FOILED.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 8, 20 February 1902, Page 23

FOILED.

TRTJLY those were bitter days. Stone-hearted men were let loose upon the children of the Church, and through the gloom of that time of stress no man could dare to prophesy the day of betterment. In a quiet little corner of Somersetshire, on Monday, the 28th of March, 1625, the Manor of Westfield was in a state of confusion. Father Ralph Westfield, a son of the Westfields — a family of long and untarnished Catholic ruputation— was at that time an inmate of the house. Mass had been said there on the previous day, and the villagers had come long distances to it despite the knowledge that their lives might pay the forfeit for such temerity. And now the news had come that the State myrmidons were already on the path and might at any moment be expected to make a raid on the Manor. Then Father Ralph would be taken before the authorities to answer for his heinous crime of worshipping God according to the rites of his forefathers. In these times of pace we can look back with something like complacency across those darker ages and read of the priest's hiding place without realising to the full what it meant not only to the priest but to the faithful few who shielded him to have the stern forms of heartless, callous, and brutal men tramping through the home like the bloodhounds they really were in search of the hidden priest, whose life would be virtually over when the hiding place was discovered. The women of that time were heroines that no other ago can ever hope to equal. A look, a word, an incautious glance would be enough to undo the secret preparations of many a long week. Theirs was the duty to show a smiling face and unchanging countenance when men stood on the very threshold of discovery, tapping at a panel which alone stood between the hunted and the hunters. Coarse jest and impious ribaldry, vile hints and vile threats, had to be borne without a murmur lest an outburst of indignation should lead to thpir undoing. Young girls bore insults that were a shame to their girlhood, mothers Vfre insults that shamed their motherhood, and heaven holds many a bright saint unwritten in our calendars whose claim to that high honor rested on the heroic courage with which they went through those awful moments of trial and doubt. Westfield Manor was a beautiful, old-fashioned house, with a great, square nail and roomy oak-panelled apartments. It stood in a considerable acreage of ground, which had been the property of the Westfields from time immemorial. Since the news had arrived that a troop of men were on their way to capture Father Ralph, the two gardeners had in turn watched at tho approach of th© house to report the first sight of tho visitors. It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and Father Ralph, his sister Grace (a pretty girl still in her teens), and Mrs. Westfield were at tea talking of the illness of King James, news of which had reached them, when, without warning, the younger of the gardeners, Dick Pardon, rushed into the room. There was no need for him to tell his errand. His excited manner and troubled face told plainly «"°ugn that the expected moment had arrived. „ „ , < How many of them are there ? asked Father Ralph. ' A many ; I can't say to be sure, Father—lo or 12 of them at least,' tho gardener replied. 1 And are they far off as yet ?

' Not more than half a mile.' he answered. ' Well, well, E must haste to hide,' said the priest. ' God knows I would sooner meet them face to face, like a man, but that it would mean my little flock being left without a shepherd.' ' And you still think, Ralph dear,' asked his sister, ' it were better not to tell us your hiding placce ? ' ' Yes, it' will be better so,' he answered. ' Your fears cannot then betray it. God knows the trial is hard enough for you to bear as it is.' He kissed them, pressed their hands fondly, and looking once more into their pale, anxious faces, hastened from the room, while the gardener, Dick Pardon, hurried outside and resumed his work of wgeding one of the beds in the near vicinity. There were four distinct hiding places in Westfield House, each of them cleverly contrived and capable of outwitting any but an expert pursuivant, and it was a happy thought of Father Ralph's to leave his mother and sister in ignorance of the one which he had selected, so that should they be made to accompany the search party their anxiety on the searchers actually approaching tho real hiding place should not betray it. Mrs. Westfield and Grace had not long to wait in their terrible suspense, for in a very few minutes a noisy, laughing troop of horsemen had reined up before the gate, and tying up their horses, boisterously entered the house. ' Remain where you are, mother dear,' said the brave young girl, an<f throwing open the door of the little room, she boldly stepped out and •faced the group. ' Somewhat an unceremonious visit, gentlemen,' she said, in a firm, even tone. ' What may be the meaning of it ? ' The leader of the gang, apparently, was a short, ill-favored looking man of middle age, beardless, though anything but clean-shaven, and generally dirty and dissipated in appearance. With the air of bold assurance he eyed his interlocutor and, turning, addressed one of his companions before answering. ' A merry-eyed and comely wench — eh, Jacob ? A wench after your own heart — eh, Jacob ? A nice trim ' ' Enough of that, sir ! ' rang out the rich, clear voice. ' I am Miss Westfield. of Westfield Manor, and. as you may yet learn, not to be insulted with impunity. Your business here ? Be good enough to explain it.' Slightly cowed for the moment by her determined bearing, he tapped the end of a paper which was .showing in his doublet. ' I have my orders here to search tho house for a Popish priest — one Ralph Westfield. Is he within '? ' 'If your orders are to search, it will matter little my saying he is not within. You will doubtless obey your orders whatever I say.' ' Well, that's true enough,' answered the man. ' And besides which, and likewise in addition thereto, we happen to know he is within ; so, by your leave, it would save us the trouble of searching if you tell us at once where we might find him,' he answered with a grin. ' You are doubtless paid for your trouble, my good sir, so that I need not spare you on that account. You may search — only I warn you of one thing : if you exceed your orders by any needless damage or violence my mother's name is yet good enough in this county to warrant me in promising you a speedy retribution.' The man shrugged his shoulders. 'To business, Jacob,' he said to

