The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-02
When Charlie
Came Home
BY ELINOR MARSH

tneih) III the Royal Exchange, Lonuou,
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 q
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
a sigh, he turned away, saying:
II would fain buy Of your goods.
mistress. but am without means"
Select what you wish, sir, and pay
when Charlie cou, 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"
II see," said the marquis, that you
are a royalist- Mayhap you are, like
myself. an impoverished noble"
II am a royaiist. but ! am simply
the masked woman making an honest
living. Tsese gloves would, think,
fit you. VIII you let me try them on
your handT'
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 I'm
ished; "'tis a perfect DIT. Take them
and pay, as l 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 be 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 at her counter pretend |
ing that he came 70 look over her |
goods, though in reality he came to get
another glimpse OF her.
What can sell you this morningr
she said
Indeed, Mistress Masked Woman-I
know not your name-I am Longing
today, and l like to come here to see
you sell your wares. | would that
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 1t 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, l have no more the where
withal to pay for them than when l
was here before"
The masked woman took up the
gloves the marquis had tried on the
day before and. making them into q
packet, handed them to him.
would you give poor woman
pleasureT" she asked softly.
~ would not rob poor woman" he
replied. drawing back.
Il ask you to permit me to do you
this favor"
There was that in her tone which
appealed to him. He took the packet
and kissed the hand that gave 1t
The marquis was seen no more at the
masked woman's stall after that for
Up in his carriage and purchased the
whole stock Of the masked woman.
When she congratulated him on COM
ng TO his own he told her that cousin
lad died and left him a legacy.
When the marquis drove away he did
Tot take the stock with him, though he
eft the money for IL. That was his
asst visit to the masked woman's stall,
'or soon after Charlie came home"
There was great rejoicing among the
cavaliers that after the rule of the
'uritans the rightful king had return
d from France. Then the masked wo-
nan disappeared from the exchange.
But the marquis thought Of her by
ay and dreamed of her by night. His
states were restored to him. but he
vas not satisfied, because he longed
or her and knew not where to find
er.
One evening he drove to a fete given
y the king. The young dowager
duchess of Abergild. whose husband
ad fallen in the late war, was pres
Mt and approached the marquis.
Have you still the glovesT she ask
d archly.
The marquis recognized her voice as
Don as she spoke. Il have" he re-
lied, but have never worn them.
old them too precious TO be used"
The duchess, having been cut or
-om her income during the protecto-
ate. had the choice OF emigrating TO
rance and there being supported by
he French king or earning her own
wing. She had chosen the latter al
,r,asfva