The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-16


respects to Lady Peverii.
He CHANGED upon a secret guest--the
Countess OF Derby. who claimed the
title Of Queen Of the Isle OF Man, with
all the rights of an Independent SOW
ereign. She had defended her domain
against the Parliamentary party even
after all other parts OF Great Britain
had submitted. Indeed, she had prac-
tically succeeded in beating the Cron-
wellians on when an uprising OF her
own people did what the besiegers
could not do. To make the blow worse.
It was headed by vassal and friend
of her husband. William Christian, a
gentleman OF the Tsie Of Man. This
man had held high position of trust
under the Earl Of Derby. and when
that noblenan had died for his King,
he had become the chief adviser of the
Countess.
Possessed of power and knowledge.
he established himself and imprisoned
the Countess OF Derby and her son I'M
til the Restoration made a second ris-
ing possible In Man. when Christian
was Imprisoned in his turn.
The Countess immediately ordered
| the Dempster of the island to hold
| high court Of Justice on Christian.
He was found guilty of treason and
| shot to death by file OF soldiers.
| This act OF revenge brought upon her
| the wrath OF the very royalty whose
cause she had served so loyalty. for
| Charles and his advisers, eager to con-
ciiiatA. had guaranteed indemnity to
ell. In addition. the royal court felt
| rather disturbed at so audacious an
assumption Of rival prerogatives-
Consequently the Countess. barely
come into her own, was fugitive
again. and had sought temporary
asylum with her kinsnen, the Peveriis,
when Major Bridgenorth was led to
the castle by an evil star.
There could have been no worse
meeting. william Christian had been
his brothsr-tn-law and his wrath
against the arrogant woman had burn
ed fercely ever since her high-handed
deed. As soon as he saw her he told
her that. In his capacity as a magia-
trate, he placed her under arrest.
Lady Peveril besought him to re-
spect her hospitality. Failing 70 move
him, she armed her people and made
| him q prisoner. Scarcely had this been
done before Sir Godfrey returned from
London. He had heard that warrant
| had been issued against the Countess
| and at once armed himself and set out
| with her to escort her to safety.
Major Bridgenorth managed to es-
| cape from the castle and set out in
ceeded in cutting of Sir Godfrey and
presented the royal warrant, which the
doughty knight tore up at once. There
was a clash, but without bloodshed.
| Sir Godfrey unwilling to hurt his
neiRhbor contented himself with un-
horsing him and the Majors men were
well satisfied to accept this as de-
feat and ride away.
Sir Godfrey succeeded In taking the
/ Ca 80 rvuar a
her offense was compromised BY the
| imposition OF heavy fine and the af-
| fair to all appearance had blown over
and became forgotten. But In reality
| from II were to grow consequences
that were TO lay Sir Geoffrey and his
son Julian in peril Of their blood before
many years.
Major BrIdgenorth. deeply embittered
| by the unavenged death OF his kins-
man, sent for his daughter ana wrote
| TO Lady Peveril, announcing his inten-
tion of departing from the country for
| a time IL was q not unffiendly let
| ter and furthermore he took pains to
make arrangements in regard 10 Sir
| GAoffrey's Indebtedness that made mat
| tiers easy for the knight.
Some years passed without any news
| Of either the Major or his daughter.
| True warrants were issued once against
| in a plot to overthrow the King. and
| Sir Geoffrey ransacked the county for
| him, but he was not found, and the
talk died away again.
Julian Peveril was in the Isle OF Man,
at the castle of the Countess of Derby,
where he was being educated with the
young Earl They had travelled to-
gether through Europe. and had become
young men accomplished In all the
graces OF that day. The times were
quiet enough to all seeming although
the old roundhesds and the many
strange religious parties OF those days
preached and stormed furiously against
the growing profgacy of the court, lik-
ening 1t to the Temple Of Baal, and pre-
dieting the judgment Of Heaven on
England for bowling to the Scarlet Wo-
man.
Young Psveril was passing his time
In fishing and riding about the wild
country Of Man when one day he
CHANGED on a house belonging to the
Christian estates; and there. hidden
from the world by her father, he found
the playmate Of his childhood, Alice
Bridgenerth, grown into the beautiful
young woman that she had given ample
promise of becoming even in infancy.
1t was wonderful how devoted an
angler Julian Peveril became after that
frst meeting. Day after day saw him
whipping the brooks that ran near the
house. Day after day the mutual llk-
Ing that the two had felt for each 9TH
er from the first grew into a warmer
feeling. until at last they were In love
with all the strength OF two brave and
simple young hearts.
Matters had not come swiftly to this
pass between them. While they were
meeting each other and falling in love
the quiet times had vanished. The fan
atical sermons OF the disanfected had
ceased to ring out unheard. All Eng
land was In panic and wild terror at
the widest deiusion OF that hystericaI
time-the mad scare that men called
the Popish Plot and that sent all those
who hated the Catholics TO bed each
night in shuddering fear lest they
awake to hear the clamor and death
cries OF massacre.
The news Of these alarms had spread
even to the domlnions Of the Catholic
Countess of Derby. when Julian Peve-
ril and Alice were surprised one day
by her father, who was In the habit
OF making secret and mysterious visits
to the island. Sadly frightened, Alice
threw herself on her knees before him
and besought his pardon for Julian. He
raised her gently and treasured her. In
stead Of showing anger he welcomed
the young man, informing him that he
with the girl.
II Julian Peveril was surprised at
first. be soon learned what had caused
this strange Indulgence. Major Bridge
north. always a jealous and earnest
Presbyterian had become a fanatic, in
whose eyes every man who did not
. -~an With him Was an AnRmv IN the re-