his lieutenant. ' Place three of your men at the outer doors and one to watch over the good lady here.' He pointed to Mrs. Westfield, who sat in trembling anxiety within view of the group. ' The young lady we must trouble to show us over the place, as we've not had the honor of being here before.' Grace Westfield knew it would be idle to refuse and thus rouse the brutality of her rough visitors (stories of whose deeds had often reached hoi- ears), so, calling a maid to remain with her mother, she took her place as guide to the search party. Commencing where they were in the hall, they were soon busy tapping the oaken wainscots, moving aside pictures, shifting chairs and tables, and measuring floor spaces and walls to discover if any space within the house was unaccounted for. The leader of the gang let his eyes every now and again rest on those of Grace, but without once finding any change of expression or gleam of fear, although on one occasion he had actually caught her glance while his hand was on the very panel which, rightly pressed, would have opened the way to the first of the hiding places. Nor when the danger was passed did her face brighten or alter, though it was hard to repress her elation as they left the hall and entered the great din-ing-room, one hiding-place — perhaps the very one in which her brother was secreted — already overlooked. There were gibes and jeers and coarse jests enough from the men but though their loose vulgarity often brought a blush to her cheeks she bore it all bravely and went around with a great show of unconcern . At List, when their search had lasted half an hour, a sudden cry from one of the men told her that 1 one of the hiding places had been discovered. It was behind a deep, old-fashioned fireplace. A loose tile, carelessly replaced or accidentally moved, had given the clue, and in a, few minutes others had been shifted and a hole discovered which led to a small aperture beneath. There was not light enough to discover its extent or whether it was occupied ; so he who had been styled Jacob called on the priest to disclose himself. ' Soon run to earth, my friend,' he called out, keeping, however, a fairly respectful distance from the spot. ' Best show thyself up and save being spitted with this long blade.' The poor girl's moments of suspense were so terrible that something of it must have shown on her face, and seemed to assure the leader that their search was over. ' No answer, Jacob,' he said, with a rude oath. ' Then thrust round your sword and see what comes in the way of it.' The .sword was poked into the aperture and twisted here and there, only to meet with walls on every side, and finally one of the men lowered himself into the hole and assured himself that the space within was only a few feet square and was absolutely empty. Nor did the most careful scrutiny discover any other egress from it than the way through which he had entered. •So ho ! my mistress, ' said the man .Jacob, with a grin, ' the fox, then, has more holes than one ! "Why, what's that? Another one already ? ' he added ; for tw 7 o men who had been conducting a search in another apartment now called out to their leader that they had discovered a hiding place, and instantly he and the others — Grace being compelled to go with them — hurried to the adjoining room. There two panels of the wainscot were removed . and showed the entrance to a narrow passage between the walls. Apparently neither of the men who had discovered it was anxious to prosecute the search, for they said in chorus that ' the honor ought to be-

long to Master Miles or his friend Jacob.' But Miles — the leader — ordered one of them to go in with the point of his sword before him. * Bring the rat out or run him through,' he said. 'It doesn't much matter which.' Had Ralph really been there, Grace thought, he would already have seen the futility of further hiding, so she was less alarmed than she would otherwise have boon when the order was obeyed and the man, pushing hi.s sword before him, entered the passage. But it led to no apartment — it was a hiding place pure and simple — and the man backed himself out of it with an oath and the assurance that it was empty. So far all was well ; but the strain of the two discoveries had been so great that Grace felt almost physically incapable of continuing her share in the search. But she prayed and felt strengthened, and once more the ' ferreting ' was continued. And now a quarter of an hour elapsed before any further discovery was made, and as a very close searcu in an attic from which another of the hiding places opened proved unsuccessful Grace felt her spirits revive, though she dared not show as much in her face. They had, indeed, already left the room when the man Miles, accompanied by Jacob, suddenly returned to it and commenced probing with the point of his sword beneath the lower bash of the heavy window-frame. His idea was but too well founded, for in a few seconds more he had touched a secret spring and the third hiding place stood open — open and empty. It was but a small cupboard, and a single glance disclosed its extent and its emptiness. ' Plague on the place ! Was ever rat-infested spot more full of holes and more empty of rats ? But the rat shall be caught if I spend the night here,' and with an added volley of oaths he recommenced the search. All now depended on the \\ hereabouts of the fourth hiding placo being discovered. At present they had failed to find it, though from its being the largest and most important of all Grace had greatly feared it would be the first to be opened. But they had carefully examined every panel of the oakcovered hall, and had seemed satisfied that there was no hiding place behind it. Formerly the uncertainty as to which of the four hiding places her brother had chosen had sustained her, as he intended, with the hope that each .one discovered would prove to be but empty But now no doubt remained, and a cold chill seemed to creep over her as the party tramped roughly downstairs and stood once more in the hall, within a few feet of the spot where her last hope remained. ' It's my belief, Miles,' said the half-drunken wretch Jacob, ' that we've not yet done our duty by this passage. These foxy priests love a good stout piece of wood to get behind, and the wall is a bit too thick for my liking. Suppose we try a pike on it here and there to see what may be below it ? : ' That's well spoken, ray Jacob ' A hole or two in the walls here will make it more like the rest of the house,' replied the other, and a hoarse roar from half a do7cn of the men told that the joke had been appreciated. ' Have you orders for the destruction you are contemplating ? ' asked Grace. ' For I warn you, if you go beyond them you will be made to regret your deeds.' ' Harry Miles, my dear, at your service, don't reft rot much. His orders are : " Hunt the rats " If wood's in the way, wood rocs. Contemplating's not much in my lino, or Jacob's cither. Now, my men, try these walls again and break open a bit hero and there where the fancy takes you. Have open this bit,

