The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-04-11
BY r. A. mitchell
sseseeeeesesssessssossses

=
seeeeeeeeeses
Now that bonny King Charlie has
returned TO US. already we are begin
ming TO forget the trials through which
we have passed since the parliamen
tary forces secured full control and
led their lawful sovereign to the block
The confscation of our estates not
only turned us out of our homes, but
we found ourselves without the where
withal TO live. | was a girl of twenty
when psalm singing colonel in the
Roundhead army who had done some
possession of our homestead. My fa-
Their had fallen in the kings defense
at Marston Moor and my brother at
Naseby.
And now since my mother had died
when | was little girl ! was left TO
bear this great load alone, and when
| walked out of the place where
and my ancestors for generations had
been born there was no other on earth
for me to walk into. Relatives | had.
but they were in no condition to re-
ceive me, having lost their all. as
had lost mine. My father had fore
seen that this trouble might befall us
and had placed hundred pounds in
gold pieces under an eve of the roof
as a last resort when the blow should
fall |, the last of my lineage, now
had this money in my purse, but what
to do with it | knew not. ! walked
on a road leading from my home,
weeping as | walked. though | admit
my tears were rather of rage than of
submission to an adverse fate. ! had
wished when a child that | had been
born boy. for | preferred boys
sports to those of girls. and when the
war came on wished TO be man
that | might fight for my sovereign.
But 1 was still a woman. without
mans advantages.
] would not stop till I had reached
o point where would not be known.
had long been familiar with the glory
Oh. our house should see me dispossess-
| ed and an aatcast. | put ten leagues
between me and my home: then. tired
and footsore, coming to an inn. |
! stopped to rest. would have con-
cealed the fact that was lady. hut
/ could not. The landlady. knowing
my estate, took me up to room and
brought me little broth. of which
partook but sparingly: then she in
sisted that | should rest on couch.
'You are the Lady Madge Clover
leigh" she said Il have seen you of
ten pass our inn in your coach. and
once you stopped here with your ia
Their to sup. Alas, that you should
! come to this. Our gentry are ruined
Il hear our young men. having naughl
with which to keep body and soul TO
last night a young captain who has
fought with Prince Rupert left thi:
inn, and ten minutes later rich Round
head was robbed of his purse"
Burning with rancor as ! was, thi:
put an idea into my crazy brain. Nov
/
with wonder that could have though
of such a means to make a living
| resolved to take to the road myself
Telling the landlady that | would fail
hide myself and my condition under ;
disguise. bought from her suit be
longing to one of her sons who hat
been killed in the war: also his weap
ons | had entered the inn as a maid
left it as a man. ! had only to ge
me horse and | was ready for TIL
highway This | bought from farm
err, and, once mounted. booted an,
spurred, i felt the first return Of spiI
it since the happening of my misfor
tunes
we'll remember my feelings on m
first robbery. heard man swear
ing at and lashing horses to get Their
through a bog, for the road was ba
and the night was dark and misty.
rode OH until saw a coach and pal
numbering through the mud. Reinin
up at the coach window, drew pis
toll on some one-l could not sc
whether man or woman-and demand
ed the travellers purse. was tren
bling from head to foot
Money have not" said man
J voice. Il give you all have" And b
handed me ring. | slipped it on N
finger and rode on. 0verpowered wit
9 sense of guilt and shame. So di.
concerted was | that | forgot the rim
on my finger till the next mornin.
when | noticed that it was gem {
great beauty-a sapphire set in chase
gold A distaste for the way it ha
been acquired struggled in me with
woman's love for gewgaw. Thrice
essayed to throw it away. and thrie
its beauty forbade me. Then though
would keep it, hoping that migl
again meet its owner and restore
to him.
/ made but poor success as q hig
wayman. / struck rich R0undhea
but he swore he had but one gold pie