Over
(Copyright, 1903, by Robert Barr.)
CHAPTER I.
Asecrttaa.
DOOMED man walked that
November day In ths Home park
before Hampton Court palace
doomed doubly. For the tall,
masterful form, bending unwlll-
A
iy. rebelilously, as a wrestler bends
at last before superior might, showed that
Providence had stricken him with mortal
disease. And even aa he walked, with his
distinguished retinue respectful and obedi
ent behind him, his enemies were plotting
against that shortening life plotting In
secrecy and fear, for well they knew that
did the earl of Strafford but suspect, he
would strike first and hard.
Some of the highest In the land walked
humbly behind him, accommodating their
step to his faltering, yet determined,
tread, and showing more deference to
Thomas Wentworth. earl of Strafford, than
they would have shown to the king. For
here stepped the real king whose shattered
frame still was to be feared more than
that of the moat stalwart man In all Merry
Kagland that day.
He walked the grounds of the king aa If
ha owned them. Although no echo of the
etamortng of London's mobs came to his
ear, he knew that at that moment they
were crying out against him. And he de
spised them aa he had despised the turbu
lent land of Ireland which he had held
auma under hia strong hand until he obeyed
the command of Charles to travel to Lon-
Despite the seriousness of the time, the
eoaversation of the party was light and
frivollng, as then obtained at court. But it
was Interrupted suddenly.
From behind a thick tree there stepped
a girl. She was tall and slender, with
brave eyes full of the blackness, the mys
tery and the power of night. Black, too,
was her hair, flowing in beauty over
shapely, proud shoulders.
Her costume betokened the country rather
than the court, bat IU lack of fashionable
t sr texture was not noticed In that com
soay of men. and the admiring looks that
sated on her showed that In their eyes she
full admirable.
"My lord of Strafford," aha said In a
sweet voice, I crave a word with
yea In private."
The earl, startled Into surprise at her
rst appearance, frowned blackly with an
aayaace at the daring Interloper. He spoks
word, but hia underlings were accus
tomed to study his face apprehensively.
Swiftly two attendants placed themselves
sit her side, ready to seise her did his lord
ship give the word. The huntsman, mors
oaWtoua still, loosed his dogs that had been
snarling at her.
They dashed forward soon as the leash
was slipped. But the girl sprang nimbly to
tfe tree, and as she leaped backward she
whJaked from the scabbard of an amased
attendant toe llgnt sword with which he
was supposed to guard his master and
himself.
"Call off your hounds, villain!" she cried
la a voice that rang Imperious command.
"1 order you. not for myself but for them.
I wvakl rather wound a maa than a dog.
Broaadrel. you shall feel the sting of this
paint If you do not Instantly ooey."
The thin blade .darted Ilka aa adder's
league. Yetp showed Its potency, and the
asga, quick to know that tney were over
matched, contented themselves with nolay
outcry at a safe distance.
At a glance from the earl the hunts
man leashed them again, otrafford gated
darkly at the girl.
"What do you wishT" he asked.
"I have told you, my lord. I wish a word
la your private ear.
Speak out what you have to say."
" Tts to be heard by none but the earl
of BtraaTord; no, not svea y the king
himself."
"I have no secrets from the king."
"Nor seed this be one. Tis yours to
proclaim it to the world at your pleasure.
Bat ftrst It is for your ear aloae. Bend that
painted popinjay to the rear with the dogs.
Tha others are gentlemen and will retire
of then own accord when they leara a lady
wishes to apeak privately with you."
A la oh went ap from the British nobles
at tha reference to the "painted popinjay,"
who waa none less than De Courcy, one of
the great band of Frenchmen who were
favoritlea at court because in consort of
Charles had a predilertioa for her country
mea a preferenca shared by none but her
haaband. They were regarded as titled
mercenaries certainty, spies probably,
dtvtdma; the unfortunate king still further
from his suspicions people.
De Courcy fomtaed with his sword hilt,
muttering angrily that he was prepared to
meet any who might wish to make the
girl's scornful remark his own. But Straf
ford's fierce glance Quelled tha rising dif
ferenra. Harshly ha said to the young
"Your persistence shall be rewarded, bat
with this proviso: If the news you make
as mack of is not worth tha telling, then
shall you expiate your smpudenr la
prison."
"I accept the hasard freely, riy lord."
The earl of Strafford said no more, but
turned to Ms followers, who withdraw
the Border
Into the background at once, except De
Courcy, who cried angrily:
"Beware, Lord Strafford. There may be
more In this than appears. She has sbowa
herself expert with a stolen blade. It Is
till in her hand."
The earl smiled coldly.
" 'Tis but fair," he said, "that I should
take some chance to equal hers. I'U
chance the stroke."
The girl flung her rapier Into the forest,
and waved her disencumbered hand to the
departing Frenchman, saying mockingly:
"Farewell, popinjay. The treacherous
ever make suggestion of treachery."
"What have you to say to me?" asked
Strafford severely, bending his haughty
glance upon her.
