Love And Loyalty.

Egad , your watchman is as relentless as Old Scythe and Hour-Glass himself !" Then was heard iu ( he quiet thoroughfare a whec / . y , raucous voice proclaiming , " Past , twelve o ' clock , and a frosty morning ! Past twelve o ' clock ! "

' •Seymour , said Somerville , after an interval , " it we agree to leave for the North , how do you propose to travel , by road or water Y " By water , " was the quick reply . •' But do you not think that thc element of danger will bc greater on the sea than on land Y " was the next query . The speaker then added , " I have heard that George ' s sea-dogs guard the coast and are empowered to board and search all vessels , no matter what Hag they may Hy . "

"That is so . ' asserted Seymour , "but I am of opinion that to journey either by coach or post-chaise will be more dangerous . The North-mad between London and St . Alban ' s is being patrolled and all travellers are under espionage . " "Thai being so , why not make a detour Y" suggested Wharton , and then added , '' Instead of journeying to Carlisle direct what say you to proceed thither via Oxford and Derby ? it would add some

twenty miles to our journey , but time is ot no vital importance . " My dear fellow , " said Seymour , " you seem to "forget that we must eat . drink , and sleep . The roads being in an execrable condition at this season of the year our progress would be but slow , and we should frequently have to put up for refreshment and rest at numerous inns , and have ' to submit to many cnibarassing inquiries . There is also the risk of being snowed up . 'Tis prematurely wintry inst now . "

" Seymour speaks truly , " interposed Marston . "It is a tedious journey to fche North . We have not progressed much in coach ( ravelling since the days of Queen Anne . M y late father told mc that in the year 1710 , he left the' Black Swan' Inn here in Holborn on a Tuesday morning and did not arrive at the 'Black Swan' in Coney Street , York , till late on tire following Saturday . The hi

ghways were vile and swarmed with the ' Knights of the road , ' and for those and other reasons few people eared to journey after night-fall . " " My plan is a very simple one . " resumed Seymour . " I suggest that wo take ship from the Pool and sail to AYIiitehaven . The 'Triton ' is owned by a friend to the ' Cause' Among other matters he occasionally traffics in the contraband and has in thc hold of the

vessel an ingeniously contrived hiding p lace where he secrets his smuggled treasures He has often been boarded b y thc Revenue . Oliicers , hut they have hitherto been bullied . His crew are devoted ( o him , and it pays them fo he so . We must take advantage of a dark night to get aboard unseen . Hc will immediately stow us away as human contraband . Once clear of the Nore we can leave our

hiding place . If en route to Whitehaven the master should meet with any Revenue cutters or sloops of war and has to submit to the 'Triton' being overhauled , we can retm-ii to our- den till danger- is over . After landing at the Cumbeiland Port 1 propose that we travel by post-chaise to our destination , rid Cockerinouth . The road thither is a lonely one . anil we are not likely lo be molested . The distance by the road , if 1 remember rightly , is but thirty-six miles .

If the weather be had wc can break the journey at sonic wayside inn . ' ¦ -I ( hink that Seymour ' s project c . iniiot bc improved upon . " remarked Sornerville . We ought to reduce the risk of discovery by every means in our power . For certain reasons 1 should have preferred a journey by land as I am but a poor sailor . I sometimes regret having embarked iu the matter . "My mind . " he added , " misgives me . However , it is too late to withdraw now . "

"Of what importance are petty qualms of body and scruples of conscience when the cause of au ancient dynasty is at stake Y ' conlemptously demanded Seymour , and he gazed suspiciousl y at Somerville . " 1 I ' or one have an objection to work with an unwilling or timorous comrade . 1 am of opinion that there is no reason why you should remain with us au-ainst vour inclination . If Marston and

W harton agree . I say sever a ( once your connection with us and ( he enterprise . " "Be not so hasty . I beseech you ! " cried lhe other . "Why , Seymour , you are as lierv and short tempered as w , is Hotspur . 1 meant no offence . 1 do assure yon . " We have known each other too long to quarrel over ( rilles . Here is my hand . I prithee lake it . "

Seymour ' s frowning- face at once cleared and he cordially grasped the hand extended to him . " Before we separate for the night , " he said . 'Mel us drink the health of ( lie king . " On the table was a bowl of water in which seve-ial golden carp wero disporting . The four friends stood up . and holding their glasses of punch over ( he bowl they fervently cried "The King ! Allien ! " At this juncture , a low lap was heard at the door , and a stout good-humoured lookinir man entered .

" Gentlemen , " lie respectfull y said , " may 1 enquire if you are read y for bed . It is getting late . Your rooms are in the same gallery , and are numbered six to nine . Al what hour do you wish to be called j- — What time will if p lease yonr honors to breakfast Y " •' My good host , " said Seymour , "my friends and 1 regret that we havo kept yon up so laic . j | We have agreed to rise betimes . Your people can call us at eight o ' clock and we will breakfast half-anhour later . "

The landlord gave each guest a taper , and escorted them to their respective chain hers . The way was by a broad staircase , and on the first lauding a small door opened on lo an ancient gallery containing many rooms . Having placed their individual tapers within their apartments they went and stood upon the gallery to admire the

Love And Loyalty.

beauty of the night . The moonbeams shone direct upon the courtyard of the old hostclrie , and softened the angles of the woodwork . Wharton , who possessed a dreamy , imaginative mind , was enraptured with fche quietness and qnuintness of the scene , and turning to the host—who was just leaving - , hc remarked .

