The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-08-04
When Charlie
Came Home
By ELINOR MARSH


stalls Tor shops, as we would call
them in the Royal Exchange, London.
a masked woman who sold small arti-
cles, such as gloves, laces, neckWear
and other goods, called by the Britons
haberdashery.
One day the Marquis Of Lorenton,
who since the defeat Of the Cavaliers
, had kept himself away from London,
passed that way. The estates of his
/ father, the Duke of EthelstOne, had
been forfeited on account of the fam
ily's adherence to King Charles l., and
the marquis was in sad straits for
living. He stopped at the stall of the
masked woman" as she was univer-
sally known. and entered into CONVEX
sation with her, pricing such articles
as he saw on her counter. Then, with
sigh, he turned away, saying:
Il would fain buy of your goods,
mistress, but am without means
Select what you WISH sir, and pay
when Charlie comes home"
Now. the term when Charlie comes
home" meant in those days when
Charles, eldest son of the beheaded
king and legitimate heir to the throne,
is recalled to assume his rights as SOW
ereign of England"
Il see." said the marquis, that you
are a royalist. Mayhap you are, like
myself. an impoverished noble
Il am a royalist, but | am simply
the masked woman making an honest
living. These gloves would, think,
fit you. viii you let me try them on
your hand?"
The marquis permitted her to try
the gloves on him, but not with the ex-
pectation Of buying them. He liked to
feel her fingers on his own.
There" she said when she had fin
ished; "'tis perfect fit. Take them
and pay. as | said. when Charlie
comes home"
But the marquis stubbOrnly refused
to accept credit, especially from a com
moner, for the woman had said, II am
simply the masked woman" and he
went away.
But there was something in the fig
ure, the voice. the carriage Of the
masked woman that appealed to him
in way he could not account for
Wherever he went the masked woman
in fancy went with him. Waking or
sleeping he saw her moving about in
her little booth and heard the sweet
sounds of her voice
So 1t was not long before he again
found himself ut her counter pretend
ing that he came to look over her
goods. though in reality he came to get
another glimpse of her.
What can sell you this morning?"
she said
Indeed, Mistress Masked Woman-I
know not your name-I am lounging
today, and like to come here to see
you sell your wares. l would that l
could give you my custom; but, alas,
have none to give. The ROundheads
have taken my all
"Mayhap they have spent it for psalm
books"
What they have spent it for know
not, but this know-it is hard for me,
who have always had a sufficiency, to
get on with nothing"
MAY sell you the gloves today?"
Alas, | have no more the where
withal to pay for them than when I
was here before"
The masked woman took up the
gloves the marquis had tried on the
day before and making them into a
packet. handed them to him.
Would YOU give poor woman
PLEASURE she asked softly.
Il would not rob poor woman" he
replied, drawing back.
II ask you to permit me to do Won
this favor
There was that in her tone which
appealed to him. He took the packet
and kissed the hand that gave it.
The marquis was seen no more at the
masked woman's stall after that fol-
some time Then one day he drove
up In his carriage and purchased the
whole stock of the masked woman
When she congratulated him on com
Ing to his own he told her that a cousin
had died and left him legacy.
When the marquis drove away he did
not take the stock with him, though he
left the money for 1t. That was his
last visit to the masked woman's stall
Tor soon after Charlie came home ;
There was great rejoicing among the
Cavaliers that after the rule of the
Puritans the rightful king had return
ed from France Then the masked wo
man disappeared from the exchange.
But the marquis thought Of her By
day and dreamed Of her by night. Hi,
estates were restored to him, but be
was not satisfied, because he longed
for her and knew not where to find
her.
One evening he drove to a fete giyer
by the king. The young dowage,
Duchess Of Abergild, whose husband
mad fallen in the late war, was pres
ent and approached the MARQUIS.
Have you still the gloves?" she ask
ed archly.
The marquis recognized her voice a.
soon as she spoke. II have" he re
nlfQd shut no ra...-