Morris tribune., 1904-09-03

1npef1OuS righteousness tndC Tor tne
moment tietracted from it's acknowl-
edged nobility.
''Straff0rd." he cried impatiently, ~
have been kept waiting. Servants are
at this moment searching palace and
park for you. Where have you been2"
Il was in the forest. your majesty.
am deeply grieved to learn that you
needed me-"
81 never needed you more than now.
Are you ready to travel?"
Straffords gloomy face almost light
ed I'D.
Ion the instant. your majesty" he
rtplied, with sigh of relief.
THAT is well. trust your malady
is alleviate0, in some measure at least.
Still, know that sickness has never
been a bar to duty with you. Yet
ask no man to do what l am not will
ing to do myself for the good of the
state, and shall be shortly on the road
at your heels"
'Whither, your majesty?' asked the
earl. with falling countenance, for it
was to Ireland he desired to journey,
GuI he knew the king had no inten-
ton of moving toward the west.
TO London. of course; a short stent
over bad roads. But if you are ailing
and fear the highway, barge on the
river is at your disposal
To LCndonv echoed the earl, some
thing almost akin to dismay in his
tone. Il had hoped your majesty would
order ME to Ireland, which, 1 assure
lected of late"
Eyes, yes" exclaimed the king brusque-
1y; 81 know your anxiety in that
quarter. A man ever thinks that task
the most important with which he in
timately deals, but my position gives
me view over the whole realm, and
the various matters of state assume
their just proportions in my eyes, their
due relations to each other. Ireland is
well enough. but it is the heart and not
the limbs of the empire that requires
the physicians care. Parliament has
opened badly and is like to give trouble
unless treated with a firm hand"
The hand of the earl appeared any
thing but firm. 1t wavered as it sought
the support of the chairs arm.
"Have l your majesty's permission
to be seated? I am not WE'LL" STRAIT
ford said family.
"Surely, sureIyw cried the king, him
self taking a chair. II am deeply
grieyed to see you so unwell, but a
journey to London is a small matter
compared with a march upon Dublin,
which is like to have killed you in your
present condition."
Indeed, your majesty, the smaller
Journey may we'll have the more fatal
ferminatio murmured the earl, but
the king paid no attention to the re-
mark, for his wandering eye now
caught sight of third in the confer
ence, which brought surprised displeas-
lure to his brow. The girl was stand
Ding behind the high back of the chair in
(which she had been seated, in gloomy
angle where the freight which played
tso plainly oil the king and STAFFORD did !
pot not feYeh her: sGssss=s-~
! "Whom have we here? The fippant |
prophet of the forest, or my eyes de-
tceiye me! How comes this girl in my
palace, So intimate with my Lord
Stafford, who seemed to meet her as
a stranger but yesterday?' - -
The slumberIhg suspicion Of Charles
was aroused, and he glanced from one
Ito the other in naughty questioning.
Il meyer met her until / encountered
her in the forest when had the honor
Ito accompany your majesty. Today,
;as ! walked with De Courcy and 9th
||ers, there came a second accosting from
her, as unexpected as the first. The
girl craved private speech with me,
(which 1 somewhat reluctantly grant
led. The upshot is she brings me proof,
(which I cannot deny, that she Is my
eldest daughter
''YOur eldest daughter!' cried the
king, amazed. SIS your family, then,
no widely scattered and so far IN
known to you that such a claimant
lmay spring up at any moment"
Il was married privately to the
tdaughter of Sir John Warburton. Cir
scumstances separated me from my
wife, and, although her father curly
Informed me of her death, he said moth
Ang Of issue. There was a feud be-
tween us-entirely on his part had
snaught against him. 1t seems he has
been dead this year past, and my
daughter, getting news of her father
among Sir Johns papers, comes thus
)gouthward to make inquiry"
''You fall into good fortune, my girl.
Your extraordinary claim is most read
lly allowed"
Frances, finding nothing to say, kept
silence and bowed her head to the king,
whom she had regarded throughout
with rapt attention.
"Where got you your gift Of prophe-
~? Is prescience hereditary, and has /
your fathers mantle already fallen on
your shoulders? He is my best friend,
you said, and my worst enemy. Mad