In the Wars of the Roses: A Story for the Young

s? I have been watching and waiting, hoping you would come before night

e inn, which he and his comrade had shared ever since they had arrived in London; now some three weeks back. Paul had closed the door be

than one; but mainly the fact that the p

d laid a hand on

y felt his responsibility in having the heir of England under his ca

is to us. Rather I should have looked upon him as a friend. For did he not

g at dinner, and his eye roved round the room till it fell upon me, and I saw in it then a gleam of recognition which I did not like. He went out then, and anon returned with a great bearded fellow of sinister as

lightly, "you are a right goodly you

d without heeding

iendly fashion enough. He asked after you; but I said we had little companionship now--that you had your own concerns to attend to in the city, and that we might part company at any time. I would have dis

Methinks you are ove

es whither I go or what I do? If you were but the obscure stranger you pass for, who would trouble to heed whither

the street. It was dark enough in the narr

ny clue by which he may know you? Did you betray aught to him that evening when you b

ished me with funds for the journey to London. I made a villainous bad bargain, it

and wan? Have you yet another lecture

which may be known and traced? Did I not tell you from the very first that I had money enough for both? You

laid his hand upon h

? I knew how readily your all would have been laid at my feet; but it was not for me to accept the sacrifice when I had means of raising money myself. And what

But the pearl clasp of which you

s forming the catch of the clasp. My royal mother had a pair of them once; what be

his hands clo

ttle Prince of Wales on the day when he, in play, fastened that collar about my neck, which colla

d traffics with them; that have I heard from others. Most likely he has himself suspected something, and has gone with his clasp to consult with the chieftain, who is a sworn foe to the House of Lancaster. And

ow. It seemed as if Paul'

that?" he questioned thoughtfully; an

is great city all these weeks for nought. You know how it is with the people of this land. They will never be ruled long by your

cannot speak her name without all manner of insulting

once. The house and faction of York know this. They know that their power would be secure were King Henry and his queen alone in the matter; but there is still one more--the Prince of Wales, against whom no m

their own power, they know that victory is from that moment theirs. Wherefore, Edward, if it be true that you are known, we must fly, and that instantly. These lawless men will not qu

y some wayfarer, who might have chanced to see him in past days or at the French court; but he had never before made sure that this recognition had actually taken place, and the lik

ed to imagine that anybody would suspect the identity of the yellow-haired youth. But the occurrences of this day, combined with Edward's

ushed face of the fair young pr

ur royal father, and claim the protection of his state, and that of the earl your future father-in-law. Tell all your story, and it will make of you the idol even of this wayward city

u would receive. It would rejoice the wh

r a moment, but fin

and my presence in this city is suspected, be sure that every alley to the palace is watched and guar

ed our bitterest foe. My return will be looked for ere the glad Christmas season, and if I am not missed before, I shall be then, and I would not that my good mother were kept l

with my mother. There are moments when methinks it would be the wiser and happier thing to talk no more of ruling here, but rather of securing to my father liberty and honour, and such titles and estates as he can

ancaster had received some rude shocks during the past weeks; but he had never before heard Edward speak in this k

gloom, and I would I were far away from this city, which seems to breathe hatred to all of our name and race. Paul, we had better linger here no longer. Let us away the route we cam

kindly faces once again. And they will love

as welcome enough to Paul, who was sick at heart, and weary with the strain of

start the very first moment we may. I shall not draw another easy breath till we are far away from here. But th

ell be safest nearest to their lair. And we know not the country to the south, whilst this great forest seems like a friend to us; and we have sturdy friends within its sheltering aisles if we are hard pressed. We

nd he would have been thankful if the prince would have thrown himself into the keeping of his kingly sire; but as he had declined to do this, and was not of the stuff to be balked of his will, th

the attic chamber--hoping that no one had observed his entrance into the inn--

and walked forward toward the fire with an air of easy assurance. The peddler was sitting in the warmest corner, and pushed away his next neighbour to make room for Paul, who took the vacant seat readily. The man ve

have something hot to take there. He was resolved that Edward should not be exposed t

rom his movements for the time being; and, long before the morning dawn

t here that acts like a charm in all such cases. If you will permit me, I will mix it for you in a stoup of ho

etween the peddler and his associates--as he now believed half the men in the inn to be. He told the landlord to prepare two trenchers to be carried upstairs, as he wou

peddler had advised Paul to partake of the hot draught also, and the landlord had not heeded his request to place a tankard of

Paul's suspicions, which w

gged or poisoned, and given us to keep us a certain prey for tonight. Perhaps in the end it will prove our b

tily from that motive. Their trenchers had been so liberally piled, however, that there was plenty of broken meat and bread left when they had finished, and this was first

most certainly spied upon, and that to attempt to escape through the house that night would be impossible. A few cautious words (which he caught as he entered the room where the peddler and his companions were sitting) confirmed his impression that Edward was certainly suspected, if not actually identified, and that he would not be a

peril seemed only to act like a tonic upon the nerves of the younger lad; and

gher and more daring flight than they dream of; that he will not be fettered by a cage of their treacherous making! Paul, it is not for nothing that I have lain awake long n

stonished his mother by his feats in the salmon pool at home, and

come here to the window. See you no means of escape

he turbid, sullen stream. No watch could be kept on this side, nor did it seem to be needful; for the old inn was a lofty building of its kind, and the black water lay some sixty feet below the small window of the room in which Paul and his companion lodged. No man in his senses, i

mething of a shudder; but Edward had dived into a little press that stood in the room,

and drop silently into the river: Then we must swim to one of those small wherries which lie at anchor beside the sleeping barges. I know exactly what course to steer for that; and once aboard, we c

fo

frost makes walking easy. We shall speed so well that we may chance to reach the shelter of the Priory ere night fall

oke a sort of shiver came over him, as though he had pronounced his own doo

slung their boots about their necks, and then, with as little clothing as possible upon them, commenced their stealthy descent down the rope, which had been firmly attached as suggested by the prince. Edward went first, whilst Paul remained in the room to guard

nto midstream, and presently the exercise of swimming brought a little life into their benumbed limbs. But glad indeed was Paul to reach the side of the l

t is our only chance of life. We shall freeze to death if we can

life came ebbing back into their chilled limbs, and with the welcome warmth came that exultation of heart which always follows

dry. It will be better here than on shore, where we might chance to be seen and suspected. I am glowing hot

g dry, and the feel of warm and sufficient clothing was grateful indeed after the icy bath they had encountered. Their boots were wet, but that mattered

ried Edward boldly. "Our good friend the peddler will look bla

ickly made known, in which case pursuit would be hot. The best hope lay in getting into the forest, which might give them shel

t the grim fortress of the Tower. Very soon after that, they were gliding between green and lonely banks in a marsh

e visible for miles to the trained eye of a highwayman, and if pursued would fall an easy prey. But by crossing this desolate waste at night, when not a living thin

and had spent many long days stalking deer or wandering in search of game across the bleak hillsides. But Edward, though a hardy youth by nature, and not altogether ig

the great black forest, stretching backwards as far as eye could see; and Edward, throwing off his exhaustion by a manful effort, redoubl

lter for a few hours, as he and his comrade had been benighted, and had been wandering about in the darkness many hours. The fare was very coarse and homely, but the famished lads wer

arnest, anxious eyes. The heir of England was in his care, and already probably sought in many directions by cruel and implacable foes. Until Edward were in safety, he himself shoul

a queer bundle in his arms, and the old woman was looking with great wonderment at a go