The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-05-22
CHAPTER \IV-Contipued.

purpose gained greatly IN motive force.
Public spirit, zeal for the common
good. is often reinforced in this way by
personal feeling damned up and denied
free course in it's natural channel. The
energy thus engendered demands an
outlet, and presses with powerful i'm
pulse behind any noble purpose in
which the heart finds compensation.
But to this end the old channel must
he securely and resolutely closed. For
tune favored Ralph also in his will To
hold forward without looking back or
turning aside.
1t SO happened that the Princess
Joanna, the Young kings mother, the
widow of the Black Prince, interested
herself warmly i'll Clara Roos. The
Fair Maid Of Kent had had her own
love troubles, and affairs of the heart
appealed to her. Only the year before
she had favored and had succeeded in
effecting a love match between her own
daughter, Maude, reputed the fairest
lady in England, and a French prison
er, the young Count de st. Paul.
Clara. welded ceremonially to brute
whom she refused to acknowledge as
her husband. interested the kind heart
ed princess, and her interest took a
practical form. She resolved to bring
influence to bear on the pope to procure
a dissolution of the marriage.
But match breaaing without fresh
match making could interest no good
natured, motherly wsman. According
al .t,l,, f,,r hnf
She had seen the manly young CLERK,
and she had seen how Clara looked at
him. That wilful young woman could
AS rule keep her own counsel we'll
but this secret in the agitating scenes
through which she had passed, it had
been beyond her power to conceal from
an observant eye with sympathetic
clew. The princess had watched her
face in the gallery when RAJ pin was
questioned before the king, and again
in the lists when his life was in danger
But what we're the young mans feel
ings? This also kindly curiosity
prompted the benignant princess to
discover if she could. She sent her
chaplain, Father william dc Fulbourne,
on message of inquiry.
Now the chaplain, though man of
tact and discretion, had 10 great love
for the disciples of Wycliffe, and there
was point in his interview with Ralph
where this antipathy got the better of
him. He was friar of the Dominican
Order, and friarS of all the four orders
were denounced by Wycliffe as Gains
kim the children of Judas. Hence it
was natural that he should find it hard
to forego chance of show ing his con-
tempt for the hereto.
The princess first charge to him had
been to assure Ralph of her personal
sympathy with the poor commons, and
to bid him convey this assurance to
their leaders. 1t was her sons popu-
larity that she had in view in sending
this message, and the chaplain deiv-
cred it with gracious dignity.
Then the chaplain began to probe the
young man gently on more tender
point, informing him OF the princess
interest in Clara, and putting que. tions
about her and the Knight Of Sturmere.
He mentioned as his reason for put
ting tho,e questions that the princess
was minded to procure dissolution of
the marriage.
"You seem troubled, my son. the
chaplain said, in kindly tone.
Come, unburden yourself to me. Con-
fess. Do You not love this lady? 1t
may yet be lawful for you 10 love Ler."
II did love her, father answered
Raplh, hoarsely, land it has been
hard struggle to forget her. had for
gotten. could think of her calmly.
Ny heart was at peace. But now"
"You have seen her again, and the
struggle is harder than before?"
1T is harder. But | do not des-
pair"
BE comiorted, my son. The church
il lenient to those who do their utmost
against sin. And it may yet be lawful.
My lady is a gracious princess, and has
set her heart on the removal of this
imi ediment
at is impossible. said Ralph, in a
firmer tone. Somehow the suggestion
that had disturbed him SO much when
it scame involuntarily from his own
Imagination disturbed him less and was
easier 10 resist when it came before him
definitely from human lips.
"Why impossible2" asked the chap.
lain. much is possible o princes,
when they move the holy father against
what is in itself a scandal and profan-
alton"
1T is not that" answered Ralph.
81 have madera vow. l have forsworn
earthly love-"
ITO whom" said the chaplain,
Sharply IL WAS here that his antin