The Cavaliers v And Roundheads.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 192, 16 August 1939, Page 18

The Cavaliers v And Roundheads.

(By Marion T.eigh. Hudson Street, Ellerslie.)

There it hung—in the place of honour on the wall, a picture of a laughing Cavalier. The light shone on his brilliant clothes, and the red rose displayed <111 the In pel of his coat.

Many a time had little Mary Orenfell stood and gazed at this picture in awe and admiration. Her most earnest desire was to lie able to accomplish something to aid the Cavaliers (for she lived in Kngland during that period when continual strife and civil war was raging between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers).

Suddenly she was roused from such thoughts by an angry rapping outside, and the door was wrenched open and six Roundheads came clamouring in.

'•Mary < Iron fell, you are accused of sheltering the King's jewels somewhere in this house." said a lmrly individual, as he directed an accusing finger at Ma rv.

She remained perfectly composed, although her heart was beating strangely, never venturing to cast her eyes in the direction of the picture, lest her precious secret be discovered. Impatiently the soldiers searched all possible hiding jdaces. muttering to themselves that Mary Grenfell would suffer for this. Angrily they seized Mary's wrists and tried, hut in vain, to force her secret from her.

Although they used threats and curses, Mary never spoke a word, but stood with lips tightly compressed and a stubborn look in her grey eyes. After having seen that their threats were of no avail, they stormed furiously out of the house, leaving her trembling after her ordeal.

A little later there was a gentle tap on the window pane, and a voice cried out: "Mary—Mary (irenfell. let me in. 1 am your friend. T have been sent by the King. Open the window, please, Ma rv."

Cautiously Mary opened the window to admit a man of fine bearing. His curly brown hair was scattered over his high, intelligent forehead, and he was dressed in clothes resembling those i»f the man in the picture that hung on ;he wall.

Carefully Mary drew the blinds and bolted the shutters and the door, hefore blowing out the candles and directing her footsteps towards the picture.

"This picture," she said, gazing fondly into the face of the laughing cavalier, "conceals the secret." Instantaneously she pressed a button (concealed beneath the rose on the Cavalier's coat), and a panel in the wall slid noiselessly apart, revealing the King's jewels in all their splendour, hidden safely in the cavity.

She swiftly handed the jewels to the young Cavalier (a friend of King Charles), who made a hasty departure, thanking Mary and telling iier that the King should hear of her bravery.

In the meanwhile a few months had elapsed, and King Charles had made a safe escape to France, when Mary received a letter bearing a French stamp. Anxiously she tore the seal, revealing a letter, containing the following message: "Thanking you, Mary firenfell, for your bravery and loyalty towards me.—-Charles R." How Mary treasured that letter for a long time afterwards! How wonderful she thought it would be to relate the story to her children in later years. Mary had received what she considered a wonderful reward.

JOKES.

(Sent in b.v Ken Elliott, c/o ,T. K. Hill, 21, Matipo Street. Oneliunsca. S.E..VI "Your spelling was bad yesterday, and I told you to write each word twenty times.'' said the new teacher. "Why have you only done them fifteen times?" ' "Please, teacher, my arithmetic is bad tool"' replied Tommy. Pat was telephoning for the first time, and evidently did not speak clearly, f'>r the voice at the other end said,".Sorry, I did not hear half of what you said.''

"Well, tell me what you didn't know, and I'll repeat it!" said Pat.