The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-07-03

w dIcS, not 700 well ploaSeu Win the
marriage that had reduced them by
half. All were at safe distance. And
in the council that was left whom
could she trust? II only Burley had
been there. But he had not yet re-
turned from Nuremberg, whittier he
had gone to settle the kings marriage
with Anne of Bohemia. There WIS
not another in the council, except per-
haps the ostentatious parpenu De la
Pole, whom she could implicitly trust.
All the others were partisans of the
Duke OF Lancaster. Their hesitating
conduct in ouch crisis was suspicious.
Where was the anxious mother to
turn? She had only her woman's wit
to oppose their crafty caution. If
their counsel was suspicious, the boy
king must be urged to rely upon him.
self. The poor commons professed
loyalty to the king; they trusted him
and they did not trust his uncles; if
Richard was to cave his throne he
must reciprocate their confidence.
1t was late on Tuesday evening when
the princess reached London, and
found the king in the Tower, with
Archbishop Sudbury, Salisbury. War
wick, De la Pole, and others of the
counsel who considered the Tower the
safest place in the unsettled state of
the London populace. Much Joy was
expressed at her safe arrival, but as
soon as she had learned the posture of
affairs she pleaded fatigue, retired to
her own chamber, and, dismissing all
her demoiselles except Clara Roos,
whose cool courage and helpfulness IN
face of the insurgents had given her
an additional claim on the favors.of
her mistress, she sent for the king and
communicated to him her suspicious.
"The peril is such," she said, in
conclusion, "that each man thinks only
of himself. We must be our own
councillors.
The boys soft features had become
more and more hard and thoughtful
as he listened. He was silent for
moment, and vindictive look flashed
into his eyes. 1t was staggering reve-
ation for boy of fifteen to find every
man about him suspect. But it did not
cove his high spirit. The boy was
transformed by the grave thoughts OF
few moments into self reliant man.
"They shall pay dearly for their
treachery some day he said.
His mother was in too vindictive
mood herself to discourage this temper
But meantime we must act, "she said,
and her eyes fell upon Clara, who
looked as if she would tain speak.
"My grandfather was but little
older than l am, said the king, "when
he took the reins into his own hands,"
True, my fair son." said the prin-
cess mechanically, starting from her
contemplation of Clara's face, as if she
had read and considered the unuttered
thought written there. Presently she
asked the king to tell her whether he
had heard anything further of Master
Hardelot, who had come to him from
the discontinued commons.
Richards face flushed and he bit his
lips.
'Their demands are as he delivered
them to u.s." said the princess, "and
they seem loyal to you, as he assured
us they were."
''My lord chancellor put him in
prison" said Richard, sharply.
They looked at him in surprised in
quiry. The princess with Clara in her
train had gone down to Leeds castle
Immediately after Ralph's interview
with the king and they had heard
nothing of him since, not little to
the disquietude of one of them.
"He refused to give the names of
those who sent him" added the king
"The marshal held the chancellor
justified. Would were nv own
MASTER"
"And he carried no answer" said
the princess. "why not send him
now"
"Whom can | trust?" he asked Bit
terly.
Clara looked at him reproachfully.
pardon me, sire" she said, 81 will
answer for his honesty with my life"
And she blushed at her own warmth.
Richards frowns of doubt and suspi-
cion gave place to a gay laugh. "iou
are pledging, my brave Clara, he said,
"what we can scarce call our ovid in
these times, but there is no better
surety TO be had. | will send him,
and you, dear mother, shall give him
his message. But FIRST We must dis
cover where his good uncle has hidden
him away"
This was easily discovered through
the medium of Reginald, who was in
the Tower with his master.
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CHAPTER XXfV.