The Marshall republican., 1909-06-11

tible to honest praise, for he was no
fool, and he was undoubtedly pleased
when Sir Peter wrung his hand. He
then led the way into another room,
and the door was closed.
The rest Of the party behaved very
civilly to me, and I accepted thankful.
ly an invitation to have something TO
eat and drink. They were merciful TO
me, seeing my distress Of mind. and
did not plague me with questions, but
resumed their conversation with one
another.
Presently the prince and Sir Peter
appeared. and his royal highness said,
with that charm OF manner which Sc.
duced some men and many women:
"Hark'ee, Sir Peter; l do not prom.
Use that the affair win be complete be-
fore Sunday night; / go to Windsor
early in the morning, and two days is
a brief time In which to arrange so
important a matter. But II you will be
at Windsor on Sunday morning. I
pledge you my word as a gentleman
The paper shall be ready, signed, sealed
and delivered"
At that Sir Peter fairly broke
down, and could only say: God bless
you, sir; God bless youl" and the
prince, turning the old mans emotion
off gently, smiled and said:
"'Tis for the preservation of the
~gallantry of our sex, Sir Peter, that
his young officer must not hang"
He warmly invited us to remain and
inish up the wine, and then one Of the
gentlemen at the table, whether Of de.
'ign or not, mentioned the %extraordin-
,ry reports which had just reached
london concerning the trial at York,
md l, encouraged thereto by a subtle
ook and a question of his royal high
less, told the whole story, assisted by
Sir Peter. II was listened to with the
deepest interest
Lady Arabella Stormunt was known
70 every person there, and the prince
remarked that he had danced with her
At the last birthnight ball. Her in
'atuation for Overton was well known
and freely commepted on, and the
strange measures that women will
sometimes venture upon In the inter.
est, as they think, OF the man they
love, was exempliied in her testifying
against Giles Vernon. Sir Thomas
vernon's hatree of his heir was also
we'll known-and as the web was un'
folded to the prince he listened with
an air of the profoundest thought, and
his comment was significant:
THE king al pardon"
He had pity on us and did not press
us to remain to cards, SO we left Carl.
ton house about an hour after entering
1t, and with hearts UNNECESSARILY
lighter. Our first thought was 10
hasten back to our lodgings to send
off our good news to Lady Hawkshaw
and Daphne by the northern mail.
Sir Peter told me then that the
prince had directed him to go to Wind.
sor in the morning and remain, and
that he himself would bring him back
on the Sunday morning, II the coun'
ter signatures to his majesty's could
not be had before. The prince was
quite familiar with the procedure. and
engaged to get the pardon from the
king without 0lflcuity.
Early next morning Sir Peter lie
me. 1t was agreed that l should pro-
coed on the Sunday morning to the
Bear and Churn, a tavern and posting
station nea London, on the northern
road, to arrange in advance for the
best cattle, in order that not a moment
might be lost In returning to York. So,
after two miserable days alone In Lon
don, while Sir Peter was at Windsor, I
was glad on Sunday morning to be on
the northern road, preparing FOR our
rapid return to York. The Bear and
Churn was directly on the highway,
and was well out of London, being sur
rounded by green fields and orchards.
1t was a beautiful morning, more
like April than February. The green.
ness of the earth, the blueness Of the
heavens, the quiet of the country, after
the rattle and roar and dun skies Of
London, were balm to my soul.
I reached the inn by ten o'clock;
and, having arranged for their best
horses, and sent word two stations
ahead, l sat down to pass the day as
best might. I wrote a long letter to
Daphne, and then, it being about IL
o'clock, / went out for a walk.
There was a pretty pathway through
a little grove toward a rolling field
next the highway. l took this path,
and presently came face to face, at a
turn in the path, with Overton. He
was singularly dressed for a man OF
his quality and profession.
He wore black clothes, with plain
silver buckles at the knees, and black
silk stockings and shoes. His hair, un'
powdered, was tied with a black rib
bon; but he wore no Grape or vestige
of mourning. l had ever thought him
the handsomest man in England; but
in this garb, so different from the
brilliant uniform or other exquisite
dress In which l had heretofore seon
him, he looked like an Apollo. He
greeted me gravely, but not impolite'
ly; and we walked along together. He
had heard of my marriage, and felici