Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-06
CHAPTER Y.
Ordeal.

Frances made her way to the north as
her father had directed, and everywhere
found the news of his arrest in advance of
her, the country ablaze in excitement be-
cause of il. The world would go we'll once
Strafforde was laid low. He had deluded
and misled the good king. Buckingham
did before him. Buckingham had fallen by
the knife; Strafforde should fall by the ak
Then the untrammeled king would rule
well: quietness and industry should succeed
this unhealthy period of fever and unrest.
The girl was appalled, to meet everywhere
this intense hatred of her father. and in
her own home she was surrounded by it.
Even her own brother could not be aroused
TO sympathy. for he regarded his father not
only as a traitor to his country. but as a
domestic delinquent also who had neglected
and deserted his young wife. leaving her to
die Uncontrolled, without even a message
from the husband for whom she had al
most sacrificed her good name, bearing I'M
complaining his absence and her father
wrath. During the winter Frances saw
little of her brother. Herbert Wentworth
was here and there riding the country,
imagining with the confidence of extreme
youth that he was mixing in great affairs.
as indeed they were, although he was too
young to have much influence in their direc-
ton The land was in a ferment, and the
widest rumors were afloat. Strafforde had
escaped from the Tower and had taken
flight abroad. like so many of his friends
who had now scattered in fear to France or
to Holland. Again ii was said the king s
soldiers had attacked the Tower liberated
StraffOrde and the Black Man was at the
head of the wild Irish, resolved on the sub
jugation of England.
Since the letter she had received on the
night of his arrest the daughter had heard
no more from her father Had he again for
gotten or were his messages intercepted?
They heard, even in the north. that the earl
would have to stand trial. At last she could
wait no longer. Her horse and the sout hern
road were at her disposal. with none to him
der, and she set forth for London again
She avoided her fathers mansion when she
arrived there, knowing that Lady Strafforde
was then in residence there and she went TO
the inn where she had formerly lodged
Then she appealed to her fathers trea surer
Mr.. Noliins. to get seat for her at the
ears trial. where she could see him. but
where he could by no possibility see her
lest the sudden sight of her might unnerve
him in a crisis
At the next day Frances found herself
one of bevy of gayly dressed ladies' all of
whom were chatterng merrily But their
chatter was silenced soon by the measured
tramp of armed men. Behind them. with
-FOUR secretaries. the Earl of Srafforde came
black " al
"A broken man, sentence of death was al
ready passed upon him by higher tribunal
tpnA his seat ana closed his eyes as If
the snort walk from the barge to the place
or Judgment had been too much for him
Inc prelimnaries of the day passed by
Frances like dream. But suddenly she
saw her father on his feet. and he began to
speak the voice at first cold and calm, pen
etratinS the remotest corner of that vast
room IN argument that even she recognized
as clear and logical. and as dispassionate
as If he were setting forth the case of an
other Va "
lie was listened to with the most pro-
found respect by friends and enemies alike
lie seemed to brush away the charges
against him as if they were very cobwebs
of accusation
AS he went on. warmed to his theme, all
In the great hall leaning intently forward
realized that they We're listening to oratory
such as had never before greeted the ears
of England. and probably never would
again breathless tension held the audi
ence spellbound, and it seemed impossible
that his direst foe could remain unmoved
The belief in his acquittal became a GER
tainty. Not a chord on the harp of hui
manity was left untouched.
And now. my lords" he ended 81 thank
God have been by His blessing sufficiently