The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-10-05
An Escape
Bv SUSAN YOUNG PORTER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

Our family has occupied the sdWe
house in London for several centuries,
and the upper stories are crowded
with heirlooms and old papers. This
continued residence is remarkable, Tor
there has never been a political dis
turbance in the kingdom in which at
least one of my race did not take part
Tn nosing over an old letter written
by one of my quarrelsome ancestors
to his mother I found the following
story:
Heaven keep you, my dear mother,
and may the Joy Of getting this letter
and the news contained in it not be
too much for you, seeing that your son
is out Of reach of harm in this pleasant
land of France, land that l shall
always love, since it's grapes or, rather,
the wine made from their juice is at
the bottom Of my escape. Had 1t not
been for an idea put in my head by
the wine | had in the cellar of the
Tower | would now be without a head,
like the duke (of Monmouth) in whose
stupid effort to take the throne from
his uncle, King James, was much
mixed.
You know that, being man of rank,
yet not leader in the rebellion, l was
accorded the privileges usually granted
to such persons, being lodged with the
lieutenant of the Tower himself and
as fine a fellow as ever served his SOW
ereign. From the first l felt sure L
would keep my head on my shoulders,
and if / didn't I was bound to enjoy
what little time was left me. The
lieutenant and I were kindred spirits,
and many were the cups Of October
ale we drank together, he always CIV
ing the toast, MAY your head never
roll into a basket, but may you meet
the death of a nobleman, falling before
a pike or a sword"
I had the wine you sent me down
in the cellar under the Tower in which
are the lieutenant's quarters, and one
day while drinking with my jailer, we
getting tired of ale, told him that l
had some fine French wine in the Gel
man for it would open bottle. He
gave the permission and the cellar key,
and, calling Jacob, l gave him the
key and told him to go for bottle.
l also tipped him a knowing look.
1t was only look, and l never
dreamed that a look and a key would
tell him what l wished to say to him,
but couldn't speak for the presence Of
the lieutenant But when a man Is
waiting to have his head Topped off he
will cling to any straw Of hope, and
so did I. Jacob was gone long
while, but in time came to the door
and instead of handing in a bottle
stood without, his clothes hanging on
his arm. I knew what this meant,
and quick as a flash I moved the key
Of the door from the inside to the out
side and locked it, shutting in the lieu
tenant.
I began at once putting on Jacobs
clothes, and he began putting on mine.
While he was doing so he told me
why he had been so long. He had told
the man on guard that he had the key
to the cellar where the wine was kept
and if he would come with him he
might have all he wished to drink.
When Jacob got the guard in the Gel
lar he opened a bottle Of the wine and
told him to drink quick because was
waiting for him to come with wine
and he couldn't be too long. The man
drank two bottles as fast as he could
pour their contents down, then fell on
the floor. Jacob locked him in.
l was but a few minutes getting on
Jacobs breeches and doublet and, put
ting on his hat, pulled it down over
my face. Then, pretending to be drunk
with liquor, I staggered out into the
courtyard, and, passing over the spot
where two Of King Harry's wives We're
beheaded, l walked past the sentry at
the postern, those l met laughing at
me for a sot. 1 was obliged to pass
over Tower hill, where stood a scat
fold that had for weeks been used for
beheading such rebels as l and, totter-
ing down into the frequented streets,
lost myself in the crowd.
Luck helped me, for no one saw me
to know me, though l saw some I
knew. l thought Of going home to
hide, but knew I would be sought
there and pushed on, moving by the
outskirts till reached the east side Of
the town, when l pushed off through
the country toward the coast.
But did not go directly east, for l
wished to see my sweetheart at Link
born manor and give her a kiss before
putting the sea between her and me.
besides relieving her mind as to the
chance of still keeping my head and
body together. 1t was evening when
/ came to the manor, and Margaret
was walking among the flowers. She
was languid and dropping, for she had
been told that l would be brought to
the block in few days. When she
saw me coming in Jacobs clothes she
knew his doublet and gave a cry.
thinking he was bringing her news of
me. Staggering toward me, she fell
Painting in nv arms 7 ticSod bon