The Alaska citizen., 1910-08-06
BRIEF COURTSHIP

condensed love story. Mary was at this susceptible age when the Round heads and Cavaliers were fighting for supremacy in England Her fath- .r Sir Thomas Aikenside. was country gentleman living on his es- ate in the county of Essex He took no part in the struggle, having been educated To respect kingly au- thoriry. but not approving the course of Charles l.
 One evening a party of Cavaliers consisting of 150 horscmcn. moving from one position to another stop ped ar the Aikenside estate and. finding plenty of water convenient, decided to bivouac there for the H.4hr They were the first soldiers .Gaf Mary Aikcusidc had ever seen. She kept her great eyes fixed on -hw in wonder To her they ap- .ared a- the first Spanish warriors who visited America appeared to the muorad savage.
 The men made their camp fires n thc grounds surrounding the house. but Sir Thomas invited the officers to occupy whatever spare hc3s he possessed This offer they declined. but consented 10 sleep in .he eapacjous wainscoted hall. light at by logs burning in the great fire place Among these officers was young Egbert Booth, the son of British peer Young Booth was but Jlguoeu years old and held the low a=l commissioned rank His portrait. painted at that time hangs today in line gallery of his descendant, the Earl of Docryalc l. is in the dress o5 that period, the breastplate and aae long curls hanging over it in Ha-lIgout profusion being especially conspicuous. The face is marvel of beauty not a sign of beard. large black eyes, bcspeakiug a mo- aIe spirit within; exquisitely cut dae. the whole inclosed within that perfect oval only to be found in youth.
 Mary Aikonsidc saw Egbert Booth, hut he did moi see her. A new and .o her mintcIlgible sensation came
 touring in upon her She had never Hasara been swaycd by even the slightest zephyr of such an emotion. Te. now i. swayed her soul. Her raua9il past with its mild affections aas daarfed by this new life that had suddenly sprung up within her. The youth she saw from her lat #.o carclcssly walking among the 4ampfres had in an instant become to her d matter of life and death.
 Tine next morning when Mary looked out upon the yard below her window she saw nothing of the sol ators. A number of smo1dering camp fires was all that remained to ..H .Lt. INtf Idu DttI li'l E. III .masiuoOfou Mary saw the 1.-the fig -sc of Egbcrt Booth, booted and purod. his left hand incased in a
 8uulet resting on the hit of his a#ord
 While the family were al breakfast shots were heard in the distance.
 "Thcy have met a band of Round heads, said Sir Thomas, who are di+puug their passage.'
 Mary turned white as the break last cloth.
 For several hours there was fir ing. with an occasional shout or a cry. tho sounds gradually coming nearer.
 ~om friends are being driven" remarked Sir Thomas, who stood on his porch listening.
 Mary. who stood by him. gave a
 wa.hcrcd gasp,
 Then down the road poured the Cavaliers. the Boundheads pursuing .them. The sounds receded and were lat last lost in the distance. Sir Thomas mounted his horse to go and see if he could find any of fine wounded that he might succor, He was gone an hour, but returned alone. The family gathered round l him 10 hear what he had to say.
 The Roundheads," he said, have stopped not mile from here. They Iare very bitter against their enc mics. They say that during the fight the Cavaliers dispatched a number of the parliament men who had been wounded and who called for quarter. The Roundheads have taken a dozen prisoners. They are intending to shoot a portion of them in reprisal for the dispatching of their wounded comrades
 Father" said Mary, in an agony, did you see the prisoners?
 T did, my darling"
 Was there one among them a very young man, straight, tall and slender?"
 "I saw such a one, the only youth among them. Mary, what means .his agitation? What is this boy to you? Have you seen him before?'