The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-07-24
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES l0CVI1TNKT1T7NIN[N1NKNJ

revoked as easily as it had been granted
when the mutinous rascals had dis
persed to their homes. The more COM
plete the concession the more likely it
was to send them home contented.
And this was indeed its effect. The
simple peasants were enraptured with
this formal document of freedom. The
sacred parchment was carried from
point to point and read aloud so that
all might hear, thousands of eyes fol-
lowing it with devout veneration and
joy. They were too absorbed in this
sudden exultation to mark the sinister
exchange of meaning looks among great
men who knew better the value of the
parchment.
While matters were in this amicable
frame, the charter making its round
like some adored idol, the king chatted
with the counsellors near him, and the
princess looked with interest at the
ranks of the Insurgents, and reckoning
to Ralph asked him to tell her the
names of any among them whom he
knew
As he ran his eyes along in compli-
ance with this request his attention
was suddenly arrested by the appear
ance of knight in armor, who was
coming forward from among them to-
wards the royal train, his features COM
posed in an expression that was meant
to be deprecatory and ingratiating
Several knights and other gentlemen
had been impressed with the insurgents
in the course OF their gathering. Some,
like the gallant Robert de la Sale, of
Norwich, had contemptuously refused
to join, and had paid for their hardi-
hood with their lives. But such cour.
age and loyalty were rare. The major
ity, like Sir John Newton, had con-
sented to march with the insurgents.
Among them was Sir Richard Rainham,
whom Ralph now recognized, taking
advantage of the amicable settlement
to move out of the ranks of the peas
ants, plead constraint as an apology for
his appear ance, and try to make his
peace with the court.
The princess signifying desire to
speak to the Earl of Arundel, Ralph
moved round to the other side of the
carriage and directed Clara's attention
to another figure standing next to the
space that the knight had just quilted.
''That face is known to me-" he
whispered, "but / cannot remember
where saw it,"
"Do you not remember" she answ-
cred 81 shall never forget it,"
Then, as he still looked puzzled, she
added, "The dungeon at Sturmere.
The missing link was found. He re-
membered now. 1t was Jannequin
Carter, the savage tatterdemalion
whom he had with such difficulty pre-
vented from taking immediate venge-
ance in the dungeon. Jannequin's
face wore patient, half sleepy air, as
ii he were waiting ccntentedly for
something and took little interest in
the great business of the hour.
But they had little time to observe
him or to speculate upon his appear
ance in such curious proximity to the
knight. The draft charter had made
its round, and the toil-worn faces of
the peasant ranks, turned now towards
the king in expectation of the next
move, were cleaning with satisfaction.
The king held the charter gayly aloft,
and intimated that the whole staff of
chancery clerks would at once be set to
work to write out the desired letters
patent, and that they would be sealed
with the great seal and delivered to
them by townships and villages as fast
as they we're ready.
This gracious information was pro-
claimed in louder tones and greeted
with happy reclamation.
A king and his people reconciled.
The CALLING abuses that had bred mis-
chief between them swept away with a
word; a score of industrious pens ready
to make the promise of freedom good
forever. 1t was happy scene, more in
keeping with the bright June day than
the ferocity and clamor OF wrathful
mobs.
In the city things wore less smiling
aspect. The great mass of the insurg-
ents were steady, laborious men, who
had risen against the law because the
law made their lives continuous mis-
cry. They had no sympathy with dis
order, with wanton riot and destruc-
ton; homely, patient, long-suffering
drudges, they desired relief from the
pinch that had become intolerable, and
were obedient and tiactable in the
hands OF their leaders. But mixed up
with these simble, patient rustics, were
many of a more turbulent sort; born
lawbreakers, FESTIVE under any re-
straint, ready for the widest excuses
when relaxed authority gave them D