Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
CHAPTER XVI.
The ProYocAtiou.

When Ursula finally succeeded in es-
Gaming from her room, where she had
been forcibly confined-almost prisoner
in the charge OF two waiting women.
she returned to the hall, vaguely hoping
that wessex would still be there. She
found no one. The closet door was OPEN
taking one Of the wax tapers In her hand
she peeped into the inner room and saw
that It was empty. -,
the impress uf Harry Plantagenets BODY,
as he had curled himself up patiently TO
wait and sleep.
A sudden draught extipgulsneo the
darkness: to her overwrought nerves IL
seemed cold and lonely. like a newly
opened grave Wessex had gone because
he had heard that she haa oeeeiseo nm nm
found credence in his heart Ihus she
unused, guessing at the truth. perhaps
not even reaiizing how much he nad SUI
fered. .,,.
she would not go back to her room just
vet She knew that she could not rest.
Though the room Was empty. .nere
seemed something Of him still in 1t, even
in it's cold and deserted aspect.
She fingered here. sitting In the chair
where he had sat and heard. She could
not cry. she would not give way; Ior sns
wished to think: Therefore she hngereo.
Thus fate worked It's WIN In the stIanse
Wessex did not know that she had re-
turned. After the cardinal had left MIN;
he waited awhile. but ne never guessed scr,
that she would come back. lad he not
heard that her kindest favors had been
the Spaniards, ere his noble grace mao
come across her path? With that almost
morbid humility. which Is such = peeuma a.
and inalienable characteristic OF a great
love, he thought 1t quite natural that she
should love Don Miguel or any other man.
rather than him. and now was only TOO
CHI hnd
her favored gallant, leaving him In the
ridiculous and painful position In which
she had wantonly placed him:
He waited in a desultory fashion. not
really hoping that she would come. Then.
as silence began to fall more and more
upon the palace, and the clock In the
great tower doomed the midnight nour,
ne finally turned his steps toward MS
own apartments.
TO reach them he had to 60 along the
cloisters and traverse the great audience
chamber, which lay between MS SUITE OF
rooms ana that occupied by the Caronai
de Morento and Don Miguel de Suarez.
AS he entered the vast room he was
unplea sanity surprised to see the young
Spaniard standing beside the distant WIN
dow.
two enormous bays were open, letting IN
a food of brilliant moonlight. The niGnt
was peculiarly balmy and sweet ano
through the window could be seen tne
terraces Of Hampton Court. with the river
beyond bathed in silvery light.
Wessex had paused at the door. MS
eyes riveted on that distant picture wmch
recalled SO wildly to his aching senses
the poetic idyll Of this afternoon.
It was strange that Don Miguel should
be standing just where he was, between
him and that vision SO full OF memories
now.
Wessex turned his eyes on the mar
ouis. who had not moved when he en-
tered. and seemed absorbed in thought.
"And there is the man who before me
has looked In Crsula's eyes, unused the
duke. ITO think that l have a fancy
for killing that young reprobate. because
he happens to be more attractive than
snyseif-or because
He sus,denly tried to check his thoughts
They were beginning to riot In his brain
Until this very moment. when he saw the
Spaniard standing before him. he had not
realized how much he hated MIN All
that is primitive passionate. semi-savage
in man rose in him at the sight OF his
rival A wild desire seized him to grip
that weakling by the throat. to make him
Quake and suffer. If only One-thousandth
part of the agony which had tortured him
He deliberately crossed the room. then
opened the door which led to his own
"Harry. old friend" he called to his
dog, go. wait for me within. have no
need OF thy company Just now
cu,iar unerring instinct of the faithful
beast, seemed quite reluctant to obey. He
stopped short, waSged his tall, indulged In
all the tricks which he knew usually ap-
peaied to his master. begging in silent and
pathetic language p be allowed to re-
main But Wessex was quite MEMORABLE.
and Harry Plantagenet had perforce to
60.
The door closed upon the dukes most
devoted friend. In the meanwhile Don
Miguel had evidently perceived his grace.
and now when Wessex turned toward him
he exclaimed. half In surprise. half in
tones of thinly yelled vexation:
'Ah! His grace Of Wessex? Still astir,
my lord, at this hour?"
yOtr service. mar0ui0." YeiOined