The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-06-24
CHAPTER XIII.
A GIRLS CONSENT.

i l#3yE{NN athuuBeuheltt az icubt, inc hiuI'
@$W riage of Louis do Nalois and
Mary Tudor was n settled fact. All IL
needed was the consent Of an eighteen
ycar-old girl-a small matter. Of course,
as marriageablo women are but conS.
modities In stntccraft, and theoretically,
Mt least, acqulesce in everything theiB
liege lords ordain.
Wolsey, whose manner was smooth
as an otter's coat, had been sent to
fetch the needed yes" but lie failed.
lane told me about 1t.
Wolsey had gone privately to see the
princess md had thrown out n sort of
skirmlsh line by flattcrlng her beauty,
but had found her not in tho best hu-
NOR.
"Ycs, yes, my lord OF Lincoln, I know
how beautiful l am. No one knows bet
ter. i know all about my hair, eyes,
teeth, eyebrows and skin. I tell you I
am sick Of them. Don't talk to mo
about them. 1t won't help you to get
my consent to marry that vile old crea-
turc. That is what you have come for,
OF course. 1 have been expecting you.
Why did not my brother conner"
II think he was afraid, and, to tell
you the truth, I was afraid myself"
answered Wolsey, with q smile. This
made Mary smile, too, in spite Of her
self and went q long way toward put
ting her in a good humor. Wolsey con-
tlnucd: His majesty could not have
given me q more disagreeable task.
You doubtless think I I'm in favor Of
this marriage, but I am not"
This was as great a lie as ever fell
whole out Of n bishops mouth. II have
been obliged to fall in with the kings
views on the matter, for he has had his
mind set on 1t from the first mention
by DE Longueville."
"was 1t that bead eyed little mummy
who suggested 1T"
"Ycs, and IL you marry the king Of
France you IA repay him with usury!"
"'Tis an inducemont, by my troth."
III do not mind saying to you in con-
fldence that l think 1t an outrage to
force n girl like you to marry q man
like Louis Of France, but how are s1e
to avoid tt2"
by the I'VE" wolsey put himself in
alliance with Mary, and the move was
certainly adroit.
How are We to avoid III HIVE no
fear Of that, my lord; I will show YOU"
"Oh, but my dear princess; permit
me. You do not eeem to know your
brother. You cannot in any way avoid
this marriage. I believe he will I'm
prison you and put you on bread and
water to force your consent. I m sure
you had better do willingly that which
you Will eventually no compelled to do
/ nvv I4aII1n AAAoA tc -rIAa
thought hat has come to me. Shall I
speak plainly before Lady Jane Boiling
broker" ~
IL have no secrets from her"
Every we'll. 1t Is this: Louis Is old
and very feeble. He cannot live long,
and 1t may be that you can by a ready
consent now exact n promise from your
brother to allow you your own choice
in tho event Of Il second marriage. You
might In that way purchase what you
could not bring about In any other
way"
How do you know that 1 want to
purchase aught In any way, Master
Wolsey? 1 most certainly do not in
tend to do SO by marrying France"
II do not know that you wish to pur.
chase anything, but a woman's heart is
not always under her full control, and
1t sometimes goes out TO one very far
beneath her I'm station, but the equal of
any man on earth In grandeur of soul
and noblencss Of nature. 1t might be
that there Is such a man whom any
woman would be amply justified in
purchasing Mt n sacrifce-doubly 30
IL 1t were buying happiness for two"
His meaning was too plain even to
pretend to misunderstood, and Mary's
eyes flashed at him as her face broke
Into a dimpling smile In spite Of her.
Wolscy thought he had won, and to
clinch the victory said, in his forceful
manner: Louis MI. Will not live n
year; let me carry to the king your
consent, and I guarantee you his prom
Use as to a second marriage"
In an instant .Mary's eyes shot fre,
and her face was like the blacklist
| stormcioud.
Garry this to the king: That I will
see him and the whole kingdom sunk
In hell before I Will marry Louis Of
France. That is my answer once and
for all. Good even, Master woisey."
And she swept out of the room with
head up and dilating nostrils, the very
picture Of defiance.