Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
CHAPTED XII.
Poor I irrab.

A few moments later the whole gay and
giddy throng. like flight of brilliantly
hued butterflies, had fiuttered out into
the garden.
The wintry sun was bestowing its last
cold kiss on the terraces and bosquets
Of the park. Beyond, the landscape
wrapped in a delicate haze of purple
was gently swooning in the arms Of this
November afternoon. All bird-song was
silent. save the harsh chirrup Of aggress-
i've sparrows and the occasional brisk
note of irrepressible robin.
Close by the fountain, a strange. dull
group moved about somewhat listlessly:
men and women-a dozen or so-in faded
or ragged worsted nantes. shoes through
which the flesh appeared, and mud stain
ed, bedraggled hose. Truly a wondrous
spectacle on the delicately graveled paths
of the regal residence! a remarkable
picture against the majestic background
of carefully trimmed hedges. or conven-
tional. well-cared-for strawberries.
They looked indfferently round them
these poor shreds of society-the happy
recipients of unlooked-for royal bounty.
There were all sorts and conditions Of
men and women here, from the wrinkiy-
visaged bag who piled a precarious trade
in Illicit goods. to the hardened, sullen
lout. who made of her majesty's prisons
an habitual home. A vagrant, too, here
and there-one boy barely his teens,
with pinched, haggard features on which
starvation had already scrubbed her ugly
name-a young girl with bold, dark eyes
and coarse face masked with glazing Co.'S
metics; and, far in the remote back
ground, a huddled-up figure of woman
in tawdry finery. with a torn, bedraggled
white dress ill-concealing her naked
shoulders. a few scraps of faded ivy
leaves still clinging to he' bright-hued.
matted hair.
They were astonished to find themselves
here, made curious. senseless jokes about
the marble basin. the trimmed SHRUBS.
the fish in the ponds. The whole thing
was puzzle. and poverty and hunger
had duled all joy in them They had
been told by the queens desire and at
his grace of WesseX's prayer. they were
to be immune from punishment for their
present offenses: and vague. dull Won
der to the meaning of this unexpected
clemency filled their benighted souls.
They were at liberty. inasmuch as no
man-at-arms actually logged their foot
steps. but they felt the eyes of stern
guardians. court lacqueys, or park
keepers fixed unrelentingly upon them.
So they did not take special advantage
of this so-called freedom, nor of the per-
mission to roam about at will in her
majestys own garden. They chung to-
gether in one compact group. feeling a
certain strength in this union of their
common misery, and stared open-mouth-
ed at what was nearest to them and re-
quired least effort of the brain to under.
stand.
When at a given moment, they saw
number of rich lords and ladies emerge
upon the distant terrace. they felt Who'll
ly terrified and would have beaten a quick
and general retreat, had not one of the
royal servitors suddenly called upon
them severally to listen.
His grace The Duke of Wessex ID
coming TO speak with yer said this gor-
geously appareled parsonage. addressing
the massed group of miserable hu-
manity. Stay We all here. until his
grace arrives. Your good behavior may
prove for your own good"
And silently. DULY they obeyed. They
ceased their aimless wanderings and con-
centrated their attention after awhile
upon a tall figure. dressed in rich black,
which had detached itself from the brill
liant groups on the terrace and was
walking rapidly toward them.
So that was his grace the Duke OF
Wessek, A serious-minded gentleman
surely. but lately accused of murder and
proved to be innocent They could not
yet see his face, only his TALL robust
figure. moving swiftly toward them.
Strange. that noble duke. a rich and
great lord should wish to speak with
them. The women, as il half-ashamed
OF their ragged kirtles. had retreated be-
hind the men. The latter had dotted their
caps and were mechanically passing their
thin fingers through their tangled hair.
Quite in the rear the female figure IN
the .bedraggled white gown covered
against the edge of the marble basin.
Then gradually his grace came nearer,
the women ventured to peep at him over
the shoulders of the men. His face look
ed kind though very sad: the poor people
gathered up their courage to face him
bravely. since he came all unattended
among them. One or two of the young
err lads ventured as he approached to utter
humble:
God save his grace of wessex"
Il thank YOU ALL" he said graciously,
and now. my friends. I'd have you be-
lieve that twas not idle curiosity which
hath brought me here beside you. But
yesterday. / stood like YOU. accused OF
offense against the law Of the land. L
have known the sorrows and humiliation
of a public trial BY her majesty's grace.
you have escaped that trouble this time.
and | have If at heart that all of you.
who like myself. have passed through
prison doors. should not be tempted to
break the dictates of your lawgivers-
Hunger and sorrow are evil counselors.
Though l know naught of the one. I'd
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