The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-01-15
lie Kept His Promise

IorIeinalL

E0riginal9
Between the death of King Edward
VI. Of England and the accession Of
Queen Mary there was an effort made
TO place a 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 or
London for completely in the move
ment was Henry Hamerston, who was
to, have been married to Harriet Bur
leigh, 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 were as alluring to
him as they were rcpellent 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.
Immersion, being 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 luxurles as
he desired His deyil-may care dispose
ton kept him up even In the shadow
of the block, and when his hancee
came to see him 1t 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 viii 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 bis keeper never tired Of
being with him He would frequently
ask his prisoner TO drink bottle OF
wine with him One day when they
sat down to drink Hamerston made IA
wry face at the taste OF the wine.
"Hoot, man. exclaimed the keeper
"What dye mean by making face at
wine / have myself imported from
Burgundy"
II don't like II" replied Hamerston.
Il have much better wine in the eel
lar myself"
Nonsense. There's no better wine
in France than this
but don't like French wines.
Give me your permission to send to
the cellar for some wine / have there,
and I'll show you what good wine is"
Send IL you like"
Hamerston's servant was called, and
his master, looking him in the eye
meaningly, said:
go to the cellar and fetch bottle
Of Oporto wine. DO not make mis-
take and bring any of the other wines
have there. Bring the oporto"
Now, this was signal between
master and servant that no one recog-
nized except themselyeg 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 adyocat-
ing those Of Spain. Time passed, and
the servant did not return.
''The man has stopped to drink"
said Hamerston, "and likely is lying
on the floor drunk. I'll 60 to the Gel
lar myself"
Jumping up, be left the room. In
the corridor his servant was waiting
for him.
"Ail right said the man. "Here is
the key"
"And the keepers manw
y 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 1t, locked the official In Then.
changing his velvet donbiet 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