Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16

intimately. the people at large never for
a moment questioned his guilt
He had confessed. Surely that was
enough. The loutish brains OF the lower
prolet ariat did not care to 60 beyond that
obvious. self-evident fact. The meaner
the nature of the man, the more ready is
he to acknowledge evil: he seeks ii out.
recognizes it under every garb. VINO.
among the majority OF people. cared to
seek for sublime sell sacrifice IN an ordt-
nary confession of crime?
The wiseacres and learned men. the
more wealthy burgesses and people Of
more consideration, were content with a
few philosophical reflections anent the
instability OF human nature and the evil
influences of court life and of great
wealth.
No one cared about the man. 1t was
the pageant they all liked. What thought
had the mob OF the agonizing rack to
which a proud soul would necessarily be
subjected during the course of a weari-
some and ella oorate trial? They only
wanted TO see a snow. the robes of the
Judges. the assembly Of peers. and that
one central figure. the first gentleman in
England. once almost king-now a
felon.
\ fine sight my masters, His Grace OF
WesseX in a criminal dock:
Places in the hall. were at a premium.
The prentices were we'll to the fore as
usual: like SO many eel-like creatures
they had slipped into the .ront rank as
soon the great doors had been opened.
Some few waits and vagrants-acute and
greedy of gain-were making good trade
with small wooden benches. which they
sold at three pence the piece to those who
desired better view.
The women were all wearing becoming
gowns. somber Of hue as befitted the oc-
casion. His Grace of Wessex was noted
for his avowed admiration for the beau
tiful sex. They had all brought large
white kerchiefs. for they anticipated some
exquisite. emotions. His grace was SO
handsome! There was sure to be an oc-
casion for tears.
But only as pleasurabe sentiment!
Like one feels at the play. where the actor
expresses feelings. yet is himself cold and
unlmpassioned. What his grace himself
would feel was never considered. The
crowd had come to- see; some mad paid
three-pence for clearer sight Of the
accused. and all meant t2 enjoy them
selves that day.
Proud Wessex. Thou hast sunk to this.
a spectacle for a common holiday! Thy
face Will be scanned lest one twitch es-
cape! Thy shoulders. II they stoop: thy
neck If it bend. A thousand eyes will be
fixed upon thee in curiosity, in derision-
perchance in pity.
Ye gods what a fall!
The lord high steward Of England was
expected to arrive at 10 O'Clock. IN the
center Of the great court large seaffold
had been erected, not far from the lord
chancellor's court. In the middle Of this
there was placed a chair higher than the
rest and covered with. a cloth, which hOre
the royal arms embroidered at the four
corners
This was for my lord high steward.
Each side of him were the seats for the
peers who were to be the triers. Great
names were whispered as the servants of
the knight marshal arranged these IN
their respective PLACES. There was the
chair for the Earl of Kent and my, Lord
OF Sussex. the Earl of Hartford and Lord
Saint John Of Basing and score of 9TH
ers. for there were twenty-four triers in
all.
On a lower form We're the seats t1r the
judges. and in a hollow place cut in the
scaffold itself and Immediately at the
feet of my lord high steward the clerk OF
the crown would sit with his secondary.
: And facing the judges and the peers
was the bar, where presently the exalted
prisoner would stand.
No one was here yet of the greater
personages: the servants were still busy
putting everything to rights; but some
already arrived. and several noble lords
who would be mere spectators. His
grace's friends could be easily distinguish
ed by the somberness Of their garb and
Thomas Norton. the queens printer, was
sorting his papers and cutting his pens,
and two gentlemen ushers were receiving
final instructions from garter king at
arms.
There was indeed plenty for the idlers
to see. Great ropes had been drawn
across the further portions Of the hall,
leaving a wide passage from the main
entrance right down the center and up
to the lord high stewards seat. Behind
these ropes the crowd was forcibly kept
back. And the gossip and the noise went
on apace. Laughter, too, and merry
jests. for this was holiday, my masters.
presently to be brought to close-after
the death sentence had been passed and
every one dispersed-with lively jousts
and copious sacks of ale.
But Of all this excitement and hustle
not sound penetrated within the pre-
cincts of the lord chaRcellor's court.
where his eminence the Cardinal de
Moreno sat patiently waiting.
DESTROYS above all things of escaping
observation. he had driven over from
Hampton Court in the early dawn, and
wrapped in a flowing black coat which
slipped into the hall and thence into the
inner court even before the crowd had
begun to collect. Since then he had sat
there quietly buried in thought. calmly
looking forward TO the interview which
was destined finally to unravel the
tangled skein of his own diplomacy. Once
more the destinies Of Europe were hang
ing on a thread-a girls love for a man.
Well! so be it! His eminence loved
these 4palpitating situations, these hair
breadth escapes from perilous positions
which were the wine and salt Of his
existence. He was ready to stake his
whole future career upon woman'S
love He. who had scoffed all his life at
sentimental passions. who had used every
emotion of the human heart, aye! and its
every suffering, merely as so many assets
in the account of his far-reaching policy
he now saw his whole future depending
on the strength Of girls feelings.
That she would certainly come he never
for a moment had doubt. In these days
the commands of sovereign were akin
to the dictates of a God: to disobey was
matter of treason. Aye! she would
come, sure enough! not only because of
her allegiance to the queen, but because
of her intense. vital interest in the great
trial of the day.
So his eminence waited patiently In the
lord chancellOr's cOurt-which gave
straight into the great hall itself-until
the appointed time.
Exactly at half past the door of the
room was opened and Ursula Glynde
walked in. The cardinal rose from his
seat and would have approached her, but
she retreated a step or two as he came
ner and said coldly:
IT'S your eminence who desired my
presence"
And it's we'll that you came. my
daughter" he replied kindly:
Il was commanded by her majesty to
attend: 1 had not come OF my own free
will
She spoke quietly, but very stiffiy. as
one who Is merely performing a social
duty, without either pleasure or dislike.
The cardinal studied her face keenly. but
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