Morris tribune., 1904-09-17

! north, as her father had direct
| II ed, and everywhere found the
news of his arrest in advance of
| her-the country abiaze with excitement
because Of it. The world would go
had deluded and misled the good king,
as Buckingham did before him. Buck
| ingham had fallen by the knife; Straf-
ford should fall by the ak. Then the
untrammeled king would rule well;
quietness and industry would succeed
this unhealthy period Of fever and un-
rest.
The girl was appalled, to meet every
where this intense hatred of her ia
ther, and in her own home she was sur
rounded by it. Even her brother could
not be aroused to sympathy, for he re-
garded his father not only as a traitor
to his country, but as domestic de-
linquent also, who had neglected and
deserted his young wife, leaving her to
/ die uncontrolled without even mes
sage from the husband for whom she
had almost sacrificed her good name,
bearing uncomplaining his absence and
her fathers wrath.
During the winter Frances saw little
Of her brother. Thomas Wentworth
was here and there riding the country,
imagining, with the confidence of ex-
treme youth, that he was mixing in
great affairs, as indeed he was, al
though he was too young to have much
influence in directing them. The land
was in a ferment, and the widest ru-
mors were afoat. STAFFORD 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 it was
said the kings soldiers had attacked
the Tower, liberated Strafford, and the
Black Man was at the head of the wild
Irish, resolved on the subjuga ton of
England. Next, the queen had called
on France for aid. and an invasion was
imminent
So there was much secret prepara-
ton, drilling and the conceaIing of
arms against the time they should be
urgently needed, and much gallOping
to and fro: stirring period for the
young, an anxious winter for the old.
and Thomas Wentworth was in the
thick of it all, lnysteriously departing,
unexpectedly returning, always more
foolishly important than there was any
occasion for Yet had he in him the
making of a man who was shortly to
be tried by fire and steel when greater
wisdom crowned him than was at pres
ent the case.
Since the letter she had received on
the night of his arrest, the daughter
heard no word from the father. Had
be again forgotten, or were his mes
sages intercepted? She did not know !
and was never to know. She had writ ,
ten to him, saying she had obeyed him,
but there was no acknowledgement that
her letter had reached it's destination.
Thus she waited and waited, gnawing
mpatience and dread chasing the rose
from her cheeks, until she could wait
no longer. Her forse and the south
ern road were at her disposal, with
hone to hinder, so she set forth for
London, eXcusing herself for thus in
spirit breaking her fathers command
,idden her return.
She avoided her fathers mansion,
that Lady Strafford and her
children were now in residence there,
md went to the inn where she had for
nerly lodged. She soon learned that it
70 fo r
Iuite another to obtain entrance to
Westminster hall, where the great trial,
low approaching it's end, was the fash
OnaDIe magnet of the town. No place
# amusement ever collected such audi
nces, and, although money will over
ome many difficulties, she found it
ould not purchase admission to the
rial through any source that was avail
bile. Perhaps if she had been more
with the ways of the me-
ropolis the golden key might have shot
'ack the bolt, but with her present |
she was at her wits end. /
Almost in despair happy thought |
occurred in her. She wrote note to
ohm Vollins, her fathers treasurer, |
nd asked him to call upon her, which /
he good man did at the hour she set. !,
"Your father would be troubled to z
now you are in London when he thinks {
ou safe at home" he said. II
81 could not help it, Mr.. Vollins. s
vas in a fever of distraction and must =
ave come even if had walked. But 4
ny father need never know, and you /
emember he wrote that you were to 6
elp me. / wish a place in Westnin- !
ter ball and cannot attain it by any 8
ther means In my power than by ask
ng YOU" /
ut is difficult of attainment. I. adj {
Use you not to go there, for if his lord t
hip happened to catch sight of you /
q that throng who knows but at a I
ritical moment it might unnerve him. I
or he is man fighting with his back !
0 the wall against implacable and un- {
crupulous enemies"
"Could you not get me some station 9
7here might look upon my father uil- Q