The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-27
tCentiaued.,

fContfnued.)
 TnstinctiveIy she dreaded the rough 'nand of commonplace. that ugly. coarse, destroyer of poetic idylls. A few hastily uttered words might shatter in an hour the mystic shrine wherein Wessex had enthroned her. She had meant to tell him soon, tomorrow, per- haps, perhaps only after few days, hut she wished to find her own time for this, when he knew her inner soul better and the delicate cobwebs of this great Iove-at-irst-sight had fallen away from his eyes.
 She could not altogether have ex- plained to herseif why sudden disclos- ure of her identity at this moment would have been peculiarly unpleasant to her. It was weak. childish feeling, no doubt. But such as it was was real and strong. and genuine.
 Barely a minute had elapsed whilst these quick thoughts and fears went wildly coursing through her mind. There was no time to tell him every thing now. The voices came from the next room. within the next few sec onds probably the. great door would be open to admit q group of people; the Duchess of Lincoln and the ladies mayhap. or the Queen on her way to Chapel, And His Grace of Wessex looked 50 terribly determined
 "Noi no! nos--not just this moment sweet Grace" she entreated, ''by your Iovei not just this moment The Queen would be 30 angry oh! not just njowT
 She looked 80 genuinely disturued and so tendsrly appealing. that he could not help but obey.
 "But you cannot send me away like this.n he urged. Another word, sweet saint Faithi could not live with out another kiss :"
 sNo. no. no. I entreat your Grace, !. 1. i. not tonight" she protested feenly. He though. however, that he detect ed a sign of yielding in her voice. al though she was already beginning tr mount the steps ready for flight "Just one tiny word" he whispered hurriediy. when the Queen has passed finger up there for one brief minute only. rii walt In thereT
 And he pointed to q small door closs behind him. which led to an inner clos | ct at right angles with the galiery Refore she had time to protest--nay l perhaps she had no wish to refuse--hs | had disappeared behind it's heavy pan els. quickly calling to his dos to fol l low him, But in that one fnomentl | hesitation, those few brief and dell cious words, hastily exchanged. she hss | lost her opportunity for escape: The next instant the door at the Fur. ther end Of the room was thrown opes ssa the Queen entered, followed bs sorfae Of her ladies. She was aceompa, nieA hy the Duchess of Lincoln and hat l His Eriirence the Cardinal de Morehs
 AZ chance Or fII-iuek would have t the first sight which greeted Her Ma. iesty's eyes was the figure or Laay Or'
 .'~ Glvnde, midway ap the steps which led to the gallery, some l1ys' s tsrious imp Of mischief havins con- frivea thnt the ifght from the wax ta- pere should unaccountabay ana vers yiyidiy fall upon the white-clad torn An exciansation of stern reprovsl from Her Grace of Lincoln, brought Lady Ursula to a, standstilL
 FTight was now no longer possiolei she Could but trust in her gusraian angel. or in any of those protectAvs rnrsl who have in their keeping the spsciai care pf lovers In distress, whe happened to be lowering nigh. If vas not seefnly to be halrswas ,,v d fffwht of stairs when Her Ma1esEs was staudlng on the floor below. UT sula, with her checks afanae with vexa' tion, slowly descended. whilst encoan' tering as boldly as she eonla LhS 1I | tNfleUK HrG DE R W1tt ANNN~~ ! eyes steadily fixed upon her. Mary Tudor looked coldiy severe Aei Grace of Lincoln hofror-struek. Hi EnnInance ironical, and the ladies vast
 "Ah. chiidP" said Her Majesty, in hei fciest tone of voice. 'alI aionea ana u this part of tho Palaceg"
 She looked the dainty young ngurs dIsdafnfully up and down. then hsl eyes caught the shsaf or rosss iysns '. :. a fragrant tangis close to the foot ol l the stairs. There was a quick flash ol anger in her face. then frown. Ursula | wondered how much she guessed ol what she suspected. sut tha Queen, after that one quick wave of passionate wrath, made an ob' vious effort to control herself. Shs | turned composedly to the Duchess ol l Lincoln.
 "Your Grace is aware" she said dri' I Iy, that deem 1t most tndscorous foi my maids of honor to wander about | the Palace alone"
 The wrinkIed old face of the kindi,
 Duchess expressed the most heartfelt sorrow.
 T crave your Majesty's humber par. don ." she stammered in an agony
 of misery at this public reproof. T
 Nay Duchess. know ths dihi- cuity of your task rejoined Mary Tu- dor bittnely. '"The other ladies are do- ciIe, and their behavior Is maidenly and chaste. 'Tis not always so with the Lady Ursula Glynde."
 Mary'g voice had been so trenchant and hard that 1t seemed to Ursula's sensitive ears as if its metallic tones must have penetrated to every corner of the palace. She gave a quick, ter reR R~A An f-- n. with all her might for the gift to see through it's massive panels: to know what went on within that inner closet where Wessex was waiting and must have heard.