National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-09-12

of sharing the throne with Catholi,
Mary. And there was not one who
would not gladly have seen the crown
upon his youthful head, as a recon-
pense for those long, dreary years o
imprisonment. II was only in whispers
they dared link his name with that OF
the young Princess Elizabeth.
But that first passion had laid hold o.
Courtenay's heart, and in the blissfu
consciousness that it was fully returned
he was not too careful to conceal it
Perhaps he alone failed to detect the
queens hopes. The unlovely. dreaded
elderly Mary was no bride for Edward
Courtenay.
When has true, happy love had pow
er of concealment? At the splendid
entertainments the queen now gave al
court, when she kept the young cousii
ever at her side and leaned fondly OF
his arm-who had not noticed that his
eyes ever and only sought the charming
Elizabeth And upon those enchanted
evenings, when little circle of chosen
ones gathered around the sovereign, and
Edward Courtenay related the story of
his sorrows, or sang, to the lutte, airs of
melting tenderness-then the young
girls golden lashes would sink deeper
and deeper, to keep back the starting
tears. At length, between these two
was spoken that sweetest word Of earth
love: and days passed-days of be-
wildering happiness, glowing with hope
and golden dreams of the future. The
unsuspecting queen conferred upon her
| handsome cousin the title of Count OF
Devonshire, though she sportively gave
I him the name of the White Rose of
York, and loaded him with favors.
With careless delight-almost with
the bewilderment of bird escaped
from its cage into the light and abso-
late freedom-Edward Courtenay tlut-
tered around the court, and unsuspic-
iously accepted all these distinctions
from Mary'l hand. Vainly Elizabeth
warned him. For she velitured to do
it. "She loves me as son." was the
refrain of all his answers, or as an
elder brother. Fear nothing, my be-
loved. As soon as the queen has con-
cluded her alliance with this Philip of
Spain, l will boldly sue her for my
sweet white rose--for my bride y For
the talk of the Spanish marriage Was
in mems minds also, and they did not
know what to believe
All he did not dream it was for his
sake Mary delayed her nuptials and put
off this Spanish lover that passion
for him filled her whole being-that
she was only waiting for token OF his
love, to say to him " Take 1t from
my hand-this royal crown y
But the love-token was not given !;
and, while the queen was vainly hoping
for it, she discovered the bitter truth
Edward Courtenay had given his heart
to her sister, the young and fair Eliza
beth, and gained her heart in return.
1t is said that nothing in the world
works such fearful change in a woman
as sighted love and perhaps the ter
rible cruelties that stained Mary s after
reign may be traced to this bitterest
sorrow of her life.
The instant banlshment of both lovers
followed. Edward Courtenay was sent
to Fotheringay-to the same castle
which, years later, received Elizabeth's
beautiful rival, the most tcharming woman
in the world, Mary Staurt. With heart
full of anger and sorrow, Edward
Courtenay entered those gloomy walls.
The princess was sent to Hatfield.
But rage against the sister who had
dared win the man she loved. and fear
lest the excited populace might seek
to free both her prisoners, soon drove
the queen to extreme measures. She
had both Elizabeth and Edward
brought back to London, and consigned
to the Tower. Some sympathizing
friend had the lovers placed in opposite
apartments. Who this friend was they
never knew, but they blessed him every
day and every hour. And thus We re-
turn to the commencement.
The Princess Elizabeth is sitting at
the window of her chamber, gaz-
ing out into the darkening night. She
does not notice that the old servant has
brought in light-that the waiting
woman, in her wonted solemn way, has
arranged the simple night lunch, and
silently withdrawn. Suddenly she trem-
bles, and presses her hand upon her
wild beating heart. Outside, close to
the shutter, q white something flutters
up and down-asomething she has anx-
iously awaited-a little sheet of paper
suspended bv fine cord. One of the
tiny, round panes open--a small, white
hand slips out, and hastily draws in the
precious treasure. In twihkllng it is
loosed from the cord, and the one which
had been concealed in the folds of the
maiden's dress, is attached. Forth it
fiutters, little white dove-out into
the air. Now, for few moments, the
parted lovers are enviably happy as
they read those glowing words-such
words as only impassioned love can
write.
Elizabeth wrote only in verse to her
lover, and between the leaves of her
learned books they lay like the fresh,
flowers but the young lovers
were soon deprived of even this happi-
ness. The promptings of her own heart,
and the advice of those around her, in
cited the queen to new cruelty. Eliza
beth was sent to Woodstock and Edward
Courtenay was banished from the coun-
try. 1t is said that the queen secretly
gave her handsome cousin his choice
between an inhospitable foreign land
and the royal throne but that he, true
to the one love of his heart, chose ban
ishment.
He sent back Elizabeth's poems with
tenderest entreaties that if the time
ever came when, through the aid of
their true adherents, they could triumph
over the common enemy, they should
be returned to him through a confiden-
tial messenger-without a word-a silent
token that she summoned him home.
Immediately after her cousins depar-
ture, Mary married Philip of Spain.
Edward Courtenay went away full of
hope, confident that Mary's reign, so
with tho ,,aopla would he