The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1912-04-11
An Escape
BY SUSAN YOUNG PORTER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

Our family has occupied the Sdtnt
house in London for several centuries
and the upper stories are crowded
with heirooms and old papers. This
continued residence is remarkable. for
there has never been Il political dis
turbance IN the kingdom in which nj
least one of my race did not take part
In nosing over an old letter written
by ono of my quarrclsomc ancestors
~ his mother fouad the following
story:
Heaven keep you. my dear mother.
and may the joy Of getting this letter
and the news contained in it not he
too much FOR YOU. seeing that your son
is out of reach Of harm in this pleasant
lirnd of France, a land that | shall
always love, since its grapes or. rather
the wine made from their juice is III
the bottom of my escape. Had il not
been for an ic"a put in my head by
the wine ! had in the cellar Of thr
Tower would now be without Il head
like the duke (of Monmouth in whoSr
stupid effort to take the throne from
his uncle. King james. ! was much
mixed.
You know that. being n man Of rank
yet not Il leader in the rebellion. ] was
accorded the privileges usually granted
to such persons. being lodged with TIE
lieutenant Of the Tower himself and
as fine a fellow rs ever served ms Snv
ercicn From the first felt sure
would keep my head on my shoulders.
and If didn't | was bound to enjoy
what little time was left me. Th"
lieutenant and | 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
Il pike or q sword"
| had the wine you sent me down
in the cellar under the Tower in which
are the ieutenant's quarters. and one
day while drinking with my jailer. we
getting tired of ale. | told him that
had some fine French wine in the eel
lar and If he would lot me send my
man for it would open a bottle. He
gave the permission and the cellar key.
and, calling Jacob. gave him the
key and told him to 20 for bottle.
l also tipped him n knowing look.
1t was only look. and | never
dreamed that look and II key would
tell him what | wished to say to him.
but couldn't speak for the presence of
the lieutenant But when man Is
waiting to have his head Topped off he
will cling to any straw Of hope, and
so did |. Jacob was gone long
while. but in time came to the door
and instead Of handing in Il bottle
stood without. his clothes hanging on
his arm | knew what this meant,
and quick as flash ! moved the key
of the door from the inside to III" ont.
side and locked it. shutting in the lieu
tenant.
! began at once putting on Jacobs
| clothes, and he began putting Oh 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
10 the cellar where the Wine was kept
and If no would come with him he
might have all he wished 10 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.
| was but II few minutes getting on
Jacobs brooches and doublct and. put
my face. Then, pretending TO be drunl,
with LIQUOR. staggered ont into the
courtyard. and. passing over the spot
where two Of King IIarrys wives were
I bcheaded, ! walked past the sentry ut
| the postCrn. those | met lau%hin" 1T
! over Tower hill. whore stood Il Scaf
fold that had for weeks been used for
| behcading such rebels as | and. tOtt"r.
ing down into the frelucntcd streets,
lost myself in the crowd.
Luck helped me. for NO one saw mo
10 know me. though saw some !
| knew. thought of going home Ia
|
there and pushed ON, moving 10y til"
outskirts till ! reached thu rnSt side Of
the town. when pushed of through
the country toward the coast
But / did not 20 directly east for !
wished 10 see my sweetheart ut Link
born manor and give her Il kiss before
putting the sea between her and me,
besides relieving her mind rs 10 the
chance of still keeping my head and
body together. II WAS evening when
came Ia the manor and Margaret
was walking among the flowers. she
was lanGuid and dropping. for she had
been told that | would be brought Ia
the block in a few days, When she
saw III" coming in Jacobs clothes she
knew his d"ubIet and gave "A cry.
thinking h" WAS bringing her news of
me Slauuprnw toward me she fell