The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-04-08

movement that startled the girl, flung
hlmself at her feet. Her first impulse
was to step quickly back. but she
checked it and stood her ground.
"Oh, divine Francesv he cried, '.how
lmpatiently l have waited for this rapt
moment when might declare to YOU
Sir, l beg of you to rise. IT'S not
seemly you should demean yourself
thus
"'Tis seemly that the whole world
should grovel at your feet, my lady of
the free forest, for all who look upon
you must love you, and for me, who
nave not the cold heart Of this north
ern people, 1 adore you, and do here
avow it."
You take me at disadvantage, sir
l have never been spoken to thus. i
am but child and unaccustomed; on
~ sixteen this very day. l ask you
! to-
Most beauteous nymph! How many
| grand ladies of our court would give
all they possess to make such confess
sion truly. Aye, the queen herself l
Nv UCouAS yOu, SWcCtcSts SUCH dTSU-
ment will never daunt a lover"
Il 1mplore you, sir, to arise. My IA
/ Their may return
THAT he will not. And if he did
'twould pleasure him to see my suit
advancing. l loved you from the first
moment beheld you. and. though you
used me with contumely, yet solaced
my wounded heart that twas me you
noticed, and me only, even though your
glance was tinged with scorn.'
Notwithstanding a situation that
called for tact. she was unable to re-
sist touch Of the linguistic rapier, and
her eyes twinkled with suppressed
merriment as she said, you forget.
sir, that also distinguished the keep
er OF the hounds with my regard but.
seeing he WINGED, she recollected her
position and added: I'm truth. l was
most churlishly rude in the forest, and
l am glad you spoke of it, that l now
have opportunity to beg your pardon
very humbly. I have learned since
|. then that you stand high in my dear
+ fathers regard, and indeed he chided
me for my violence, as twas his duty
to do by a maynard child
The gallant was visibly fiattered by
this tribute to his amour propre. He
seized her hand and pressed his lips to
1t, the tremor which passed over her
at this action being probably misinter-
preted by his unquenchable vanity.
The tension was relieved by low roar
from the street, sound that had in it
the menace of some wild beast reused
to anger. 1t brought to the girl rem
iniscence Of her disturbed dreams
"Good heaven. what is it?' she ex-
claimed, snatching away her hand
and running to the window. Her suit
or rose to his feet, daintily busted the
knees Of his silken wear with film Of
ACE that did duty for handkerchief.
and followed her.
The street below was packed with
people bowling round carriage that
seemed blocked by the press. The
stout coachman, gorgeous in splendid
livery, had some ado to restrain the
spirited horses, maddened and pranc-
ing with the interference and the out
cry. .Cudgels were shaken aloft in the
air, and there were shouts of '"frai-
tori ''Tyrant! and other epithets so
degrading that Frances put her hands
to her ears in Mortified dismay.
"Whom are they threatening SO fiend
ishlyY' she whispered.
THAT is your fathers carriage" an
swered De Courcy.
Before she could make further i'll
quiry there came up to them the cold.
dominating tones Of her fathers voice.
clear above that tumult:
"Strike through"
The stout coachman laid about him
with his whip, and the curses for the
moment abandoned the head of STRAIT
ford to alight on that Of the driver.
The horses plunged fiercely into the
crowd. The cruel progress changed
the tenor Of the cries, as If a wailing
stop of a great organ had suddenly
taken the place Of the open diapason.
The press was so great that those in
front could not make for safety, and
the disappearing coach was greeted
with screams Of terror and was fol
lowed by groans Of agony. Men went
down before it like ripe grain before a
sickle.
ooh, oh, ohv' moaned the girl, all
color leaving her face.
1T serves the dogs right" said De
Courcy. How dare they block the
way of a noble, and the chief minister
of state"
IL cannot look on this" lamented
Frances, shrinking back to the table
and leaning against it as one about to
fart. forgetting her desire to avoid
further demons ration from her COM
panion in tie trepidatiOn which fol-
lowed the scene she had witnessed.
Indeed they were most mercifully
dealt with, those scullions. The king
of France would have sent troop of
horse to saber them back into their
kennels. Strike through! cried his
lordship, and it's a good phrase. most
suitable motto for a coat of arms, a
hand prasping dagger above it.