Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-09

.
my train to whip forth this impudent
wench into the wretched rabble that
has cast her into our presence. The
quarrcling of women! A slnttern that
wishes to divert, from her reputed fa-
theirs head to yours the anger of the
gutter. Listen to it, my lord. Listen
to it."
All this was shrieked forth with ges.
lures so rapid and amazing that the
eye could scarce follow the motion of
her hands. Now she flew to the win
dow and fumbled with its fastening,
too greatly excited to succeed with the
opening. Several of the French gal
lants stumbled over each other in their
haste to aid her, but the lady's i'm
patience could not wait for them. She
lifted her clinched hand and smote tho
diamond panes, which went shivering
down beneath the fierce impact of the
blow. Glass or lead or both cut the
imperious. hand and wrist, and the
blood trickled down the fair rounded
arm. The breach she made was like
the letting in of waters, the roar out
side became instantly articulate, and
waves of meaning flooded the great
apartment.
''To the block with STAFFORD. Death
to the peoples oppressor!' was the cry,
and the tortured king shrank from it
rs from the lash of whip.
"Hearken to the wolvesv' shrieked
the queen. ut is your blood or STRAIT
ford's! Which, which, which?''
Then, perhaps because of the hurt
which she scarcely seemed to feel, her
mood changed as quickly as her anger
had risen, and she melted into tears,
glided to her husband and threw her
arms about his neck.
ooh, Charles, Charles" she moaned,
''it is my love for you that would
coerce you. You have not been to
blame, misled by an obstinate minister
who would sacrifice an indulgent mas
ter to buy his own safety. A king is
not to be bound as other men. The
claim of your wife and children rises
superior to that of any subject, for you
have sworn to protect them"
Charles stood by the wall which was
eight years. later to be broken for his
own final exit, his eyes filled with
tears, caressing the woman who chung
to his breast. He saw that the girl
was about to address him again and
said hastily:
go, go! You but pile distraction on
distraction. Fear not; for the word of
a king goes with YOU"
| rov ca1,l>a,1 %1,o ,,,oax tsra, !.
my sake withdraw it."
Two of the bishops now stepped for
ward and with gentle urgency used
their persuasion ON the girl to with
draw. "Gcd keep your majesty firm,' .
she cried, "and so deal with you as you
deal with my father"
| But the last sight she was to have
of her ruler, as the good men pushed
her to the door, was far from inspiring
His cheeks were womanishly wet, and
wavering irresolution was stamped up.
ON his brow. The twining wounded
arm Of his wife had Redeemed the
. white scarf at his throat with the roy.
nj, passionate blood Of France.
CHAPTER VIII.
~ N Monday there We're ever in
l4 creasing rumors through the
lNE town that Charles had signed
the bill which would send his
chief minister to the block, qualified
by statements equally vague that he
had done nothing of the sort. But as
night drew on the rising jubilation of
the crowds in the streets gave point to
the more sinister report. In the even.
ing, his usual time of calling, the som
Der Vollins came to the inn, chiefly, n!
: he said, to urge the girl to quit til,