The Marshall republican., 1909-06-25
p XII,

riNeu ht the Tavern, anu Win the
pardon.
The expectation OF his coming, and
the greater matter upon which we
were engaged, prevented my mind
from dwelling longer upon the strange
scene ! had Witnessed between Over.
ton and Lady Arabella. Overton did
not speak her name to me, and showed
much sympathy Tor us. When Sir
Peters chsfse drove up to the door of
the Bear and Churn, another chaise
with four horses was waiting, and into
II we huddled, bidding Overton n hur-
ried farewell; and In another moment
we were of for York, the horses doing
their best.
Sir Peter then told me the circum-
stances OF his visit to Windsor. The
prince, who a always most powerful
when the king was OF 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. It was a 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 preoede us.
giving positive assurances of hope;
and we looked for no accidents. having
a new and strong chafse. ,
After. Sir Peter had told me hts
story, l told HIM mine about Lady
Arabella and Overton. He vas not
much imbued with the kind of religion
that Overton preached, although he
swore roundIy by church and state.
and was always n great churchmsn
when he was slightly IN liquor, which
did not happen often. He therefore
condemned OvertenSs sermon, which
] tried to repeat to him, as a damned,
beastly low sort Of religion. unit for a
gentleman to practice; but ne adj
mitted that Oyerton lacked neither
brains nor courage. For Lady Ara
bella, though, he had the stern disap-
prevail of an honest heart, and In his
excitement swore both long and loud
because Of the short-sightedness of
Providence In permitting such women
to exist for the undoing of his mai
esty's 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, a violent
snowstorm set in, and post6oys
willfuily, I 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 OF his great
horse-pistols to the postbcy'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
stage. our horses, engaged two days
ahead, had been taken. We got others.
after q frantic effort. bat at the end
OF hat days journey we say our mar
gin Of time diminished exactly one
half.
i shall not attempt to describe the
fierce and gnawing Impotence which
consumed us, nor the awful and I'M
spoken dread which began to over
shadow us. Sir Peter was a man Of
stoat heart. and had no more notion
OF giving UP at this stage Of the affair
than he dreamed of s~urrendering
when he saw the incompatible to
windward and the Xantippe to lee
ward.
The weather. however. grew worse
instead OF better. and eyen four horses
,could scarcely drag us through the
Imire made by the snow and rain. In
spite OF all we could do u progress
diminished, although at no time did II
seem hopeless, until-O, God! 20 miles
from York, at midnight on the Thurs.
-e~Jt SA = WV hAAADSAA oud0OnAy saw
out; the strain had proved too much
for his brave heart and sturdy frame.
1t came as the horses were wallowlng
along the road in the darkness, and I,
holding my watch In my hand, was
glancing at 1t every ten minutes, by
the feeble light OF the travelling lamp.
] spoke to Sir Peter as he lay back
In the chaise wrapped in ~boat-cloak.
and got no answer. He was uncon-
scious. Without stopping the chaise
! got some brandy which l tried to
pour down his throat, but could not.
i grew much a~larmed-it was not like
fSir Peter to refuse good brandy. and
as we were passing q farmstead, !
stopped the chaise, knocked the people
up. and had Sir Peter carried into the
house. / met with kindness. and / re-.
paid It with coin Of the realm. Sir
Peter soon revived, and his first words
we're;