The daily Alaskan., 1916-08-02
Out of the
 Dungeon A Story of Ancient
 England
By F. A. MlTCHEL


 their rulers became nobles- The full regalia of a peer of England includes a coronet, and the fact that these petty kings were In time reduced from roy alty to nobility Is the reason why the higher British nobles wear a ktngly headgear.
 The residences Of these kings were not called palaces, but castles. They were usually built on an eminence and were surrounded by heavy walls and moat and the entrance was protected by q drawbridge. The reason for this was that the sovereign of all England had very. little power, and In conse- ouence the subkings were usually fight Ing with each other and needed to i've in fortified homes.
 Away back in early times when this feudal system was the only English system of laws known there was king of Gloucester. He had been powerful sovereign in his day and had won many victories over the neighbor- ing potentates. He and the sovereign of Warwick had been in perpetual warfare and Gloucester had conquered his enemy, who had fed, no one knew where. with his wife and child, the latter a boy only a few years old Aft erward one of Warwlck's subjects named Conrad led an army against Gloucester's forces and, achieving his htwnsn1F Einu In this contest a young man not over twenty-one or twenty-two years old distinguished himself fighting in the ranks of Warwick. He was captured and imprisoned in one of the dungeons under Gloucester castle. There he re- mained for a long while forgotten Meanwhile the new king Of Warwick was becoming daily more powerful and bis former enemy, Gloucester, was growing old and the number of his armed retaiuers was diminishing. At last 1t occurred to Conrad that be might overthrow bis neighbor and add his Kingdom to his own
 In order to pick quarrel with Gloucester, Conrad went to Gloucester castle to make upon the old king cer' tain insolent demands that he knew would not be granted. While there he saw the kings daughter, Eleanor, beautiful girl who had just come to marriageable age. Upon beholdlng her he agreed to withdraw his demands provided the king would give him his daughter to wife.
 Now, Conrad was not only a bad man, but be was very repulsive physi. cally.
 The old king Of Gloucester, aware that be no longer possessed the power to resist a strong enemy. knew not what to say to Conrad's proposition.
 Eleanor understood her fathers posi- ton and the terrible alternative be- fore her. Either she must become the wife of her fathers enemy or he wor'' l be oyerpowered, and they would meet the fate they had inflicted on the real king of Warwick She had often heard the story of hIs flight with his wife and child and regretted rhut her father had been instrumental in bringing about his fall and the rise of the 1 usurper. And now the latter had come to revenge the man he had driven from his kingdom.
 Eleanor had never seen the usurper and before deciding consented to meet him. When he came into her presence be bent his long body on his bandy legs, the plume of his hat sweeping the floor. expressing at the same time his admiration in a leer She could not conceal her disgust. Turning from him. she swept out of the room.
 The hot blood mounted to Conrad's cheek. He scowled. half drew his sword. then thrust 1t back Into it's sCabbard and. stalking out into the courtyard. mounted his horse and, fol- lowed by his attendants, rode out through the castle gateway, crossed the drawbridge and went down the declivity.
 Nothing remained for the old king of Gloucester but to put hIs castle in as good a state for defense as possible, arm his retalners and sell his kingdom as dearly as possible His daughter did what she could to assist ln the preparations. but her efforts were con fined principally to getting together material that would be needed by the wounded. She knew that there were prisoners in the dungeons below. and she went down there to see If any Of them could be persuaded to fight for the king of Gloucester.
 A young man. pale from confinement, was led out to her. It was some time before he could see her in the strong light.
 "who are youT' she asked.
 Twas taken prisoner. know not how long ago. fighting in the army of Conrad the usurper."
 "Why do you call him the usurper|
 Because there Is but one king of Warwick, and be Is not on the throne" "We are to be attacked by this pre- tended king of Warwick"
 Grant me leave to fight for you, good lady. and will do so."
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