The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-11-05
ON THE WAY
TO THE BLOCK.

turtles ago the Lady Arabella Boyle,
borne in her "chair" by a couple Of
nenials on the Strand in London, was
stopped at Temple Bar, the way being
narrow, by small party on foot. The
lady put her head out of the chair win.
dow to learn the cause Of the delay
She saw a prisoner in charge Of guards.
A sudden thought struck the Lady
Arabella.
"Whither are you going?" she asked
Of the officer of the guard.
ITO Tyburn. may it please your lady.
ship"
"What to do?''
ITO cut off this mans head"
Sand supposing 1t pleases me to mar
~ him?"
you'll have a husband without a
head"
THAT'S just the kind Of husband
want. and none other"
She babe her lackeys set down the
chair and sent one of them to fetch a
clergyman. In few minutes he re-
turned with one. and, the prisoner con-
senting. the knot was tied. Then the
procession moved on to Tyburn, and
the Lady Arabel!a proceeded on her
way much pleased with the adventure
Though but twenty-five years old, she
was heels over head in debt. and at
that time there was law in England
that when Il woman married she was
absolved from all she owed. In the
course of half an hour she would be
widow, having got rid of both hus-
band and debt.
But fate lccreed that the delay Of
the marriage should save the prison
er's life. When he was kneeling be-
fore the block at Tyburn and the ex
ecutioner was about to raise his Ak a
horselnan was seen coming like the
wind holding aloft paper. The ak
was stayed till the messenger arrived,
and the paper proved to be an order
to suspend the execution and commit
the prisoner to the Tower.
A week later London was in ecstasy
over the return Of King Charles H..
and all persons imprisoned on account
Of loyalty to him were released. Alex
ander Woman, the son of a country
squire. walked out of the Tower with
no yoke upon his shoulders except the
yoke Of matrimony, which he had no
desire to throw OF. The vision of
beauty that had come down from
heaven. 1t seemed, while he was on
the way to Tyburn was not forgotten
by him. For political reasons his re.
prieve was not published. His wife
Immediately after her wedding and
supposed widowhood sought solace in
Paris, where she proceeded to plunge
again into debt in the gayeties of the
French capital. She returned some
time after the accession Of the new
king and entirely ignorant Of the fact
that she was married woman.
One evening at ball at the palace
the king sought her and said: II de-
sire to present to you one of my gen.
tlemen in waiting. He is more to you
than any other man, for he has given
you absolution. though you have given
him life. Can you'guess who he is?''
"AbsOlution comes only from heaven,
your majesty. and if haze given him
life must be his mother"
The king laughed and directed Alex.
ander Woman to be brought to him.
When he arrived he stood before the
beautiful Arabel.a a young man
scarcely older than herself.
IF this is my son. she said to the
king. Il must have borne him in m,
babyhood.".
You have met before" said the
king. DO you not remember his
face:"
The lady looked at Yeoman curious.
~. NO" she said at last. Il do not
remember ever to have seen him be.
fore"
THAT may he because when we met
I had suffered from long distemper,"
said Woman. land was sore dis.
tressed."
"And what distressed you?"
Faith" said the king, 'he was near.
ing corruption
Your majesty is speaking in rid
dies" said .Arabella.
Rather put it," said Woman, that
was granted a glimpse of heaven
before l was to become food for
I, worms
"a truce to this talk" said the lady.
''and tell me where We have met"
"Never mind that" said the king. "at
least for the present. The gentleman.
having been a stanch supporter of his
rishtful king, deserves lis reward.
Alexander Woman. kneel! Now arise,
Sir Alexander Yeoman." and the king,
drawing LII: sword. rested it on the
young mans shoulder. Il have an cs.
tate for you In Surrey" he continued,
taken from notorious Roundlead, an
estate valued at 100000. would pro-
vide you with wife. but the Lady
Arabella has forestalled me in that
Lady Arabella Yeoman. this is your
husband, whom you married ON his
/ way to Tyburn. condemned to be exc.
cuted for fidelity to his king. He was
reprieved and ut our restoration to the
throne set Free"
Lady Ar1Sella was not long in re.