Crabbe, and see what comes of it,' and as he spoke he touched with his hand the very panel he had already fingered once that day, the right moving of which would disclose the fourth and last hiding place. It was in vain that the brave girl strove to look unconcerned at such an awful moment. She felt the blood surge to her forehead and lca\e her deadly pale, and one of the men noticing it, yelled out in triumph . ' That hits the mark, Mr. Miles ! That hits the mark ! We've touched the young wench up at last ! ' And several of them, turning to look at her, noticed the ghastly pallor she was so vainly striving to conceal. Then there was a crash with a hatchet which not only shivered the panel but broke through the heavy beading above it, and shifting two of the panels along in its space, a small doorway was discovered in the wall. Her eyes were fixed upon it as though a snake held them fascinated — the doorway through which her brother must now come out a prisoner. She watched the man enter, heard him moving in the little chamber to which it led, and heard, too, a muffled oath ere he returned. ' As empty as the rest, captain — as empty as the rest,' she heard him say, with another oath, and then, unable to control the sudden rush of blood to her head at such an unexpected happening, fighting to the last to conquer her weakness, she reeled heavily against the wall, Jacob made a move towards her, and, loathing- to be touched by such a creature, she drew herself quickly away and the sudden movement saved her reason. But one surprise was destined to follow another with startling rapidity. While yet she was wondering at the seeming miracle of her brother's escape, a horseman dashed up to the door, and pushing aside the two men who were on guard there, stepped quickly to her side. It was Sir William Glassingham, a Catholic magistrate, whose residence was some /i\e miles distant from her own. ' Winch of you miscreants is named Miles ? ' lie asked. ' Speak, and speak quickly ! ' With an insolent air the man lightly touched his hat . • The same, Sir William— and I thought you knew it. Keep your " miscreants " for priests and Papists. 1 am the Kind's servant and doing the King's work.' ' King Charles has no need of such scum ' Get jou gone while your skin is sound.' ' King Charles ' What mean you ">' he asked, the instant change in his manner from insolence to craving fear showing full well that he rightly understood. ' Your master King- James has answered to God for his deedsCharles is your King. Now know you w hat I mean ? ' ' King James is dead ! ' ' Must I tell you so again ? ' he asked, with rising anger. ' Hearken now. 1 give you three minutes to quit this house in which you trespass, and if a man of you is then in sight King Charles shall tell you what ho thinks of hunters such as 1 on.' Then by twos and threes, without waiting for an order from their leaders, the men slunk through the open doorway, the last to leave being- the drunken Jacob, who was in a tremor of fear lest his exit should bo hastened by the indignant Sir AYilliam Glassingham. A few minutes later Grace had the satisfaction of hearing- from Dick Pardon, the gardener, that they were clear of the gi omuls. She hastened to reassure her mother, and then turned to her thricewelcome visitor. ' Oh, how I thank you ! ' she said. ' Yet even now I am distraught. Those wretches discovered each one of our hiding places, and though,

thanks be to God, my dear brother was not found in any one of them, I cannot understand his escape for every corner of the house has been searched. He may be even yet in danger.' Nay, you may be reassured,' 'ho answered. ' Father Ralph cannot be far off, and we will soon be on his heels.' But as a matter of fact it was he who was soon on their heels, for he entered the room at the same moment and was quickly folded in his mother's warm embrace. And then he told them how at the last moment his mind misgave him as to the safety of the hiding place he had chosen— which was actually the first one discovered by his would-be captors—and an inspiration seized him to hurriedly leave it, creep through a small window in a remote room, and seek cover in the ivy on the wall outside, which was there so dense that he easily lay hid beneath it, tnough it was only with the greatest difficulty that he maintained his precarious footing. From that giddy perch he had seen Sir William Glassingham ride up and the other side ride off, and the window being still open, he had managed to climb back into the room. Of the great rejoicing of all the household at the providential end of the adventure and at the hope of better times held out by the advent of King Charles I. to the throne I need not write ; but I may mention that Sir William Glassingham was so impressed with Grace's courage in dealing alone with her rough visitors that he soojn afterwards persuaded her to become his wife.—' Catholic Fireside.'