Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-08-27

1olio wing IAC SOOu CApulplC DC
by it's predecessor. In the Home parE
the only part of the extensive ground
surrounding Hampton Court palace tina
was well wooded, the leaves had no
entirely left the branches and the tur
beneath was green and firm, as yet un
SOdden by autumnal rain.
Along one Of the forest aisles Their
walked distinguished party, proceed
ing slowly. for the pace was set by
disease stricken man whose progress
was of painful deliberation. He wa
tail and thin. His body was premature
~ bent. though accustomed to b.
straight eHough if one might judge b!
ness. or by the glance of the piercing
eye. untamed even by deadly ma1ady
That he was not long for this earth, II
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 anxiously planning
his ruin. They were wise in their
privacy. for had a whisper Of their in
tcs3tions gone abroad the Earl Of STRAIT
ford would have struck first and struck
hard, as indeed be intended to do in
any case.
Thomas Wentworth, 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
a Difference more obsequious than that
with which they might have distin-
Iguished the king himself. for all knew
that this shattered frame was more to
be dreaded than the most stalwart per-
sSOnage who that day trod English soil.
Behind Ills noble circle followed a
numerous band Of attendants. alert
for beck or call, each having place
according to his degree. A huntsman
was surrounded by dogs kept in thrall
by fear of the whip. Falconers with
hooded hawks attested favorite sport
OF the earl, who loved to have the birds
near him even though Re made no trial
of their fight. 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 to recover some remnant Of health
by the placid Thames, after his trou-
!blous journey from Ireland, which
turbulent country lay numb under his
strong hand, soon to be vocal enough
when the hounds were upon him. No
echo of London's Glamour came to this
green paradise. He knew the mob was
crying out against him, as in truth the
whole country cried, but he needed not !
the howl, despising his opponents. !
Better for him had he been more wary ;
or more conciliatory. |
Among those now in his company !
was young De Courcy, one Of the nu-
merous band of Frenchmen smilingly
received at court because the consort
Of Charles had a prediction for her
preference unshared
by any save her husband. The French
contingent thought little of the scowls
Of the English so long as those in au-
thOrity smiled on them and the smile
brought profit They were regarded as
titled mercenaries, spies probably,
anxious to feather their own nests at
the expense Of the treasury, possibly
The propagating agents Of church Of
which England had a deep distrust, !
possessing an overweening
influence at court, dividing still fur
her the unfortunate king from his sus-
,icious people. -. ~~--
1t might have been imagined that ,
70 thoroughly English, so strenuous, ,
! man as Stanford, the last to be de- ,
uded by suave manners or fattery, ,
although he had an Unsuitable appetite / 8
Or cringing Difference, yet uninfuenced ! :
y it (as witness his crushing Of Lord !
dontmorris in Ireland, would have
hown scant friendship for frivolous ,
trench mobiles, but it was fact that he =
'ore from young De Courcy a famili- >
rity of address that he would have! ,
uttered from none other in the king I !,
ON.
COurtiers find a ready reason for 4
very action, and they attributed 2
trafford's forbearance to the influence ,
De Courcy possessed with the queen, =
or his lordship was we'll aware that a
is sovereign lady showed small lik- q
ag for the kings most powerful min y
tier. STAFFORD was too keen a poll q
Clan not to make every endeavor to n
lacate an enemy who at all hours had o
ccess to the. private ear of his master
a whose breath depended his own ele- G.
alton. Therefore it may we'll be that "
e thought 1t worth while to conciliate
ne Of the naughty lady's favorites. q
The converse ton under the trees was p
Chilly frivolous, despite the serious u
sss Of the time. STAFFORD was not a.
ne to wear his heart on his sleeve. q,
Id If he was troubled that the king q
sisted on his presence in London, re- b
sing to him permission to return to {,
Gland, where he was safe-the WELD 81
of the upper hand-his manner or T
Dression gave no hint of his anxiety H.