Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-08-25
CHAPTER I.

surrounding Hampton Court palace that
was well wooded. the leaves had not
entirely left the branches and the turf
beneath was green and firm, as yet I'M
sodden by autumnal rain.
Along one Of the forest aisles there
walked distinguished party, proceed.
ing slowly, for the pace was set by n
disease stricken man whose progress
was of painful dclibcration. He was
tall and thin. His body was premature
IT, bent though accustomed TO be
straight enough If one might Judge by
the nasterful brow. now pallid with i'll
ness, or by the glance OF the piercing
eye untamed even by deadly malady.
That he vas not long for this earth, if
nature had her way. a scrutinizer Of
that handsome. powerful face might
have guessed yet he was singled out
for destruction even before his short
allotted time for at that moment his
enemies, hedged in secrecy behind
locked doors were anXously planning
his ruin. They were wise in their
privacy. for had whisper Of their in
fentions gone abroad the Earl OF STRAIT
ford would have struck first and struck
hard, as indeed he intended to do in
any case
y Thomas Wentw orth. earl Of STRAIT
ford. was accompanied by an imposing
train. On either side Of him, accommo-
dating their slow steps to his, were
some Of the highest in the land, who
waited on his words and accorded him
Difference more ohseQuious than that
with which they might have diStin-
guishcd the king himself, for all knew
that this shattered frame was more to
be dreaded than the most stalwart per
sonage who that day trod English soil
Behind this noble circle followed
numerous band of attendants, alert
for beck or call. each having place
according 10 his degree 4 huntsman
was surrounded by dogs kept in thrall
ny fear OF the whip. Falconers with
hooded hawks attcsted Il favorite sport
of the earl, who loved TO have the birds
near him even though he made no trial
of their flight And here he walked
the grounds of the king as if he owned
them: as though he were permanent
master instead Of transient guest.
Here he rested for the moment. hop
ing 10 recover some remnant of health
lv the rlacid Thames. after his trou-
hlous journey from Ireland. which
turbulent country lay numb under his
strong hand. soon To be vocal enough
when the hound, were upon him. No
echo Of Ioudou's glamour came to this
crying ont AGAINST him. us in truth the
Whole country cried. bllt he needed not
the how'll dc~uisin- his opponents.
Better for him lad Ne been more wary
or more coucilalory
Among those now in his coluuonv
was Young DE Toiircv. one Of tho mn.
ncr0uS band of Frcnchruon sn,tlinnly
received :t court hocauSr tho consort
of Charles hpd , urrdiio.tiou for her
couutrvn,u- urcfcroucr uushnrod
hv any save her husband. The French
contingent Thought little of the scowls
Of the English 50 long as those in au-
thority smiled on them and the smile
brought profit They were regarded rs
titled merccnarics. spies probably.
anxious to feather their own nests at
the expense Of the treasury, possibly
the propagating agents Of church Of
which England had II deep distrust
certainly possessing an oyorweening
influence at court, dividing still fur
Their the unfortunate king from his suS-
piciouS people
1t might have been imagined that