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Show I THE- LION'S WHELP I A Story of CromwoU's Tlmo BY AMELIA E. BARR. Author of "The Dow of Oranjt Hlbbon." "I. TI ji and tho Othor On "Tho Moid of Maiden Une," Etc. (Copyilllil, l'All, by DodJ, Mead & Company. Alt ticlils reMIAnl ) CHAPTER VIII. (Continued.) Thoro was no uso prolonging a conversation eo hopolcss. Sho was both angry and scornful, nnd sho eouvht out hor mother and found hor resting In her own room. "I get tired soon In tho day, Jano," alio said, "I think It is tho London air, and the strango life, and tho constant fear of somo'changc. No ono seems to know what a day "will bring forth. Did you soo Stephen?" "Yes." .v "It can't ho, I suppose?" "You know It enn't be, mother." She was hurt at tho question. It was a wrong to Cluny, and sho said with feomo temper, "it could not bo under nny circumstances. Tho man is mean, ho has Just threatened me. If I had not been a woman I would have given him his thrent hack in his teeth. I would rathor bo Cluny's wife, It Cluny had not a crown." Tho next day Cymlln wont to Jov-ery Jov-ery Houso and reported on his return, its forlorn emptiness. Thero were only two or thrco sorvnnts there, and they had no Idea when tho family would return. Auout a week after Matilda's do-parturo do-parturo Cluny called early one oven-ing oven-ing and asked Jano to go with him to Mr. Milton's houso in Petty France. They sauntered through St. James' park, and soon lost sight of all humanity, hu-manity, and wero conscious only ot each other's presence. So much so, that thoy never noticed a llguro which emerged from behind a clump of shrubs, and stood looking at them. It was tho Lord General. His faco was grave, but not unhappy, and when ho saw Cluny and Jano ho stood still a moment, and then quietly withdraw Into tho" shadow ho had loft. A smllo was round his mouth, and his lips .moved In words of blessing bless-ing as ho took another path to tho goto ho wished, and thero was a feeling of pleasure yot In his heart whon ho ontorod the sombro apart- "Tako that bauble awayl" mont where Israel Swaffham, with a guard of soldloro, was in attondanco. Ho thon ontored a lofty, royally furnished room, whero tho council wero waiting his arrival officers of tho army, aud members of Parliament. Parlia-ment. Cromwoll oponod tho discussion by reminding tho members that bo had already bold moro than a dozen moot-Ings, moot-Ings, in order to lnduco Parliament to lssuo an Act for tho election of a now Parliament, and then dlschargo Itself. "This Is what tho pcoplo want in ovcry cornor of tho nation," bo said, "and thoy aro laying at our doors tho non-pcrformnnco of this duty and of tholr wishes." Hazelrlg romlndod him that Parliament Parlia-ment had dotormined to dlssolvo on Uio 3d of tho ensuing Novembor, after colllnc for a now election. "It Is now only tho 19th of April," answered Cromwoll, Bharply. "Givo mo leavo to tell you that tho 3d of Novombor will not do. Such a far-off promlso Is but words for children. I will bottor It I will say to-morrow." This Bpooch had a markod effect. Tho Parliamentary members ngrcod to let tho bill for porpotuatlng them-boIvos them-boIvos llvo over until after anothor conference to bo hold tho following day, and with this understanding, tho niombora ot tho Council separated. CHAPTER IX. "" Cromwell Interferes, r'ayllght cama with that soft radl-anco radl-anco of ' suiishlno over fresh green things which makes spring so delightful. delight-ful. lCnrly in -tho morning Jano's friends called for hor, and thoy wont away together full of youth's enthusiasm and anticipation, They took tho mad to the river, and to tho sound of music nnd tho falling nnd dipping of tho oars they reached Richmond and soon spread the con-tontu con-tontu of their hampora upon tho grass under