The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-04-22
"No, nor gasped Charles. staggering

mo, not" gasped Charles. staggering
to his feet and sweeping with gesture
of his hand the documents which lay
before him on the table, so that they
fiuttered to the floor. 'She speaks the
| truth: happy is the prince who hears
It and needs 1t. I have passed my
word to STAFFORD. and it shall be kept.
I will not sign-no, though the heavens
fall. Rise, my girl! You have my
promise-the promise Of Stuart-and
it shall be fulfilled"
Charles graciously assisted the girl
to her feet with the same courtesy he
would have shown to the first lady Of
the court.
The rage Of the queen now passed
all bounds of restraint.
"And this before me, your wife! You
weigh the word of this bedra ggled crea-
ture Of the streets above that Of the
royal house of France and queen Of
| this turbulent realm. You deserve to
be hooted by your loathsome mob. Who
is this womanY'
De Courcy whispered a word into her
! ear.
"What! The daughter Of that profit
gate STAFFORD! To what pass this
Christian court has come"
"'Tis true, it's true" murmured
Charles, visibly quailing before the
increasing wrath of his wife, adding in
piteous appeal, "Have not enough to
bear without the quarreling Of wo-
men?
1.-THE quarreling Of women! Dare
you couple me in the same breath
with such as she? Is there none in
my train to whip forth this impudent
wench into the wretched rabble that
has cast her into our presence. The
quarreling of women! A slattern that
wishes to divert, from her reputed ia
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 fumbIed with it's 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 the
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
as from the lash Of whip.
"Hearken to the wOlves! shrieked
the queen. lit is your blood or STRAIT
ford's! Which, which, whichT
1 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.
"Oh, Charles, Charles" she moaned,
ut 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
d 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 filed 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
king goes with you"
"No, nor sobbed the queen. "For
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. God keep your majesty firm"
she cried, land 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
al, passionate blood Of France
CHAPTER VIII.
~ N Monday there were ever in
| creasing rumors through the
town that Charles had signed
i 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