The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-10-28
HER
JAMIE
A Historical Story Of Eng.
land and America.
By r. A. michel

must give up all thought Of my Jamie
and marry Sir Ernest Merivalc The
one loved. but | knew that he was
unsteady; the other respected and
was sure that he would make me a
good husband There were whisper
ings concerning jamie that | did not
Ike. Ii was said that after the defeat
OF the cavaliers by the roundheads
he had followed In the footsteps OF
so many OF the kings adherents and
taken TO the road 10 make a living,
As for Sir Ernest, he was as steady as
rock and as true as steel. But Jamie
had won me by that sweet smile Of
his, and did not love Sir Ernest.
The Merivales had lived near us fol
many years. Ernest and jamie were
cousins, though Ernest was good ten
years older than Jamie, Ernest was
an only son. and when he came into
the title and estates by the death Of
his father his mother urged him to
marry that he might have an heir. !
was then little girl. and he said he
would walt till | had grown and he
would marry none but me. But of
this | knew nothing at that time,
though | noticed he seemed fond of
me and gave me many trinket.
Sir Ernest did not approve OF many
of the kings acts and sympathized
with the parliament Though he did
not take up arms against the king,
the royalists were bitter against him
and vowed that when they had over
come their enemies they would punish
him for not defending his sovereign.
When father told me that | must
give up jamie and marry Sir Ernest
shut myself up in my room and
wept bitter tears. But after awhile ]
grew calm and began to think, not
like foolish girl caught by a bauble.
but as one called upon to decide be
tween that bauble and the promise OF
a life of comfort. And yet the former
was unattanable, for Jamie had no
fortune. and | knew that the report
concerning him was true. lie had
made himself an outlaw.
There was nothing left me but to
marry Sir Ernest, and that ! did. lie
was very loving and tender with me,
treating me as a bit of china that he
feared to break. When he said to me.
Joanna. ! would not have you do vlo-
lence to your heart. and | conJure You
not to marry me without your love,
was ashamed that | was about to do
that very thing, But | resolved that
would put Jamie out Of my mind ana
live only for my husband.
When King Charles II. was restored
TO the throne those who had sworn
vengeance upon Sir Ernest trumped
up charges against him. knowing that
he was in great danger and wishing to
keep it a secret from me or perhaps
fearing that his enemies would lhhIct
some direct punishment on me, he sent
me to an aunt in Scotland to abide TIL
the storm should have blown over ana
he might again feel a measure OF
safety.
While was in Scotland my husband
sent me letters by the post, but there
came long interval between his writ
ings. and wondered When q month
had passed and no word had come
from him told my aunt that ] would |
90 back 10 England. Then she told |
me that Sir Ernest had been arrested
for high treason against the king, that
his estates had been sequestered ana
that, having no home, ! should remain
with her IN Scotland.
Despite her pleadings ] left her ana
made the Journey TO London. for my
husband had been sent 70 the tower
and expected to find him there. More
over, intended TO 20 to the king ana
plead for him. But when reached
the capital | found that the king was
SO engrossed with milady CastIemaine
that could not get hearing went
to the tower and asked 10 see my nus
band. but was told by the lieutenant
that he was not there. He had been
received there as prisoner. but AFTER
n time had been delivered to Lord Car
bondale by order Of the king
Now, | knew that Lord Carbonate
was the bitterest Of all Sir Ernest y
enemies. and It was he who had made
the threats to be reyenged for my hus-
bands support Of the parliament
though this was not the true cause OF
his lordship's enmity. The two had
been fellow students at oxford, ana
Ernest had accused Carbondale OF
cheating at cards. feared that this
enemy, with the kings permission, had
taken my husbands life or had kept
him a secret prisoner. ] spent months
trying to find a trace OF him, but no
trace could ! find.
One day there came news from
America that the English had taken
from the Dutch the town OF New Am
sterdam and renamed II for the kings
brother. the Duke Of York. In the ac-
count OF these proceedings mention
was made Of one Merlvale Could this
be my husband? II so, what did II
mean that be had gone 10 this new
leaving me, his wife. In Eng
land ignorant OF his goingy ! believed