The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
SHREWSBURY"
BY STANLEY j. wEYMAN.
Copyright, Iss7 op Sfaaisv J. Werraaa.
CHAPTER XII

AAe - - = eAA0h hNDTV
quietly, successfully, and bloodlessly carried
through than our great revolution. But II Is
the way Of the pendulum to swing back: and Il
was not long before those who had been most
deeply concerned In the event began to reflect
and compare; nor. with the example before
them Of the civil war and the consequent res
torntion-that great warning against rebellion
being also persons bred for the most part in
an atmosphere OF divine right and passive ODE
dience, whether they had imbibed these doc
trines or not, vas It wonderful IL q proportion
OF them soon turned to repenting at leisure
what they had done In haste. The late Kings
harsh and implaeable temper and the severity
with which he had suppressed one rising were
not calculated to reassure men when they
began to doubt. The possibility Of his return
hung over the moro timid as a thick cloud,
while the favors which the new King showcred
on his Dutch advisers, the wretched state Of
the coin and Of trade and the many disasters
that attended the first years Of the new Gov.
eminent were sufficient to shake the confidence
and chill the hearts even Of the stoutest and
most patriotic.
SO bad did things become that it was more
than once rumored that King William would
ebdicate; and this aggravating the GENERAL I'M
certainty. many in high places spent their days
in a dreadful looking forward to Judgment. nor
ever 1 believe slept without dreaming Of Tower
laAh.eh oAS luo ShWuuSI. Inc NATURAL result
followed. While many fastened in secret to
make their peace with st. Germans. others
either as q matter Of conscience or because
they felt that they had offended too deeply re-
manned constant. but perceiving trenchery in
the air, and themselves besct with the daily
fear of invasion. breathed nothing but threats
and denunciations against the seceders. Hence
. period Of plots and counterplots. Of perjury
and intrigue, Of denuncintions and accusations
OAal aHl .f---I .a
country has ever known tho Jacobites con-
sidering = restoration certain anal the time
only doubtful, while the Wings in their hearts
were inclined to agree with them and feared
the worst.
During seven such years l worked on quietly
with Mr.. Bronze. who, partly. I think. because
he had come to his political bearings late in
life, and partly because the Tories and Jacobites
already had a newswriter in the notorious Mr..
Dyer-to whose letters Mr.. Dryden, it was said.
would sometimes untribute-remained steadfast
IN his Wing opinions. and did no little in the
country parts to lessen the stir which the nom
Jurors complaints must have caused. I saw
much OF him and little of others: and being hon
estly busy and honorably employed-not that
my style made any noise in the coffee houses,
which was scarcely to be expected. since it all
passed for Mr.. Brome'sE began to regard my
life before I came to London rs an ugly dream.
~ az ll mt uONeNeE. III Two ErOCllV1LleS
which are not common OF the age which I had
then reached; the one a love Of solitude and q
retired life, which, imposed on me ut first by my
fear of detection. grew by and by into q habit,
the other an averseness for women that amount
Cd almost to fear OF them. Mr.. Bronze, who was
. confirmed bachelor, did nothing to alter my
views on either point. or reconcile me to the
world; and as my life was passed between my
attic in Bride lane and his apartment in Fleet
Rf-naf rkn-n kA hnI , nIn-.ll t,I-~-- A..
were better acquainted with public affairs CT
had less experience of private than 1; or knew
more intimately the order OF the signs and the
aspect Of the houses, between the Fleet prison
and st. DUnstan's Church.
Partly out Of fear and partly ont Of a desire
to cut myself OF from my former life, I made
my sell known to no. one in Hertfordshire, but
some five years after my arrivul. in London, hav-
Ing q sudden craving to see my mother, I walked
down one Sunday to Epping. There, making
cautious inquiries of the Bishop Stordford car
rier. I heard of her death. and on the return
Journey burst once into u great dit of weeping
at the thought OF some kind word or other she
had spoken to ne. But with that tribute to ma
:ure l dismissed my family. and even that good
friend from my mind. going back. to my lodging
with 4 conteatment which this glimpse of my
former life wondrously augmented.
OF Mr.. n. or OF the cruel woman who had
deceived me. I was not likely to hear; but
there was one, and he the only stranger who
ante Londinium had ghowr me kindness, whose
name my pen was frequently called on to
transcribe, and whose fame was even in those
days in all mems mouths. With a thrill of
pleasure l heard that my Lord Shrewsbury had
been one Of the seven, withal the youngest, to
sign the invitation. then that the King had
named him one OF the two Secretaries of State;
and them after two years, during which his
doings hlled more and more of tho public ear,
DO that he stood for the Government, that he
had suddenly and mysteriousIy resigned all his
offices and retired into the country. Yet later
in the same year, in the sad days which fol
lowed the defeat of Beachy Head, when a
French feet sailed the Channel, and In the
Kings absence the most confident quailed. ]
heard that he had ridden post to Kensington
to place his sword and purse at the Queen