" How 1 envy yon the ownership of this dear old place . If these old walls could but speak , what stirring events they would chronicle , some joyous , some sad . " " Yes , sir ; I warrant they would , " assented the landlord . " I am but a poor inn-keeper , " he continued , " and had bufc little schooling ; but I dearly lovo to read and listen to old-time stories . I have been

told thafc this house was first built in the days of the King who had many wives . It has partly been rebuilt and altered since , but th e yard and galleries form part of the original structure . It was a favourite meeting place of the students of the numerous Inns of Court hereabout . An old man . long since dead , once told me he had heard his grandsire say , that many a time he had seen scraps of

p lays performed m the yard . The gentry and better class were seated in the galleries , whilst the poorer folk stood as best they could in the uncovered space . He also said thafc his grandsire , as a child , had seen the actors from the Blackfriars Playhouse , with the great Shakespeare at their head , enact a comedy within these walls . "

" Shakespeare ! exclaimed Wharton . " Can ifc bo possible that the works of so incomparable a man were so debased , ft seems to mc incredible that genius , such as his , was brought clown to the low level of those luummevs who mouth , grimace , and strut in booths and barns . "

" Booths , barns , " repeated the host , smiling , " they aro at least clean and sweet , if small . My dear , sir ' , ho added , "if the old gossip spoke not falsely , Shakespeare and his company performed in yon stable . Ifc once abutted on old Robin Hood Yard , but there is now a party-wall dividing my premises from those belonging to the inn

of that name in Leather Lane . The large gates of the stable opened outwards , and the stage must have been erected so as to face the Holborn entrance . There is still a small doorway loading to Robin Hood Yard , bufc it is seldom used . I must now leave you , as I have to bc np early . Hark ! the clock of St . Andrew ' s is now chiming the three-quarters after midnight . Gentlemen , good morning . "

" One moment , my worthy host and brother , " said Seymour , " I have a word to say to thee . As thou alread y knowest we are member's of a body who are linked by bonds of fraternit y that cannot bc lig htly severed or disregarded . Moreover , wc are engaged in an en-( erprise thafc we and thousands of others believe to be both honour , able and lawful . A purely patriotic project that has no other aim

than to drive from these realms an alien and unsympathetic House . Since the year ' 14 , the country has been under the ban of foreign domination . The father of him who now reigns over these kingdomswas governed b y unworthy favourites and worthless minions . The present Court and entourage , in ils surroundings , is less unsavoury than its predecessor , but the Teutonic power is unduly dominant .

We are staying here to night , and wc hope to sleep in safety ; but should danger he abroad , we depend upon you as a member of our mystic order , to give us timely notice and to ensure our escape " At this point he lowered his voice , and added , " Admit no one on any pretence whatever to see us , unless on demand he first gives the password ' King , ' and to which the reply is 'James . '"

"Brethren , " replied the landlord , bowing , "you may depend upon mc . It is years sirrec I was enlightened , but I have not forgotten my obligation nor its responsibility . Besides which , my heart and soul are in ( he ' Cause ' you have iu hand . M y father was born on the bonny lands of Dilston , in wild Northumberland , and loved the gallant Lord of Derwentwatcr , whose young blood stained the scaffold on Tower Hill after thc fatal rising of ' 15 . I know but one king- ; God bless him ! and his name is ——• " '

- ' Hush ! " interrupted Seymour , as he quickly placed his hand upon thc speaker ' s lips . " Do not be rash , ifc is dangerous even to whisper thc name in the open . If my cars did not deceive me , 1 heard a movement in yonder out-house . " " 'Twas but one of the horses , " said the landlord . " All my men and serving maids retired long since . Wc do not . keep open house at all hours like ( he 'Horse and Groom' iu the Lane , and such-fike tavern haunts . We close at mid-ni g ht . "

He then left his guests , as he thought to lhcirqiiietrepo . se . However , such was notlo be . He had barely gained his bedroom . whicli overlooked llolborn Hill , when there sounded a violent knocking at the door . He cautiously raised ( lie window-sash , and , ( o his dismay ,

hesaw at the great gate several men , and glistening in the rays of the moon he espied a watchman ' s halbert . ¦ ' God save us ! " he ejaculated . " The watch are on the scent ; Ihey have come to . search the house . I must has ( en lo warn ( he brethren . "

He losl no ( ime iu making his way ( o the gallery , and upon his arriving there , he found the four gentlemen on the alert . " Good friend , " said Seymour , " what means this disturbance ! - Is it some helafed traveller r " "Nay , sir , it is the watch , " quickly returned the landlord . " You must away at once . "

" But whither Y" was thc query . "We cannot soar as night birds do , into space , and if we make our way grimalkin like to the tiles , our capture will he but a matter of time " "Hist ! follow mc , gentlemen , I will show you a safe way out . Tread cautiously , " was the whispered injunction .