The daily Alaskan., 1905-08-03
A TRAGEDY
IoriEinaLl


 ,he said fin an offended tone. 'How did you get up here without being an- nouncedY'
 "I need no introduction, madam" re- piled the man. "I come from your Cousin Elizabeth. It Is 'be who gives me access to you"
 There was aD unmistakable sign of insanity about the man, a glitter in the eye. She had once before encoun- tered such person. who had been much afrectcd al seeing her perform, and she suspected this might be a sim liar case.
 You were at the theater last RiShtr she asked coolly.
 'I was. saw on the mimic stage the semElGnce of reality. l came to enact the real"
 "In what capaciyr
 'The principal part in the last act of the tragedy. the headsman."
 The woman shuddered. It was evi- dent that this dcthroned reason had been turned In the channel of murder. But she controlled herself. Having from the first realized her danger and having a vague plan of saving herself by humorlng the maR tlll she could summon help, she had assumed the tone of queen.
 'aThe headsman! And what do you fin the chamber of your yictimi Your place is on the scanold."
 The man looked about him, as If on another scene. Was he on Towe' hill. the magnates Of England seated close ly about the scafTold, beyond the com mons, packed closely, with uptIIrned faces, or was he within the narroT limits of a prison chamberi The wo- man studied his face and knew from his attitude that he was taking the pose depleted in pictures of the heads man of the sixteenth century.
 We stand on the scaffold," be said. looking at the floor, "and therC," point irg to a foot rest, ''is the block. Stand up that may cut or your locks"
 "It Is customary the woman stam. mered, con such occasions for a war rant to be issued signed by the royal hand Is this a legal execution O. a judicial murderY'
 "The warrant madam, is in the hands of the sheriff. Come, let us pro cecd. The people are becoming clam orOus."
 The actress was terror stricken. II she called for help 1t might prNcipitate matters. She could not escape because there was no other egress than that in which the man stood. Something must be done to turn the bent of hig mind. Presently, summoning all her resolu- ton and assuming bitter tone, she spoke again:
 Can It he that our iege lord, King Henry, Is minded to bring us, his true and faithful wife, to the blockT'
 "Eing HenryT
 "Ycs, man; King Henry. And his queen, Katherine" She rose and went on with tragic fervor:
 "A woman q dare gay without vaingloTyl Never yet branded with suspicion7 Have I with all my fun affections stiIl met the kingr Loved him next heav-
 enr Obeyed him1
 Been out Of fondness superstitious to Nim1 Almost forgot my prayers to content him' And am thus rewardedT'
 While she spoke she fixed her eye up on thst Of the lunatIc and threw all her soul into her part, her powers ln- tyrNgei by the knowledge that she vzs playing not to a crowded house tor fame and money, but to single mailman for her life. The man stood looking at her. a shadow Of perplexity gathering on his brow. The actress continued:
 Pray. do my service Co his majesty. He has my heart yet and shall have my
 prayers
 While I shall have my life"
 Madam" gasped the lunatic, "are you not the queen of ScotsY
 "l am queen Of England "'U' dare not make myself SO guilty. To give up willingly that noble title 1Our master Neu me No. NVtAiHe e1A
 death
 Shall ger divorce my dignities"
 The man saw betore him a woman who was a queen and all queen, but not the queen he wanted. In every word, every gesture, every step, the action impressed him. What was this that was befuddling hls poor brainI He was there to behead the queen of Scots, and he was listening Co the plalnts of the queen of England.
 "Madam," he faltered, your suffer ings have turned your brain. You are not Katherine, queen of England, but Mary, queen of Scots"
 Seeing her advantage, she pressed 1t Standing for a moment, her eyes fixed on his in silence, presently she ad- vanced a step, then another, pointing her finger at him as some averaging spirit coming 10 her destruction. Then she spoke or rather hlssed; Take heed. for heavens sake take heed,
 lest at once
 The burden of my sorrows fall at once
 upon ye."
 There was the Quintessence of venge- ance in the woman's look. The man who had come to behead her Quailed. As she advanced a step he retired a step. All the while she held his eye with hers, and when she passed an electric button and, reaching back,