The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-11
Deer the
Border s
BARR.
<..<.. Coz 8, Author of
Frederick A. snos., Co. .you-noIisf." Etc.
Cooyrisb. 1905. by
Frederick n. SfoksS I

Inc disheveled girl had lung herself
at the feet of the frightened monarch,
who started back, gazing wildly about
him. shaking as one struck with palsy,
so startling and unexpected had been
the interruption. Red anger flushed
the face of the no less amazed queen.
speechless with Indignation at the
words and the tone of them addressed
to her exalted husband. The sage
bishops were astounded at the lack Of
diplomacy on the part of the petition
er who had thus rudely thrown herself
counter to the expressed wishes Of the
highest lady in the land. but Frances,
with an instant intuition more subtle
than theirs, saw that the queen was
an enemy not to be cajoled by defer
ence or flattery, so she determined that
the war between them should be open
and aboveboard.
The king had reason for agitation
greater than the surprise that had
made breathing statues of those about
him. The accents that disturbed him
were the accents Of STAFFORD himself.
softened as they were by the lips that
uttered them. The boldness of the adj
dress was Strafford's, and until he saw
that a woman knelt before him it al
most seemed that the dominant spirit
of the prisoner had burst the bonds Of
the Tower and sped hither to reproach
him for meditated treachery.
Frances, gathering breath, took adj
vantage of the silence her sudden adj
vent had caused.
why is Lord STAFFORD in dungeon
today? Because, trusting your word.
he obeyed your command at Hampton.
Why was he put on trial? Because
faithfully he carried out his kings be-
hests. Why was he condemned to
death? Because he stood true to the
king. If he deserve death, then so do
you, for you are the master and he the
servant Has God stricken you and
your cotinselors with blindness that
you cannot see in the destruction Of
STAFFORD the throwing away of the
shield which guards your breast. leav-
ing you naked to your enemies? Sur
render bastion, and the castle falls"
"Heavensv' cried the quivering
queen. w bdt guilty VI Tic uldu Is
this, where the meanest Of subjects
may so address monarch! Strip the
mantle from her back and scourge her
rebellious flesh to the kennel whence
she comes
mo, no." gasped Charles, staggering
to his feet and sweeping with a gesture
of his hand the documents which lay
l.; III
fiuttered to the floor. 'She speaks the
truth; happy is the prince who hears
it and heeds it. 1 have passed my
word to STAFFORD, and it shall be kept.
l will not sign7-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 bedraggled 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 womanT
De Courcy whispered a word into her
ear.
what! The daughter Of that profit
gate STAFFORD! To what a pass this
Christian court has Gomez
"'Tis true, it's true" murmured
Charles, visibly quailing before the
increasing wrath of his wife, adding in
piteous appeal, Have 1 not enough to
bear without the Quarreling Of wo-
men"
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
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 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 Ter 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.
ITO the block with STAFFORD. Death
to the peoples oppressor"' was the cry,
and the tortured king shrank from it
as from the lash of q whip.
"Hearken to the wolves"' shrieked
the queen. 1T 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
"Oh. Charles, Charles" she moaned.