"Sir," her voire sank so that none might
Mtteir
, - V v ' w
by any chance overhear,
ces Wentworth. your
daughter."
"Sir, I ant Fran
lordsblp's eldest
CHAPTER n.
Heroaallloa.
The ear! lowered upon the gtrl and the
anger upon his brow might have warned
even a more Intrepid person that there was
peril In trifling. When at least he spoke, bis
voice was menacing.
"What do you expect to gain by a state
ment so preposterous?"
"I expect to gain a father."
The girl's answer trod quickly upon the
heels of the question, but her color changed
from red to pale and from pale to red again
and her hurried breathing hinted of knowl
edge of the crisis. But she faced it with
out flinching.
"My eldest daughter la Ann. aged 13. a
modest little maid. I take you to be older,
and I ahould heaitate to apply to you the
qualification I have Just coupled with her
name."
"I am W, therefore her senior. If she Is
modest. It is reasonably to be expected, for
she hath a mother's care. I have had none.
It you detect a boldness In my manner,
'Us but another proof I am my father's
daughter."
"Boldness Is not a virtue," muttered
Strafford to himself, ruminating. "Sixteen
years of ae? Theu what was in "
mm 'lafllmMM HI M liiWii'fflHHl
m
in
A Tale of the Days of
by Robert T. Barr
The earl paused, as if the simple mathe
matical problem baffled him, the old look of
weariness and pain clouding his down
turned face.
"The year 162" said the girl promptly.
"Doubtless. Doubtless, 1G24. It is long
since; longer than the days that have
passed seem to Indicate. I was a young
man then, now now I am an aged wreck,
and all In sixteen years. And so. In you.
the spirit of youth, the past, confronts me.
"Madam," he continued, sharply, "you
think I am an old dotard, who is ready to
accept your absurd proposal. But I am not
yet 60, nor as near It as these fell maladies
would have me appear, and a man ahould
be In his prime at SO. Madam, it will re
quire more convincing testimony to make
me listen to you further."
&mti h hid 1fofe
Z. . 1 m
"Raise your eyes from the ground, my
lord, and behold it- If, looking upon me,
you deny that I am your daughter, I shall
trouble you no more."
Strafford lifted hia careworn face and his
heavy eyes scanned her closely.
"Any man might be proud to claim you,
girl, but you have not come here merely
because someone flattered the earl of Straf
ford by saying you resembled him."
"No, my Lord. I sm come to return to
you this document which once you pre
sented to my mother."
She handou io him a paper which he read
with intent care.
"Madam (it ran): I have, in Mute, much
to say to you. or else one of us must be
much to blame. But In truth I have that
confidence In you, and that assurance In
myae!f, aa to rest secure the fault will
never be made on either side. Well, then,
thin short and this long which I aim at, is
no more than to give you this first written
testimony that I am your husband; and
that husband of yours that will ever dis
charge those duties of love and respect
toward you which good women may ex
pect, and are Justly due from good men to
discharge them; and this la not only much,
but all which belongs to me, and wherein
I shall tread out the remainder of life
which la left to me"
Strafford looked up from hi perusal,
blank amazement upnn his countenance.
"How came you by this paper?"
Charles I,
"I found it among the documents left by
my grandfather, who died a year ago. It
was srnt by you to my mother, Frances,
daughtrr of Sir John Warburton, his only
daughter, as I am hers, my lord."
"But when Sir John wrote to me coldly
of her death, ho made no mention of any
Issue."
"My grandfather always hated you, my
lord. It is very like that he told you not
that the cause of my mother's death was
her children's birth."
"Children T"
"Yes, my Lord. My twin brother and
myself."
The earl's hand tremblod until the letter
that he held shook like the autumn leaves
above him. He conjured up the face of the
boy whom he had supposed his only son.
1 .fee Utae
and taw him chal ens..u , anger, un
known and unloved.
The girl saw, with quick intuition, that
she had lost her ground. Cold dislike tinc
tured the tone in which the next question
was asked:
"Why is your brother not here In your
place, and you In the background where
you properly belong?"
"Sir, my brother snares our grandfather's
dislike of you. He is for the Parliament
ar.d against the king. -As for me, I know
little of the questions that disturb the
state. My only knowledge la that you are
my father, and were you the wickedest per
son In the world I should come to you."
The earl of Strafford raised hia head
abruptly, aa one who has come to a de
cision. "Come with me to the palace. In a world
of lies, I find myself believing you; thus
I am not grown so old as I had feared.
Come."
The girt was at hia side in a moment.
"Sir, will you lean upon my shoulder?"
"No. I am ailing, but not decrepit."
He led her Into a room on the first floor
and sank Into a deep armchair beside the
Are with a sigh of relief. For a few mo
ments he regarded her with no pleased ex
pression, then said petulantly:
"Did your grandfather bring you up a
' lady, or are you an Ignorant country
wench?"
Quickly she drew back the small fact out-
