Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-01-20
...A...
BLUNDER;
Being a Tale Of the Restoration
Of Charles II.
BY F. A. mitchell
l,....,ri..l.t iain hv American Presn
BY F. A. r1IrcHEL


Association.
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u was the year that King Charlie
cable srom over the water to take his
egllful place on the throne Of Eng
nd. 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
walk. having Intended to view the
pageant. but my eyes were drawn
above the gentlemen on richly ca-
parisoned horses escOrtiag lie kiag
and even the king himself to a win
dow from which was looking down on
them a young girl who seemed to me
to be the fairest gentlewoman | 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
rs when Elizabeth set the fashion In
Tngland. Her sleeves were slashed at
tile shoulders. and her stomacher 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 | saw l.erd Everest. whom ]
l5new well. bending above her. craning
his neck to get sight Of the king. !
was re3olced. for knew that he could
tell me who she might be and mayhap
wonld 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 no
far from Temple Bar. and when thel
came ont made pretense Of surpris
At seeing Everest and greeted hir
1 peasantly. whereupon he seemed gia'
to see me and babe me come with hin
to his fathers seat at Slough. whicl
is near to Windsor. where great merry
making was to take place among the
gentry of that region for whole fort
nfrnt to celebrate the return OF the
king.
knew not II the lady I had seen
at the window would be Of the num-
her present but l thought ii 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 at 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 and
dancing, and all the while l was the
acknowledged cavalier of the Lady
Eleanor, whom had seen at the win
dow in London. Other young gallants
vainly tried to replace me, and | re-
joiccd greatly that 1t WAS not neces-
sary for me to threaten them, for the
lady seemed willing that alone
should at all times be her attendant
But the tilne came when was made
greatly wroth through jealousy. II
came about in this wise: We were to
have at the end Of the festivities a
great ball at which we were all tc
wear apparel Of other peoples and 9th
er times and masks and were to dance
and feast in these costumes. Many OF
us went TO London. where these things
necessary 10 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 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 dly. SO that now, looking back
ward to those times. | marvel greatly
how | 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 coniiscated. and ! was
last i;asstt coming coming ef 10 inherit them.
Besides, had served Prince rupert In
all the battles he fought in thc Kings
cause. And so It came ah,rt that
when we stro1,ed ont into the green
wood that surrounds iae castle and sat
upon a fallen tree trliHS | told Eleanor
how my heart had zone with my eyes
to her rs she sat Ii the window in
London on the day Of the kings resto-
ration and heegcd her to be my lady.
She did not withdrew the hand | held
and when kissed her lips she did not
gainsay me
Ard so It was all settled between us
and there was no happier man in Eng
land than |. We were to end our re
joicings at the kings return by the
masquerade. and the next week was
TO go to the seat Of my lady's father
to make a formal proposition for her
hand But before that might happen
| we'll nigh rendered our union impos
slhl
/ The day before the masquerade
was wa ing through corridor al
crasnew .ined with sleeping chambers