somo great oaks In tho secluded seclud-ed park. After a happy, leisurely meal, they spent tho n U of their holiday In wandering wan-dering through tho palace, until Its melancholy, mounsttc grandeur subdued sub-dued them almost to silence. It was like passing from death unto Hfo to como out of those caverns Into tho light nnd glory of tho westering west-ering suu, to feel Its warmth, and soo Its bravo colors, and hear tho cuckoo, lllto a wandering voice among tho troes. Soon thoy wero nt tho rlvor stairs, and as they passed through tho city they wero Instantly nwaro of great excitement. It was Impossible not to feel that something of great moment had happened, or was going to happen; nnd when Jano entered tho hall at Sandys nnd saw Doctor Verity's hat and cloak there, sho expected ex-pected that ho had como with Information. In-formation. Tho next moment Mrs. Swaffham camo hurriedly forward. "Mother," cried Jane, "what Is tho matter? Whnt has happened?" And Mrs. Swaffham answered: "Tho strnngest thing that over happened hap-pened in England." Kvon whllo sho spoko thoy heard Gen. Swaffham coming up tho steps, tho clatter of his nrms emphasizing his perturbed feelings. Ho had scarcely entered tho door ero Doctor Vorlty camo Into tho hall crying: "Is it true, Israel? Is It truo?" "Quito true." "And well dono?" "Well done. I am suro of it." Men and women went into tho parlor par-lor togother, and a servant began to removo tho General's cavalry boots and spurs. "I told you, Doctor, this morning, that a scttlomont of somo kind must como todny. Whon I reached Whitehall I found tho Lord Gonoral waiting for Sir Harry Vano and tho members who had promised to como and continuo tho conference relating to tho bill early in tho day. Tho Gonoral was occupying himself with a book, but ns tho hours wont by ho grow restless and laid it down. Thon ho turned to mo and said, 'Truly theso mon aro long in coming; aro you ready, General?' and boforo I could answer ho asked again 'ready and willing?' I told him a word would movo my troop as ono man, If that word camo from himself, and ho waltod silently a llttlo longer. Then Lord Cluny Novlllo enmo In vory hastily, and said a fow words, I know not what thoy wore, and ho had scarce gono whon Col. Ingoldsby entered, en-tered, aud thero was no socrecy thon. "'My lord!' ho cried, 'Parllamont is sitting at this moraont. and Sir Harry Vano, Sidney apd Henry Mar-ton Mar-ton aro urging tho immedlato pass-ago pass-ago of tho bill eo hatoful to tho wholo nation.' "Tlion Cromwoll roused hlmsolf llko on angry Hon. His passion at this porlldlous conduct leaped Into fiarno, ho shouted to Lambert and hlo own troop of Ironsides. Ho gavo ma tho signal I understood, nnd we wont quickly to the Parliament houso. "But what thon?" nikod Doctor Verity, his faco burning with tho o&cfu- soul bohlnd It. 3 I "I stood at tho door watching him my mon being In tho lobby. Hi went to his usual seat, but In o vory great and majostlc manner, nnd s for a llttlo whllo ho listened to tbt debate. Thon ho beckoned Mnjoi Gonoral Harrison ai.d told him h Judged "It was high tlmo to dissolve this Parliament. And Harrison told mo this afternoon, that ho advlsoC Cromwell to consider what ho would do, for It was n work great and dangerous, dan-gerous, and who, ho asked, Ms suffl dent for It?' And Cromwell answered, answer-ed, 'The Servant of tho Ix)rd, ho l sufficient,' yet ho sat down again, looking nt mo as he did so, and I looked look-ed hack straight into his eyes that I and initio could ho depended on. "In a fow minutes tho quostlon fo! passing tho bill wns put, and the man could bo restrained no longer. He stood up, took off his hat, and looked around tho House, and It quailed under his eyes, every man In it shift ed on his seat and was uneasy. He began to speak, nnd It wns