The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-20
Ouer the Boraer
II Stirring Story efthe English Parliamentary War
Copyright, 1903. by Robert Barr
By ROBERT BARR

forth for London again. She avoided
her fathers mansion when she arrived
there, knowing that Lady Stanford was
then In residence there, and she went in
the inn where she had formerly lodged.
Then she appealed to her fathers treas
urer, Mr. Vollins, to get a seat for her at
the earl's 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 a bevy Of gayly dressed ladies, all
of whom were chattering 1nerrily. But
their chatter was silenced soon by the
measured tramp of armed men. Behind
them. with four secretaries, the Earl of
Strafford came slowly, a bowed and pallid
figure dressed In black.
A broken man, sentence Of death was
already passed upon him by higher tri-
bunal. He took his seat and closed his
eyes as If the short walk from the barge
to the place of judgment had been too
much for him. e. h1
The preliminaries Of the day passed by
Frances like a dream. But suddenly she
saw her father on his feet, and he began
to speak, the voice at first cold and calm,
penetrating the remotest corner of that
vast room, in argument that even she rec
ognized as clear and logical, and as dis
passionate as If he were setting forth the
case Of another.
He was listened to with the most pro-
found respect by friends and enemies
alike. He seemed to brush away tho
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 for
ward, realizing that they were listening 10
oratory such as had never before greeted
the ears of England, and probably never
would again. GREATNESS tension held
the audience spellbound, and it seemed
| impossible that his direst foe could re-
main unmoved. The belief in his acquit-
tai became a certainty. Not a chord on
the harp Of humanity was left untouched
"And now, my lords he ended, 81
thank God have been by his blessing suf
! fciently instructed in the extreme vanity
| of al temporal enjoyments compared to
| the importance Of our eternal duration.
/ And so, my lords, even so, with all humil-
ity and with all tranquility of mind, I
submit clearly and freely to your judg-
! ments. And whether. that righteous doom
shall be to life or DEATH I shall repose my
self, full of gratitude and confidence In
the arms Of the great author Of my exist
ence TIE Deum laudamus, te dominum
conftemur.''
The Latin phrase pealed forth like the
solemn tone of a chant and the Speaker
subsidized into his chair almost in a swoon,
w
come the indomitable spirit.
On none Of the vast visible throng had
the effective grafton exercised greater
power than upon an unseen auditor. The
awed stiffness was suddenly broken by a
| spltntering crash, and the startled audi
ence. looking UP, saw the frail lattice
work that hid gallery alcove shattered,
and the king standing there like a ghost
i Unframed by jagged laths. Stern determi-
nation sat on that handsome counte-
| nance; look which said as plainly as
! words, This man shall not die!" His
| hands clutched the broken framework be-
meath him, and he moistened his lips as II
to give utterance to the words his express
| sion foreshadowed. But before he could
speak tall, angular figure sprang out
from among the commons, and held up a
4 sinewy hand. His face was ablaze with
anger; his stentorian voice dominated, the
hall, envenomed with hatred, striking the
ear with terror as does the roar Of a tiger
1.-THE might of England, in parliament
assembled gives Judgment, untrammeleJ
and unafraid. The king is not here. The
king cannot be here. The throne Is va
: cant, and must remain vacant until jus
tice Is DONE"
AS the last words rang out. the index
finger, shaken menacingly, pointed at the
q empty and draped throne in the hall. There
was defiance of king or minister in word.
throne. The pale face Of the king be
1 came a CHASTITY white, his hand tremblet
/ and fragments Of the lattice work fel
from beneath 1t. Irresolution took tn,
place OF former determination, and h,
glanced pitifully from right to left, as i
seeking human support, of which. in thu
amazed stiffness, there was no Indication
Then the fine white hand of an unseel
woman showed for a moment on his arm
like a snowflake, and Charles, with on
look Of haunting compassion on the pris
oner disappeared from sight. The phan
tom picture had vanished from its ragge'
frame without a sound and blank darkness
occupied it's place. Truly the king wa
not present, conjured away by the siren
uous hand Of the fierce combatant on tn
stage, and the soft hand Of the woman
Ibehind the scenes.
WHO is that man. whispered Frances
gazing in frightened fascination on tn
rude interrupter.
"That is John Pym, the chief prosecute
and deadly personal enemy of Lord Straf
ford
AS the girl gazed at this dominating in
dividuality all the troth or confidence i
her fathers acquittaL whipped up by tn