The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-08
RI SIR WALTER SCOTT

Ol lOllS -BOut CniNdltys 10 pdi tiSNA1h'5 NaS played in 'Kenilworth." The reader finds Elizabeth and Leicester very human and real personages, not mere characters or history and their surroundings, manners and methods of speech jump with his humor" as readily as if it were some mod ern court into which he had been intro- duced.
 Scott considered that he had been most happy in drawing the character of Elza- beth, and, indeed he was. Whatever his- tory may say of her the Elizabeth of sKenilworth" is the Elizabeth whom the world knows today. Scott was led to write the story by the sad old ballad of "Cumnor Hall,' in which the story of Amy Robsart is told; and his success in depicting the character of Queen Mary Stuart In "The Abbott" made him wish to draw the character of her rival One of the most widely read and most power full of Scott's novels, "Kenilworth," is considered by many as second only to 'Ivanhoe" Were it not for the grim tragedy with which the story ends-an ending seldom used by Scott-it might rank even higher.
 4 BRIGHT sun rose on the day when "A Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was to 4 A receive his royal mistress, the
  of Wentworth. The reigning favorite of the Queen, rich, handsome and noble, he stood so high in the royal sun that the world confidently expected to see the Earls coronet changed for the crown matrimonial of England. He had com manded masques and wondrous pageants for the entertainment of Elizabeth, who was approaching from Warwick.
 Among the noisy tirong that filled all ba bfobv laadinp n the castle rode a horseman in the garb of a serving man of the upper class. By his side on a. palfrey rode a lady young and beautiful, whose exquisite grace of form could not be concealed by her plain russet riding habit. Fatigue and anxiety showed on her face. It was evident that she kept her saddle only by an extreme effort of will.
 The two travellers were about to be de- nied admittance to the castle when boy. dressed as devil in preparation for his part in one of the masques, assured the warden that they were members of his own troupe. The boy had recognized in the serving man former Terrier of the Vale of White Horse, Wayland Smith, As soon as they were inside the walls he asked the man what had brought him to Wentworth and who the lady was. '.Beshrew me, Dickle Sludge," answered the man, "thou art so sharp and curious, cen find out.zfaE thyself" The lad went off vowing that 1t was poor return.
 Wayland whispered to the first servant he met and was shown with his charge into an apartment in Mervin's Tower. There was writing material in the room an unusual thing in those days-and the lady hastily wrote letter which she gave to her attendant, saying: Good Master Wayland, whom God has sent to aid me in my need convey this at once to the Earl of Leicester"
 q will find Master Tressilian first" thought Wayiarid Smith as he left the tower. ''He,. belilSe, is the best judge of whether this letter should be delivered ,
 Wayland was Tressilians servant. He had been sent to obtain news of Amy. daughter of old Sir Hugh Robsart of Devonshre, who as Tressilian believed, was being kept virtual prisoner in Cum nor Hall. near Oxford whither she had eloped with Richard Varney, Leicester's master of the horse.
 On behalf of her father, Tressilian had presented a petition to the Queen at Greenwich regarding her In full court Varney had acknowledged that he had eloped with Amy, and had asserted that she was now his wife and living at Cum nor Tressilian. Varney said, had been brought up with Amy and was to have married her. Hence his jealousy and his accusations. When Tressilian replied hotly, Varney retorted, and there was mention of swords but Elizabeth broke in. Look you, sirs, the first man that talks of drawing sword except for me or England I will bracelet him wrist and ankle. varney, bring your wife without fail to Wentworth, whither we go. On your peril be it. l will look into this mat ter there."
 At Cumnor wayland had obtained se- cret speech with Amy He found that yarney had been before him and had told her something that had left her in dis tress and fear. She begged the represen- tative of Tressilan to assist her in flight. They eluded the watchfulness of wicked old Anthony Foster, who was virtually her taller, and made for Kenilworth. where she declared she could find pro- lection.
 Wayland did not meet Tressilian. The latter entered the castle by postern gate and went straight to his apartments. As Amy sat there now, anxiously awaiting for an answer to her letter, the door opened and Tressilian stood before her. Their astonishment was mlitsa1. When she found that she was in Tressilian' s apartments she asked that he resign them to her for a time, and she assured him that she was now near one who was bound to protect her.
 "Ah, Amy" replied Tressilian, your looks belle your words. You need aid and protection and you shall have it. Lean on my arm and will take you to the very presence of the Queen. She will do justice."
 No. No," exclaimed Amy. Frantically she begged him to promise that for "A hours he would take no steps in her be- half At the end of that time, if she had not received justice, he might do as he thought best.
 Sorrowfully Tressllian quit the apart ment--leaving her alone, forsaken, dis tressed Even fin her depth of trouble Amy Robsart was beautiful. Her dark brown hair, her hazle eyes shaded by long lashes and over-arched by exquisite lv penciled brows. her pale but regular features, as well as the dazzling white of her teeth and the cream texture of her skin would have drawn all eyes even Tn the brilliant throng of beauties that graced the court of Elizabeth.
 In the outer court Of the castle Tres silian encountered Wayland, who told him what had taken place and of the let fer with which Amy had entrusted him. .Deliyer it at once.'' said Tressilan. ..Perhaps she thinks the Earl will use hip influence with his villainous depend- ant" he thought.
 Wayland started away to find the Earl. He had not gone far before he discovered that he had lost the letter
 q am now in fine scrape.' thought he 1T wish [ were we'll out of this cas- tle. will fly: that will As if in am swer to his thoughts he was accosted by Michael Lanibourne. dissipated servant of tvarney. who demanded to know his business in the castle, and getting no