Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-31
CHAPTER ".
Proposal.

The house was prepared for his recep-
ton, fires blazing and a table spread In the
room TO which he conducted his daughter.
Mrs. Jarrett" said the earl TO his house
keeper. who looked with wonder at the
girl, this is my daughter, newly found,
having lived TIL now with her grand
father i'm the north. She is the Child OF my
second wife, Frances Warburton."
After supper, when she arose to retire,
he kissed her on the lips, ruGiing her way
ward. curling black hair-so much like his
own-and patting her affectiouately on the
shoulder.
You will not be afraid OF me from this
time forward. cbild?" he asked. Indeed.
Frances. / grow superstitious as I become
older, and 1 look on your strange arrival
as in some measure providential. There is
none of my own kind to whom I can speak
freely as l did to you in the carriage; my
other daughters are too young. Ny Lady
Stanford disIlkes this London house and
this London town, for which small blame
is to be imputed TO her. In you, a mans
courage is added to a woman's wit. Who
knows? You may be the rapier by my
side"
Long time Frances Wentworth lay awake
after she had retired. Was 1t possible that
she was to be thus transplanted, to stand
by the side of the greatest man In Eng
land? She planned the days to come. She
would be as subtle as the craftiest. Her
tongue must measure what lie said and all
rural bluntness should disappear.
1t was two hours after midday the next
day when STAFFORD sent for his laughter
De Courcy was with him and rose as she
entered. to present her with one of his
down-reaching bows.
my child" said the earl, 81 am about
TO set out for Parliament and Il may bs
late before l return. Yet 1 think you shall
sup with me at 3 II all goes well and de-
bate becomes not too strenuous, but do not
wait In case I should be detained. 1 counsel
you not to leave the house today, for there
seem many rawle upon the streets. NV
friend. De Courcy here. begs the favor OF
some converse will you and speaks with
my approval"
stanford looked keenly at the girl, and
her heart thrilled as she read the un-
spoken message with quick intuition. Ho
mad some use for De Courcy and she must
be sauve and diplomatic. Thus already
she was her fathers ally.
Sir. 1 shall obey you in all things. and
hope to win your commendatlon," said
FRANCES with an inclination of the head.
NO sooner was the earl quit of the room
than De Courcy flung himself at her feet.
Her first impulse was to step quickly back
but she checked it and stood her ground.
%, divine Frances" he cried, how i'm
patiently have waited for this rapt mo-
ment when 1 might declare to you"
Sir l beg of you to arise. 'Tis not
seemly you should demean yourself thus"
lis seemly that the whole world should
grovci al your feet, my lady of the free
forest, for all who look upon you must love
you, and 1 adore you and do here avow it."
Il 1mpIOre YOU to arise"
The gallant seized her hand instead and
pressed his lips on it. The tremor which
passed over her at this action was misin-
terpreted by his unquenchable vanity.
The tension was relieved by a low roar
from the street, a sound that had in II the
menace of a wild beast angered.
Good heaven! What is that?" she ex-
claimed, snatching away her hand and run
ming to the window. Her sutton rose to his
feet. daintily busted the knees of his sIIken
wear with a film of lace that did duty for
a handkerchief and followed her.
The street below was packed with people,
Rowling round a carriage that seemed
blocked by the press. The stout coach
man, georgous in splendid livery, had some
ado to restrain the spirited horses, mad
dened and ~prancing with rhe interference
and the cutlery. Cudgels were shaken aloft
In the air, and there were shouts OF
TRAITOR! Tyrantl" and other epithets so
degrading that Frances put her hands to
her ears In horrihed dlsmay.
Whom are they threatening 90 hend-
ishly? she whispered.
That is your father's carriage" an
swered De Courcy.
Before she could make further inquiry,
there came up to them the cold dominating
tones of her fathers voice. clear even
above that tumult.
Strike through"
The stout eoaehman laid about him with
his whip and the curses for the moment
abandoned the head OF STAFFORD to alight
on the head of the driver. The horses
plunged hercely into the crowd. The cruel
progress changed the tenor of the cries, as
II a Wailing stop of a great organ had
RundenlV takon thu Rfaaa Of Al. o...