Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-03-02
"A
BLUNDER
Being a Tale of the Restoration
Of Charles Il.
By F. A. mitchell
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

III was the year tudt Ming Cnarlle
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
Roundheads, were beside themselves
with joy at the change.
The day the king entered London,
while his majesty was passing through
the Strand, l was standing on the side
pageant. but my eyes were drawn
above the gentlemen on richly ca
parlsoned horses escorting the king
and even the king himself to a win
dow from which was looking down on
them 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
the shoulders, and her stomacher was
studded with gems. Indeed, she wore
the costume Of a highborn dame, and,
as to her face and figure, they were
the face and figure Of an angel
When i saw Lord Everest, whom /
knew well, bending above her. craning
his neck to get sight of the king, l
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 |
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 | made pretense of surprise
at seeing Everest and greeted him
pleasantly. whereupon he seemed glad
to see me and babe 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 a whole fort
night TO celebrate the return Of the
king.
] knew not if the lady had seen
at the window would be Of the num-
Der present. but ] thought it likely
that she would be- so | went with
Everest TO a 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 thralled me remained
with us nj the tavern on the river and
was guest as well as | at Cragnew.
Such a fortnight as we passed ]
have never passed since. There were
riding and hunting and feasting an6
dancing, and all the while l was the
acknowledged cavalier of the Lady
Eleanor, whom l had seen at the win
dow in London Other young gallants
vainly tried TO replace me. and l re-
joiced greatly that il was not neces-
sary for me 10 threaten them. for the
lady seemed willing that alone
should at all times be her attendant.
But the time came when | was made
greatly wroth through jealousy. 1t
came about in this wise: We were to
have at the end of the festivities a
great ball at which we were all to
wear apparel Of other peoples and 9th
er times and masks and were to dance
and feast in these costumes. Many of
us went 10 London, where these things
necessary TO our masquerade were to
be procured, but we went secretly and
not together that the habit we were TO
wear should not be known. ] bought
me a costume that would do for Chris
TOPPER Columbus. who sailed over from
Spain more than century ago and dis
covered that land which has since been
called Virginia and which has confer
red so great a boon upon us in giving
as tobacco.
Ny love for Eleanor waxed stronger
day by day, so that now, looking back
ward TO those times, marvel greatly
how l should have advanced with her
20 speedily. especially since there was
no opposition to our fancy. for. not
that my family had stood
by the kings royal father, our estates
had not been confiscated, and | 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 II came about that
when we strolled out into the green
wood that surrounds the castle and sat
upon fallen tree trunk 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-
'ation and begged her to be my lady.
She did not withdraw the hand held,
and when kissed her lips she did not
yainsay me.
And so it was all settled between us.
md there was no happier man I'm Eng
and than l. We were to end our re-
oicings at the kings return by the
and the next week / was
% go to the seat of my lady's father