The Lamar register., 1909-08-04

Sir Peter then told me the circum-
stances OF his visit to Windsor. The
prince, who was always most powerful
when the king was on the verge of
madness. saw his father and found him
comparatively rational. The story be-
ing preached to him. he appeared in
terested. and even grew more col
lected as his attention was chained. He
recalled at once Sir Peter Hawkshaw
and the capture of the incompatible
and Xantippe, and corrected the prince
when he spoke of Sir Peter as vice-ad-
miral of the White. 1t was very easy
matter to get his signature to the par
don, and the necessary seals and for
malities took some little time but no
trouble. and when Sir Peter presented
himself at the castle on Sunday all
was prepared for him.
We felt now comparatively safe.
There was little doubt that we could
reach York at least "a hours in ad-
vance of the date set for the execu.
ton; our letters would precede us.
giving positive assurances of hope:
and we looked for no accidents. having
a new and strong chaise.
After Sir Peter had told me his
story. l told him mine about Lady
Arabella and Overton. He was not
much imbued with the kind of religion
that Overton preached, although he
swore roandly by church and state.
and was always a great churchman
when he was slightly in liquor. which
did not happen often. He therefore
condemned Overton's sermon. which
I tried to repeat to him. as a damned.
beastly low sort Of religion. unfit for
gentleman to practice; but he ad-
mitted that Overton lacked neither
brains nor courage. For Lady Ara
bella, though, he had the stern disap-
proval OF an honest heart. and in his
excitement swore both long and loud
because of the hort-sightedness of
Providence in permitting such women
to exist for the undoing Of his maj
estys officers of both services.
We made good progress that night
and the next day, which was Monday.
and began to have strong hopes of
reaching York Wednesday night. But
on Monday, in the afternoon. the
weather suddenly changed. violent
snowstorm set in. and our postboys
willfully, / think. drove us ten miles
out of the way, near a tavern where
they hoped, no doubt, we would agree
to stop until the storm should be over.
But Sir Peter. putting one OF his great
horse-p pistols to the postboy's head.
forced him to turn back to the high
road. We lost three hours by this;
and when we got to our next posting
cd fuyn q q
ahead, had been taken. We got others.
after frantic effort. but at the end
of that days journey We saw our mar
gin of time diminished exactly one
half.
l shall not attempt to describe the
fierce and gnawing impatience which
consumed us, nor the awful and I'M
spoken dread which began to over
shadow us. Sir Peter was a man of
stout heart, and had no more notion
of giving up at this stage Of the affair
than he dreamed of surrendering
when he saw the incompatible to
windward and the Xantippe to lee
ward.
The weather. however. grew worse
instead Of better. and even four horses
could scarcely drag us through the
mire made by the snow and rain. In
spite of all we could do our progress
diminished, although at no time did 1t
seem hopeless, until-O. God! 20 miles
from York, at midnight on the Thurs
day, Sir Peter himself suddenly gave
out; the strain had proved too much
for his brave heart and sturdy frame.
1t came as the horses were wallowing
along the road in the darkness, and !,
holding my watch in my hand, was