Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-10-19

will protect you"
The king rose and left the room us
abruptly rs he had entered it.
For some moments STAFFORD lay back
in his chair, seemingly in state of
collapse. The girl looked on him in
alarm.
"Sir, is there anything 1 can do for
you?" she asked ut length.
"Call a servant. Tell him to order n
coach prepared at once and see that 1t
is well horsed, for would have the
journey us short us possible"
"My lord. you are in no condition of
health to travel to London. I will go
to the king and tell him So"
"Do that requested you and trouble
me not with counsel. There is enough
Of woman's meddling in this business
already"
Frances obeyed her fathers instruc-
tons without further comment. then
came and sat in her place again. The
earl reused himself. endeavoring to
shake off his languor.
"What think you Of the kingr' he
asked.
"Hc is a man corroded with selfish
ness"
"Tut, tut! Such things are not to be
spoken in the precincts of court. No,
nor thought. He is not selfish mon
arch, other than oil monarchs are
selfish, but discussion on such theme
is fruitless, and must be nearing my
dotagc to begin 1t. am far from well,
Frances, and so, like the infirm, must
take to babbling."
do you fear parliament, my lord?
How can 1t harm you when you have
the favor of the king?"
II fear nothing, my girl, except fool.
ish, unseen interference, interference
that may not be struck Mt or even
limited against. Did they teach you
the history Of France in your school?''
mo, my lord"
"Then study 1t as you grow older.
I'll warrant you'll find 1t interesting
enough. Ruined by women. Ruined
by women. Seven civil wars in seven
teen years, and all because of viperish,
brainlcss women. Well, we have one
Of the breed here in England, and God
help us!"
you mean the queen, my lord?"
flush! Curses on 1t, will you be as
outspoken US another of your sex is
spitcful and subtle? Mend your man
ners, huzzy, and guard your tongue
Could you not see you spoke too freely
to the king moment sinceY
"Sir, am sorry"
'Be not sorry, but cautious"
STAFFORD fell into reverie, and there
| was silence in the room until the serv
ant entered and announced that the
coach was ready, whereupon his mas.
ter rose unsteadily.
"Sir," said the girl, twill you not eat
or drink before you departr
no" Then, looking sharply at his
daughter, he inquired, "Are you hun
gry?"
Eyes, my lord"
Bring hithcr some refreshments
whatever is most ready at hand. and O
measure of hot spiced wine. I had
forgotten your youth, Frances, think
ing all the world was old with me-"
When the rejection came she ate but
sparingly despite her proclamation, but
coaxed him to partakc and to drink q
cup Of wine. He ordered woman's
cloak brought for her, which when she
had thrown 1t over her shoulders he
himself fastened at her throat.
"There," he said when the cloak en-
veloped her, "that will protect yop
somewhat, for the night grows cold"
STAFFORD himself was wrapped In
warm furs, and thus together they
went down the stairs to the court, now
dimly, lighted. A cavalier who seemed
to have been standing in wait for then
stepped out from the shadow of the
arches, and Frances recognized the
French spark whom she had SO frankly
characterized earlier In the day.
my lord" protested De Courcy
jauntily, you have your comrades ut q
disadvantage. You have captured the
woodland nymph and, hear, propose
spiriting her away to London. de-
protest tits most unfair to those who
are thus left behind"
"sir," said STAFFORD, with severity
pausing in his walk, II would have
you know that the lady to whom yor
refer is the Lady Frances Wentworth
myseldest daughter, ever to be Spoken
Of with respect by high and low. M
tive and foreign shall speak otherwise
at their distinct peril"
The Frenchman pulled of his bonnet
with an impressive sweep that brushed
itssample feather lightly on the stones
He bent his body in low obeisanct
that threatened, were 1t not SO acrobat
ically accomplished, to pitch him for
ward on his nose.
"If congratulate your lordship OF
finding SO rare daughter rather thar
offer my Fluctuations to the lady in thu
attainment OF SO distinguished q ia
ther 1t Is because am filed with envy
OF any man who acquires companion
ship 80 charming"
Their arrival at the carriage. with 1T
four impatient horses position ridden
saved STAFFORD the effort of reply hat
he intended such. He seated himself
in the closed vehicle, and his daughter
sprang nimbly in beside him. ignoring
the proffered aid of De Courcy, wht
stood bowling and bending with mucl
courtesy and did not resume his bonnie
until the coach lurched on its lumber
ing way, preceded and followed by {
guard of horsemen. for the Earl Of
STAFFORD always travelled in state.
Nothing wss said by either until tn,
5ingling procession, was well clear Of
the park, when the girl. with shud
der. exclaimed:
Il loathc that scented fopw Then
seeming to fear a reproof for her out
spoken remark, added, ~ know
should not say that. but l cannot Sc.
what you have In common with such {
creature that you are civil to him"
To her amazemcnt her father laugh
ed slightly, the first time she had heard
him do so.
when we travel. Frances, safe out
ne no