Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-09
Deer the
Border sx;;
BARR,
-----.---- - Author of Baxter.
Soe>'f s, 80. a. S,ot.. Co. .Journofist.'' Etc.
ceey-isbs. 1905. by
Frederick n. Stokes C

Copyrisbf. 1908. by
Frederick n. Stokes Co.
Suddenly Frances found herself in
new danger through one of those I'M
esplainable heaves of the many throat
ed beast ut whose mercy she stood.
."To the gates!" went up a shout.
eve will make the king hear" And a
great human wave, overwhelming the
soldiers, struck against the shuddering
portal. The mere pressure of the null
titude was deadly and irresistible.
There were shrieks and appeals for for
bearance, but the unreasoning mass
behind pressed on, unheeding, cheering
and showing. A crash of rending tim
bers and the gates flew inward. Then
the mob, us if frightened at what it
had done, paused, giving the soldiers
time to collect themselves and help the
wounded. There was us yet no malice
in the crush; it was more like a con-
glomeration of irresponsible children
bent on mischief of any kind, 'but tenn
porarily scared at the breaking of
something.
This fact seemed to be recognized by
man in authority who came through
the gate and with some difficulty secur-
ed precarious footing on one of the
stone pillars which stood in 4 row be-
tween the pathway and the road, thus
giving him n position which lowered
over the heads of the assemblage. He
held up hand for hearing, and the
crowd cheered him, not in the least
knowing who he was or why he was
there. Comparative silence followed
the cheer, md the nobleman spoke.
"My good people," he said, there is
little use in the breaking of gates that
the king may hear you. for the king
has heard and is taking the requests
of his faithful subjects into his august
consideration"
"Where is the king" demanded an
auditor.
Ellis majesty is in the banqueting
house, where, rs you know, he is in
touch with his people. 'Tis a prayerful
subject he has to mediate on, and l
beg of you not to disturb his devotion
by further
SIS the queen Mt her devotions too?
In that hall she began masked revels
on Sunday, and six good men were
done to death for protesting against
the dissertation, each life more valu-
able than the wicked earl's. Let the
king say that he will sign, and we will
dispersew
These and other cries more or less to
the purpose bafIled the orator, and the
air quivered with denunciations Of
STAFFORD The man on the stone post
had cast his eyes behind him several
times, us If to see what progress was
being made with the REIMBURSEMENT of
the gate, and from this his hearers
quickly OWNED that he was but delud-
ing them to gain time. which was more
than likely his purpose, SO the shout
went up to move through the breach
and surround the hall. Meanwhile re-
endorsements had been summoned from
within, md hand to hand fight en-
sl2aa Nth the ananllsssso
Frances, painting and nigh worn out
in the struggle, nevertheless saw her
opportunity. There were few women
in the throng and such us came near
them the soldiers sought to protect.
She attempted appeal to the officer, but
that harassed dignitary could harken
to none and thrust her rudely but eff
fectually through the opening, saying:
"You will find egress ut one of the
other gates. Take care Of yourself.
cannot help YOU"
Breathing sigh of thNnkfulness, she
covered and ran along the end Of the
banqueting hall, turned Mt the corner
then down the side, entering an arch
way that let her into passage She
knew that she must turn to her right
but where after that she had not the
slightest notion. The tumult at the gate
was SO frightful that she expected ev
cry moment to hear the victorious as
saulters at her heels. Her joy at find
ing herself thus unexpectedly within
the precincts Of the palace unimpeded
caused her to overlook the fact tina
this was scarcely propitious momen
in which to implore the king to disre
gard the lusty giant rudely beating a
his doors. A frightened waiting mait
came hurrying along the corridor, ant
to her she directed inquiry regardin,
the entrance to the banqueting hall.
'Turn to the right and up the STAIR
"Take me there, beg Of you"
Il cannot. bear message"
"But bear message to the king
so yours must wait"
At this the maid turned and conduct
ed her to the door of the hall, saying
to the man at arms:
"This lady has q message for Iii
majesty"
The first thing that struck her on en-
tering the great painted chamber wa.
that the nobleman on the stone outsid,
had not spoken the truth when he sait
the king heard the demands Of his PEG
pie. A growl us Of an angry lion pen
etrated the closed windows, but the
words spoken were not to be distin
guished.
The king was sitting at massive
table, his head in his hands. Behind
him were grouped number of bishops
in their robes. and it certainly seemed
that his mnjesty was engaged in de
votional exercises, MS had been stated
by the orator. But If this were the
case they were of n strangely mixed
order, for behind the lady who was
talking yolubly to the king stood two
Capuchin monks with folded arms. Elk.
cepting the bishops none of the Eng.
lish nobility were present, but several
Frenchmen. among whom she recog.
nized De Courcy, held aloof from the
cluster at the table, SO the girl quite
correctly surmised that the lady bear.
ing the whole burden of tho converse.
ton was no other than the queen her.
self, and that these foreigners were
members of her train.
Her majesty spoke sometimes in
French, sometimes In English, tho lat.
ter with broken accent, and her elo.
quence was rather puzzling to follow,
for the flow Of her conversation was