The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-05
Continued from Last Sunday.)
CHAPTER V.
Ordeal.


Frances made her way to the north
as her father had directed, and every
where found the news OF his arrest in
advance of her, the country ablaZe
with excitement because of il. The
world would go well once Strafforde
was laid low. He had deluded and
miSled the good king, as buckingham
did before him. Buckingham had fall
en- by the knife; StraffOrde should fall
by the axe. Then the untrammeled
king would rule well; quietness and in
dustry should succeed this unhealthy
period of fever and unrest
The girl was appalled, TO meet
everywhere this intense hatred of her
father. and i'm her own home she was
surrounded by il. Even her brother
could not be aroused to sympathy, for
he regarded his father not only as
traitor to his country, but as a do
nestle delinquent also, who had neg
lected and deserted his young wife,
leaving her to die uncontrolled, with
out even a message from the husband
for whom she had almost sacrificed her
good name, bearing accomplishing his
absence and her fathers wrath. Dur
ing the winter Frances saw little OF
her brother. Herbert Wentworth was
here and there riding the country, inn
aglning with the confidence Of extreme
youth that he was mixing in great
affairs, as, indeed, they were, although
=nce i'm their direction. The land was
IN a ferment, and the widest rumor5
were ahOat StTafforde 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 1t was
said the kings soldiers had attacked
the Tower. liberated Strattorde, and
the Black Man was at the head Of the
wild Irish. resolved ON the suDJugatlon
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 forgotten, OF were his
messages intercepted? They heard,
even i'm the north. that the earl would
have to stand trial. At last she could
wait no longer. Her horse and the
southern road were at her disposal,
with none to hinder. and she set forth
for London again. She avoided her
fathers mansion when she arrived
there, knowing that Lady Stranorde
was then in residence there, and she
went to the inn where she had for
merly lodged. Then she appealed to
her fathers treasurer. Mr.. Nollins, to
get a seat for her at the earls 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.
self one Of a bevy Of gayly dressed
ladies. all OF whom were chattering
merrily. But their chatter was silenced
soon by the measured tramp of armed
men. Behind them. with four secre-
taries. the Earl Of Strafforde came
slowly, a bowed and pallid inquire,
dressed in black.
a broken man. sentence Of death was
already passed upon him by a higher
tribunal He took his seat and closed
his eyes as IL the short walk from the
barge to the place Of judgment had been
too much for him.
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 cor
ner of that vast Room, in argument that
even she recognized as clear and logi-
cal. and as ldispassionate as if he were
setting forth the case of another.
He was listened 70 with the most pro-
found respect by friends and enemies
alike. He seemed 10 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 were list>l-
ing to OratOry such as had never be
fore greeted the ears or England, and
probably never would again. A breath
less tension held the audience SPELL
bound, and It seemed impossible that
his direst foe could remain unmoved.
The belief in his acquittal became a
certainty. Not chord on the harp Of
humanity was left untouched.
And now. my lords" he ended. Il
thank Cod ] have been by his blessing
sufficiently instructed in the extreme
vanity Of all temporal enjoyments COM
pared to the Importance Of our eternal
duration. And so, my lords, even so.
with all humility and with all tran
guilty Of mind, I submit clearly and
freely to your judgments. And whether