Morris tribune., 1904-09-17
CHAPTER Y.
a DRIZZLING rain had set in
! "a and had driven the crowds
"a from the streets. Frances
CHAPTER Y.

the strange events in which she was
taking some small part, so different
from the tranquil happenings of the
district she had known all her life.
She had imagined London a city of
palaces facing broad streets, fanciedly.
if not literally, paved with gold-a
town of gayety and laughter; and here
was the reality, cavernous, squalid,
gloomy, human warren, peopled with
murky demons bent on outrage of some
sort. i'll natured and threatening.
AS the day waned she saw that in
spite of the rain the mob was collect
ing again, its atoms running hither
and thither, calling to each other; be-
draggled beings laboring under some
common excitement. And now it's roar
came to her again, farther off than be-
fore-a roar that chilled her while she
listened, and the wave of sound this
time seemed to have fearful note of
c1ultation in it. She wondered what
had happened, and was anxious for her
father if he We're at the mercy of it.
Airs. Jarrett came into the room, fol-
lowed by u manservant, and also by
c:,e of her fathers secretaries, as the
woman whispered to the girl:
My lady, we must close the shutters
and bar them tightly, for the ruff1ans
are threatening again, and may be here
i'll force at any moment to stone the
windows. as they have done before"
The secretary seated himself at the
table and was arranging papers. The
manservant opened the windows, from
which Frances drew back, and now the
cries came distinctly to her. death
to Straffordv' Down with the ty-
Fanty' ''To the block with the kings
earl"' were some Of the shouts she
heard Justify called forth.
''Oh! l fear my father is in danger
Do you think they have him in their
bower, that they exult so?'
Good Mrs. Jarrett, anxiety on her
own honest face, soothed her young
mistress, and the secretary came for
ward.
! "Be not troubled, madam he said.
while they cry TO the block it shows
they have not possession of his lord
ghip's person, but hope to stir up ran
cor to his disfavor. While they shout
For process of law, his lordship is safe,
for the law is in his hands and in those
of the king. whose behests he carries
out
This seemed a reasonable deduction,
hnd it calmed the inquirer, although
there remained to her disquietude the
accent of triumph in the voice of the
mob
''Death to Straffordv' was the bur-
den of the acclaim, but now one shout
led, Justice on Straffordv' though his
was clearly the same as the
others. There was no dissenting out |
cry. and this unanimous hatred. 80
Eehemently expressed, terrified at least !
one listener. Why was her father so !
universally detested? What had he
done? Stern he was undoubtedly, but
just, as his reception of herself had
shown, and courteous to all to whom
she heard him speak; yet the memory
OF that phrase, "Strike throughv' utter
ed with such ruthless coldness, haunt !
ed her memory, and she heard again
the shrieks of those trampled under
foot. It was an Indication that what
be had to do he did with all his might,
reckless Of consequence. If any oc-
cnpied his path, the obstructor had to
stand aside or go down, and such
course does not make for popularity.
The windows being now shqttered
md barred securely, and the tumult
Into lndfstinct murmur, lights
were brought Ii. Mrs. Jarrett urged
the girl to partake Of Some Fefresb'
ment but Frances Insisted on waiting
for her father. The secretary, seeing
her anxiety, said:
"Mr. Vollins went out some two
hours ago to learn what was taking
place, and l am sure if anything Sc
rious had happened he would have
been here before now with tidings."
"'Who Is Mr.. Vollins?'
"His lordship's treasurer, madam"
AS the words were uttered, the door
opened, disclosing John Vollins, the ex-
preston Of whose serious, clean shaven
face gave little promise Of encourage
ment.
''What news, Mr.. Vollins? The mob
seems rampant again." spoke up the
''Disquieting news, or l am misled
The rumor is everywhere believed that
his lordship was arrested in parliament
Ihis afternoon and is now in prison."
Impossible! 'Twould be breach
" privilege. In parliament! 1t cannot
be. Did you visit the precincts of
...' :.
3'No man can get within a mile of it,
!he mass of people is so great 1t
Ieems as if all London were concen-
rated there, and one is swept hither
md thither in the crush like straw /
m. the pillows Of the sea. Progress is
mt of the question except In what
yer direction impulse sways the mob.
there. are 80 many versions Of what
J supposed to have happened that
one can sift the truth. It is said that