The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-16

civil had she not been inordinafely vain
and Iudicrously condescending.
| The Kings gentleman and the lady
| conversed with such disdsln OF Julian
and Fenelia that they touched on all
| the intimate topics OF court. They
| referred to His Majesty as "old Row
ley" and Peveril learned that the lady
| was Mr.. Chfffinch's lady Though not
his wife). and that His Majesty found
her house a very convenient one for
many of his royal purposes.
Before long "old Rowley' himself
| was announced. He, too, ignored the
presence of julian and FeneIla for the
time being. and inquired particularly
after a pretty little country cousin. t"
whom he had heard chiffinch was en-
tertaining. Pray let Us have Ia bells
cousine." said he.
Mistress Chiffinch, evidently pain
fully embarrassed, advanced toward q
door. At that moment woman's voice
was heard raised In anger. The door
opened and Alice ran out, followed by
the Duke Of Buckingham.
II remain no longer in your house.
madam" said she Indignantly. II shall
leave without delay a place where I
am exposed to insult"
Julian, instantly careless Of the
presence OF the King. stepped to her
side. An ecstasy OF Joy shone in her
face when she saw who had come so
opportunity to her rescue. She per-
mitted him to draw her gently to the
background.
The King. who knew we'll that Alice
had been destined for him. resented
the attempt of Buckingham as an
Eastern Sultan would have done. His
swarthy features Redeemed. But he
knew that he could not dare TO show
his wrath. He contented himself with
making a diversion by commanding
Fenella to dance again.
After she had finished. Peveril kneel-
ed before the King and told him that
he had been intrusted with letters that
the Countess of Derby. II pray per.
mission. SIRE" said he. ito place them In
your hands certain that they will prove
the innocence of the writer"
The King shook his head. but took
them. Calling for wax and a taper he
sealed them with his own hands. Then
he referred to Peveril's father and
said:
THE nation 10 In a scarlet fever for
fear OF the poor Catholics. have
borne and borne with I, bat will DO
so no longer. I will act the part of .
sovereign and save my people from do
ing injustice"
Then. catching the sarcastic eye Of
Buckingham. he added. lameiy: BE
assured, young man. your father shall
not want an intercessor In his King,
30 far as the laws will permit"
Rather sheepishly His Majesty dis
missed Julian and permitted him to re-
tire with his prize. Not so my lord
Duke of Buckingham. A few whis-
pered words from him sent two braves
after them. AS Julian approached the
Thames, they attacked him. He ran
one through promptly But when he
turned. Alice had disappeared In the
grasp of the other. Before he could
follow he was in the hands of officers
who carried him to the Tower.
The ruffians who seized Alice hur-
ried her into boat and took her
straight to the house Of the Duke.
Thus once more as so many times in
his career, did that amazingly clever
iptriguer permit a passing within to
overturn great Observation-Disclosures had
long wished to be King OF Man and
he had depended on Edward Christian
to open the way to him.
Christian was not slow in discover
ing the Dukes treachery. He rescued
his niece. Realizing that Alice would
not trust him again. he delivered her
to her father and entered into a new
plot, aimed at the King and led by
religious fanatics like Bridgenorth and
other zealots and well-meaning men Of
the stamp OF the Anabaptists. Fifth
Monarchy men and similar sectaries
whose stern enthusiasm had contribut-
ed so much to the destruction of the
monarchy before.
Deeply as he hated buckingham
Christian could not afford TO break
with this powerful patron to whom he
owned all his power. The Duke, as II
happened just then was grievously at
fronted by the King. and Christian
found 1t an easy task to embroil him
in the plot.
The fanatics were all the more eager
in the conspiracy, because the safety
vent which the Popish plot had given
| to their excited minds had begun TO
fail The Judges had discovered the
feeling of their royal master and they
were not so keen as they had been on
convicting accused persons. The fam
Gus witness Oates no longer found
eager believers in every jury. The
bubble had been pricked.
So is happened that when Sir Geof-
frey was arraigned before the famous
Lord Chief Justice scroggs on the
charge of treason while his son Julian
was arraigned for the same crime az
gravated by his staying OF a retainer
of Buckjngh am. the great enemy Of
the Catholic plotters, the trial was
made humorous rather than bloody, and
were
most before they knew it.
There were not to get of scot free,
however. II the court had turned
about face in accordance with the
royal mind. the mob Of London still
pleased itself with hunting down Pa
pists. When father and son appeared
on the street. the crowd followed IN EN-
growing as they went.
At last they were hemmed in. but
| luckily for them, IN front OF a cutler
| shop. where they managed to get weap-
ons. A little sword play soon drove
| cir assailants to safe distances but
there seemed no chance to get away.
as the crowd did not dispense but con-
tinued TO throw sticks and stones.
In this emergency the Peverils were
| glad enough TO accept the cutters Of
fer of asylum. They entered his door,
boIted behind them. Hardly had this
| been done before they were confronted
by Mai Bridgenorth.
Sir Geoffrey was about to break forth
into angry words. but Bridgenorth beg
Red him to keep quiet. When the
knight refused. Bridgenorth asked Ju-
liam to accompany him for a moment.
saying: II will show you why your
life depends on silence In this house
that you have entered by accident.
He took young Peveril through many
passages till at last he reached a door
whence he could look unseen. He be-
held an armed assembly OF men in puri-
tan garb. listening to speakers who ex-
horted them to strike at the throne.
Readily Julian gathered that this was
only one OF several similar assemblies
then being held and that the blow
81 ~ 90 a1ranu4 ~ nnnA