The Press., 1911-02-22
A1NN|~%1' 'N@NTN<~~@~><~ A BLUNDER Being a Tale of the Restoration
 of Charles Il,
 By F, A. MITCHEL Copyright, 1910. by American Press
 Association,

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 It was the yerr that King Charlie came from over the water to take his rightful place on the throne of Eng land All was good cheer and merry making. for the people of London. who had long endured the psalm singing Rpundheads. were beside themselves with joy at the change,
 The day the king entered London. while his majesty was passing through the Strand I was standing on the side walk, having intended to view the pageant. but my. eyes were drawn above the gentlemen on richly ca parlsoned horses escortlng the king and even the king himself to win dow from which was looking down on them a young girl who seemed to me to be the fairest gentlewoman I had ever seen in my life.
 Her hair was put high on her head, after the custom of the times, and bound with ribbons. Her ruff stood up under her ears. though not so high as when Elizabeth set the fashion in England Her sleeves were slaShed at the shoulders. and her schumacher was studded with gems. Indeed. she wore the costume of highborn dame. and, as to her face and figure. they were the face and figure of an angel.
 When 1 saw Lord Everest, whom l knew we'll bending above her. craning. his neck to get sight of the king. was rejoiced, for knew that he could tell me who she might be and mayhap would make me known to her. And so when the pageant had passed l went to the door of the house in which these people were and which stood not far from Temple Bar, and when they came out I made pretense of surprise at seeing Everest and greeted him pleasantly, whereupon he seemed glad to see me and bade me come with him to his fathers seat at Slough. which is near to Windsor where great merry making was to take place among the gentry of that region for whole fort night to celebrate the return of the king
 I knew not if the lady I had seen At the window would be of the num- Der present. but l thought it likely that she would be. so l went with Everest to tavern, where a meal was served, and after we had eaten our fill and paid the reckoning we took boats and went that night to Cragnew castle, the seat of the Duke of Berry more.
 And what was my delight that the lady who had thra1led me remained with us at the tavern on the river and was guest as we'll as at Cragnew
 Such a fortnight as we passed have never passed since. There were riding and hunting and feasting and dancing, and all the while I was the acknowledged cavalier of the Lady Eleanor, whom had seen at the win dow in London. Other young galIants vainly tried to replace me, and I re- joiced greatly that it was not neces- sary for me to threaten them, for the lady seemed willing that I alone should at all times be her attendant.
 But the time came when was made greatly wroth through jealousy. It 
 have at the end of the festivities great ball at which we were all to wear apparel of other peoples and oth- CT times and masks and were to dance and feast in these costumes. Many of us went to London, where these things necessary to our masquerade were to be procured, but we went secretly and nn% hat A11o hoI0 wear should not be known. I bought me a costume that would do for Chris topher Columbus, who sailed over from Spain more than a century ago and dis. covered that land which has since been called Virginia and which has confer red so great boon upon us in giving us tobacco.
 My love for Eleanor waxed stronger day by day, so that now, looking back ward to those times, marvel greatly how I should have advanced with her so speedily. especially since there was no opposition to our fancy, for, not withstanding that my family had stood by the kings royal father. our estates had not been confiscated, and I was just coming of age to inherit them Besides, had served Prince Rupert in all the battles he fought in the kings cause. And so it came about that when we strolled out into the green wood that surrounds the castle and sat upon fallen tree trunk I told Eleanor how my heart had gone with my eyes to her as she sat in the window in London on the day of the kings resto- ration and begged her to be my lady. She did not withdraw the hand held, ana when I kissed her lips she did not gainsay me.
 And so it was all settled between US. and there was no happier man in Eng land 'han We were to end our re- joicinyrs at the kings return by the masquerade. and the next week I was to go to the seat of my lady's father to make formal proposition for Der