likely. by this time' and you might have been King 1T you hadn't come dangling after Trix. l mus to lose crown" said the young l Prince speaking in his impetuous way. rapidlv. in French. "and the loyalty or such hearts al thesei To lose the loNeh- | est woman in the world Marquis orer you the only reparatlon In my power Nlll
 you favor me by crossing s"oros "itn me?'
 Exeremely touched by this immense 1 n,nrk of condescension. Esmond took two l swords from the armore and handed one 1 to the King lowing so low as almost 10 l kiss the royal hand. The swords were no | sooner met than Frank knocked up Es- mond's with the broken blade of hls own. | and the Colonel. stepping phch' ii''ur "" | other very low bow.
 Inst then Beatrix entered the room She | sta rted and turned pale at the sight or 1 tbe broken swords. the papers sinoldering | In the brazier and her stern klnsman l The King made some light and gallant re- 1 mark and told her that, business calling l him at once to London, these two iofuS ' had come to fetch him.
 | "WnI it please the King to breakfast | before he goes? was all the girl would | sav. The roses had shuddered out of her 1 cheeks. her eyes were glaring- she looked ! quite old. She came np to Esmond and | hissed out word or two; "If I did not love you before. cousin, think how love 1 you now,"
 As Esmond looked at her he wondered that he ever could have loved her. The l King and his two companions started to | London at once. As they came by LodY | Warvick's house and down the street of 1 Kensington there was much hustle or peo-
 ple going to and fro and great crowd l around the palace gate. Opposite the pal | ace the coach was stopped by the press 1 of people. and presently out from the 1 gates came marching Horse Guards. with 1 their trumpets and a company of heralds | with their tabards.
 The trumpets blew and the heralds pro-
 claimed: George. by the Grace of God