Year: 1860




by the corporal and the other soldiers of the
guard, he was taken TO relieve his predeces-
Sors on the post, aud after an interchange of
the usual formalties, was left alone. His FIRST
impulse was to examine the bush into which.
on the previous evening, had been flung the
packet. After looking carefully around him,
and, in spite of the absorbing though which
now occupied his attention. casting one glance,
accompanied by troubled sigh, upon Nil.
dred's window, he approached the wall Be
fore, however, he could put aside the leaves,
several heavy steps resouuded through the
Vaulted passage, and Gerald drew back from
the wall with all the seeming unconcern he
could assume


The persons who entered the court were the
commander, Lazarus Seaman himself, and
three soldiers. With grave salute, aud
few words to Gerald, the Colonel gave drec-
/ tions that the heavy gate of the prison tower
should be opened, and motioning to one of the
soldiers who accompanied him to remain be-
hind, he entered the tower with the two 9TH
erS, and was Immediately heard mounting the
winding stair leading to the room above, in
which the prisoner was confined.


Again did Gerald'S heart beat thick with
apprehension. What could be the purpose Of
this visit of the Governor to his prisoner p
Had report Of the previous evening been
the cause Of this fresh examination Did it
result from the discovery of the secret packet?
Gerald trembled-a moments search among
those bushes would convince him of the reali
ty OF vanity of his agonzing fears, and yet
he did not dare to stir a step to solve his
doubts. The eye of the other soldier was up
ppb Ia ,-itl
catch the faintest sound that came from the
tower as if he could thereby know what pass
cd in the chamber Of the prisoner striving,
at the same time, to master all expires ion Of
his feelings, lest his secret should be read upon
bis brow by the very anxiety to conceal it
Useless effort for the soldier who remained
behind paid little heed to him, aud would
have been totally unable to comprehend his
motives for uneasiness, had even its exposition
been visible


At length the steps of the Governor and
his party were heard descending the stairs of
the tower As they emerged into the court,
Gerald started with q fresh burst of uncon-
trQable agitation. The old cavalier followed
the ROundhead Colonel With a few more
words 20 signify to his prisoner that the time
allotted to him to take air in that court was
short, Lazarus Seaman again retired.


The soldier, already mentioned, remained
behind as sort Of extra sentinel, or watch,
to prevent all possibility of escape during the
time the prisoner was permitted to promenade
tie open space.


Gerald was in the presence Of his father


With what ovcrpowcring emotion did he
now long to throw himself into those arms,
and be pressed to his fathers heart ! And
yet the utmost caution was necessary. A
word might deprive him of all power to assist
the prisoner in his projected escape It was
with the utmost difficulty that he restrained
his feelings, and watched the noble form of
the old cavalier as he paced slowly and sadly
up and down the court


That, then, was his father


The dark mourning habit which Lord CIyn.
ton wore in imitation of many of the Royalist
party, after the execution of their unfortunate
master; although soled aud torn, gave him an
air Of dignity in spite Of its look of sadness
aud the long grzzIed beard, which had evi-
IDENTIFY remained untrimmed, having been left
probably to grow uncultured as a sign of sor-
row, bestowed upon him an imposing express
sion, in spite Of its neglected state.


Although cast down and worn out by disap-
pointment and vexation, there was evidently
teVcrsh and teSty impatience in the old mans
manner, which was perhaps a symptom of the
family temperament and Gerald observed
that from time to time he looked sharply at
both the sentineS; and then cast fnrtve
glance at the cump Of bushes near the wall
The packet then was supposed By the prisoner
to be still there ; but yet uneasineSs and doubt
were visible in his hasty looks: la rejecting
upon the position of the barred window Of the
prisoners chamber, Gerald remembered that
its tenant might have witnessed the approach
of the supposed fisherman and OWNED his mo.
tive, without being able to see what had pass
cd near the bushes themselves


The old man was consequently still doubtful
as to the safety of the communication which
was to be the key to his escape, and even
more anxious as to the means by which he
might reach it, Gerald watched with papi-
tating heart how, in his promenade, the old
cavalier approached nearer and nearer, as if
unconsciousy the parapet wall Had he
been alone, all, he said to himself, would have
been well but there was another witness to
observe the prisoners actions. Gerald in his
turn also scrutinized the comrade of his watch,
and turned over ia his mind schemes to elude
MS NISIlduCC'


The man employed upon the extra duty of
this watch was well known to him by sight
and reputation. He was said to have been
originally Of Dutch extraction and certainly
there was much in his heavy features sleepy
eyes, and phlegmatic temperament which seem
ed to attest the truth of such a supposition-
a supposition which was still more borne out
by the report that he owned the euphoniouS
appellation of Gideon Van Guse This, how
ever, was but vague hearsay for in imitation
of the fantastic habit of some of the fanatics
of the time, Gideon had adopted pious cog
nomen, the softness of which he perhaps fan
cied to accord well with his own pacable and