Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-02

"Does he then acknowledge a third?"
''rhe third is an infant too young to
know what is going on. Hush! We
must not talk"
The girls eagerness fell away from
her; she reclined back in her seat and
sighed deeply. The preliminaries of
the day passed her like a dream, for
she knew nothing of the procedure, but
Mt last her attention was aroused, for
she saw her father on his feet, and be-
fore she was aware he began to speak,
the voice Mt first cold and calm, pene-
trating the remotest corner of that vast
room. in argument that even she recog-
ni2eu rs clear. logical and dispassioned
as if he were setting forth the case of
another. He was listened to with the
most profound respect by enemies and
friends alike. He seemed to brush
away the charges against him as If
they were very cobwebs of accusation.
AS he went OH he warmed more to
his theme, and by and by the girl, lean
ing intently forward. drinking In every
word. knew that she was listening to
oratory such as had never before greet
ed the ears of England and probably
never would again. A breathless ten-
sion held the audience spellbound, and
it seemed impossible that his dircst
foe could remain unmoved. The belief
in his acquittal now became certainty
and it was every moment more and
more evident that this acquittal would
also be triumph.
The speaker went on to his perora-
ton. "Ahd now, my lords, thank
God 1 have been, by his blessing, suf-
fciently instructed in the extreme VAN
ity Of all temporal enjoyments, COM
pared to the Importance Of our eternal
duration. And so, my lords, even so,
with all humility and with all tran
quillity of mind, submit clearly and
freely to your judgments. And wheth-
er that righteous doom shall be to life
or death, l shall repose myself, full Of
gratitude and confidence, in the arms
of the Great Author Of my existence"
On none of the vast visible throng
had the effective Grafton exercised
greater power than upon IN unseen
listener. The awed stiffness was sud
denly broken by n splintering crash,
and the startled audience looking up,
saw the frail latticework of the nl-
cove shattered, and the king standing
there like n ghost Unframed by Jagged
latls. Stern determination sat on that
handsome countcnance; n look which
said as plainly us words, "This man
shall not dier" His hands clutched the
broken framework beneath him, and he
mostened his lips as If to give utter.
nnce to the words his expression fore.
Swallowed. But before he could speak
n tall, angular figure sprang out from
among the commons and held up n
sinewy hand. His face was ablaze
with anger; his stentorian voice domi
mated the hall, envenomed with hatred
striking the ear with terror us does the
roar of tiger.
1.-THE might Of England, in parliament
assembled, gives Judgment untram
meled and unafraid. The king is moi
here. The king cannot be here. The
throne Is vacant and must remain va
cant until justice is DONE"
AS the last words rang out, the long
index finger, shaken menacingly, point
cd at the empty chair. There was dc
tiance Of king or minister in words and
tone and gesture, a challenge to the
throne. The pale face Of the king be
came CHASTITY white, his hand trembled
, and fragments of the latticework fel
!, from beneath it. Irresolution took til,
place of former determination, and Ii,
glanced pitifully from right to left al
If seeking human support, of which
in the amazed stiffness, there was M
Indication. Then the fine white hant
of an unseen woman showed for mo
ment on his ann like snowflake, ant
Charles, with one look of haunting
compassion on the prisoner, disappear
ed from sight. The phantom picture
had vanished from its ragged fran,
without sound and blank darkness!
occupied its place. Truly the king wal
not present, conjured away by thu
strenuous hand of the fierce combat
ant OH the stage and the soft hand o.
the woman behind the scenes.
"Who is that mani" whispered Fran
ces, gazing in frightened fascination OF
the rude interrupter.
"That is John Ppm, the chief prose
cutor and deadly personal enemy O
Lord STAFFORD"
AS the girl gazed ut this dominating
individuality nll the froth Of confidenc,
in her fathers acquittal, whipped III
by the chatter Of conversation Mt tn
beginning, evaporated. There stood tn
personified hatred Of England agains
the Earl of STAFFORD. No wavering IL
accent or action there, but q determine
man, knowing what he wanted ant
bent on having 1t. To her excitet
imagination the resolute face took OF
the semblance Of death mask, and tn
clinched hand seemed to grasp til
shaft of mn AK. 1t was Us If the heads
man had suddenly stood forth ant
claimed his own, and chill US Of tn
grave swept over the audience with
shudder in its wake. :.
A low wailing cry went sobbinl
across the silence, cry that tugged n
StraffordFs heart when he heard II
What memory did it stir in his trou
bled mind? A "Reminiscences of some
thing that had escaped him, crowde,
out by matters Of more pressing mo
ment.
/ what is that?" he asked anxiously
e at is nothing, my lord" answere,
. Vollins, stepping between his maste
/. and the commotion among the women
3 "a lady has tainted, that is oil. The.
}. are tuking her out"