The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-02-25
HER TALL REBEL,
BY MARIA o. FuREy.

passing on top of motor bus would
recognize at once as having been LEFT
among modern buildings from q pas,
age. 1t is called the Staple inn, and
here DR.. johnson wrote his "Idler."
One morning after the battle of Cul.
loden, which ended the rebellion In
Scotland led By the pretender, three
Scotchmen who had been captured in
arms against the king were being con
Quoted past the Staple i'm to the
Tower. A block stopped the sad cor
tege. One of the prisoners, Mac
Dougal, was a very tall man, over
looking his fellows. and withal singu-
larry handsome. A lady looking from
the window of the inn called out to
him:
you tall rebel, you viii soon be
shorter by head"
MacDougal turned pair Of large,
sad eyes upon her and asked defer.
entially:
Does that give you pleasure, mad
ann"
at does"
"Then, manipulating of his hat
and making a low bowl do not die
in vain"
The way having been cleared, the
procession passed on, and the lady
withdrew from the window.
MacDougal, soon after arriving at
the Tower, was about to be led out
to execution when the lieutenant re-
ceived an order for stay. Several
days passed, the prisoner expecting
death all the while, when the door of
his cell was opened, and the lady who
had spoken to him from Staple inn
entered. He looked at her in astonish-
ment
I'VE have met before" said the
lady.
II remember you well, madam. But
am at loss as to the cause Of this
visit. for shall soon be headless, and
headless man cannot serve a lady"
Nevertheless your height will be
improved"
"And would you prefer me short
enedT'
Il would. You are too tall"
you seem interested In cutting me
down"
II am interested in you"
"As Herodias was interested in John
the Baptist"
Your head, l admit, has recently
seriously concerned me-
Il regret that l have not the power
to give it TO you. / can leave It to you
by will, but do not think the courts
would regard the beQuest Of a rebel"
Doubtless there is some fair maid
who would prize your heart"
IF its possession would give you
pleasure you would be welcome to It,
too, could bestow it upon you"
Il would not deprive another Of q
coveted possession"
There is none other who would
prize it. But pray tell me to what
may l attribute the honor Of this
visit?
"a desire to see more Of 50 good
hammered a gentleman"
Il rejoice that my manners please
you, madam, and regret that my
height does not"
But you will be shortened"
My life will not be heightened"
you will not die in vain"
True; l shall have the consolation
Of giving you pleasure"
Say, rather, the pleasure Of giving
me pleasure. Ny pleasure IL yours,
is it notT'
will you not show your apprecia-
ton of my devotion by leaving me to
prepare for an end which may come at
any moment"
SIS my presence obnoxious to your
"At any other time it would be 4
pleasure to me-"
But you wish to be alone"
"Only on account Of the nearness Of |
death"
"Will nothing ruff1e your politenessT
Nothing will affect my appreciation |
for so charming a woman"
why did you rebel against King |
GeorgeT
81 believed Scotland would be bene-
flied by Charles Edward"
"The king is good man"
Doubtless"
She handed him a slip Of paper. he
ran his eye over it. 1t read:
Let Lady - have access to her tall
rebel. and be hanged to her.
GEORGE R.
Something like a faint smile dawned
upon the lips of the prisoner. His
majesty" he said, "is very good to me
to permit you to visit me-"
"He has been more kind to you than
that"
Drawing piece of parchment from
her corsage, she handed 1t to him. 1t
was a pardon, beautifully engrossed
within a decorative border. MaeDou-
gal looked up at bis visitor for a mo-
ment, then sprang toward her and
flung his arms about her. Under cover
Of heartless banter she had been talk
ing the language Of love. He had not
her correctly, but now he
She suffered-no, returned
the embrace.
"Why did you rejoice at my ap-
death?" he asked.
Because you were an enemy Of the
king"
"And what changed your
"Your manners"
HIN! Rather a woman's weather
cock nature. And you alone have
saved meT
mo; l have been assisted by the
Earl of Switzerland and all the county
Of Ross"
The two passed out Of the Tower
together. History says nothing Of the
tuture of either, though they were real
characters