with a tonguo of llame. Ho repronched thorn for their solf-seeklng and theh j hypocrisy and oppression, and as he j went on, thero wns tho roar of a lion 1 in his voice, and tho members, being condemned of their own consciences, cowered beforo hl'm." "Did no ono open their mouth against him?" "No ono but Sir Petor Wontworth. Ho snld, 'My Lord General, this Parliament Par-liament has dono great things for England,' and Cromwoll answered, 'Tho spoko In tho wheel that creaks most doea not bear tho burden in tho cart!' Then Sir' Peter told Cromwell his abtiso of tho Parliament was tho moro horrid becauso It camo from the servant of tho Parliament, tho man thoy had trusted and obliged." At theso words Dr. Verity laughed loudly "Cromwell, tho servant of such a Pnrllament!" ho cried. "Not ho; what then, Israel?" "Ho told Wontworth to bo quiet. Ho said ho had heard enough of such talk, and putting on his hat, he took tho floor of the House. I watched him as ho did bo. Ho breathed inward, in-ward, like ono who has a business of Hfo and death In hand. I could see on his faco that ho was going to do tho deed that had been tho secret of his breast for many days; and his wnlk was that quick stride with which ho ever went to meet an enemy. Ho stood In the mlddlo of tho Houso, and began to nccuso tho members personally. His words wero swords. Ho Hung them nt the men as if they wero Javelins; shot them in their faces as 1C from a pis- tol. Ho told them that tho Lord had J dono with thorn. Ho said thoy wero , no Pnrllnmont, nnd that ho had boon sont to put an end to their sitting and their prating. ' "And at thoso words Cluny Novlllo No-vlllo spoko to tUo Sergeant, and ho opened tho doors, nnd somo musketeer musket-eer entered tho House. Then Sir Harry Vano crlod out, 'This Is not honest, nnd Cromwoll reminded him of his own broken promise, and they began to go out, at first slowly, and then In a hurry, treading on tho heels of each other." "What of Lcnthall? Ho has a stubborn stub-born will." "Ho sat still In tho Speaker's chair, until Cromwell ordered him to como down. For a moment ho hesitated, ' but Gen. HarrlEon said, 'I will lend you my hand, sir;' nnd bo ho also wont out." "But was there no attempt to stay B Mich dismissals? I am amazed, dumb- I founded!" said Doctor Verity. I "Alderman Allen, tho Treasurer of I tho Army, as ho wont out Bald something some-thing to Cromwoll which angerod him r vory much; and ho then and thero charged Allen with a shortage of one hundred thousand pounds, and com- I mlttod Dm to tho caro of a musket- cor for examination. I tell you, there ; was no gainsaying tho Cromwoll of ' tills hour. Ho was moro than mor- i tnl man; and Vano and tho others I know, if they had not known beforo, why ho was novor defeated In bat- , i, tlo." J "Aftor tho Spcakor had left, what M thon?" fj "His oyo fell upon the Maco, and he i said scornfully to somo of tho Iron- U sides, Tnko that baublo away!' Thon B ho ordered tho miiBkptcors to clear V the Houso, ho hlmsolf walking up to 11 its Clerk and taking from under his V arm tho bill which had caused the trouble, and which was ready to pass. Ho ordorod the man to go home, and ho slipped away without a question. Cromwoll was tho lasl soul to leavo tho Chamber, and as ho went out of it ho locked tho door nnd put tho koy in his pocket. Ha then walkod quietly back to his rooms In tho Cockpit." "Ho will need God on his right hand and on his left," said Doctor Verity. "Moro than wo can toll will como of this Implacablo hostility, rancorous Jealousy, ovorlastlng envy and spite. Tho members " "Tho members," interrupted Ucn. Swaffham, "have tied themselvos, hands and feet, with cords of their j own spinning, and Oliver Cromwoll I holds tho onds of thorn. They will I not daro to open tholr mouths." I (To bo continued.) ' |