Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
IN MARY'S REIGN.

-
virtue OF some important mission in
| trusted to him, in order to sweep ruth
lessly aside the lesser pawns, which stood
in the way of his success?
Had he become the lesser pawn now In
| this gigantic game of chess. in which tie
hand OF queen was the final prize for
the victor? Was his DEATH at the hand
OF this man. of more importance to the
success Of the cardinals intrigues than
his life would be? II so, heaven alone
could help him, for his eminence would
not hesitate to sacrifice him merctlessly.
The horror Of these thoughts gave the
young man the strength of despair. But
he might just as we'll have>tried to pierce
a stone wall as to break the garde of this
| impressive and deadly opponent. His own
wrist was beginning to tire: the combat
had lasted nigh on a quarter of an hour.
and the next few minutes would inevitably
see its fatal issue. The dukes ATTACKS
became more swift and violent, once or
twice already Don Miguel had all but felt
his grace's dagger at his throat.
Suddenly woman's piercing Shrek
seemed to rend the air. the swift sound
Of running footsteps, the grating of a
heavy door on its hinges and then there
came another cry. more definite this time:
| "Wessex! have a cafe!'
| Both the men had paused, of course.
Even In this supreme moment when one
| life hung in the balance, hoR could they
help turning toward the distant corner of
the room whence had come that piercing
shrek.
The door leading to the marquis apart
ments was wide open now: a flood OF
! light came from the room beyond and
against this sudden glare. which seemed
doubly brilliant to the dazed eyes Of the
combatants. there appeared a woman's
figure. dressed in long flowing robes OF
clinging white. her golden hair hanging
| In yxyiI6 tow hnS oh
quaint and weird figure. at first only a
silhouette against a glowing background.
but anon it came forward. disappeared
completely for awhile in the dense shadow
emerged again in the. full light of the
moon, ghost.ike and fantastic. girlish
| form, her white draperies half falling
from her shoulders. revealing a white
throat and one naked breast: on her hair
few green leaves. bacchante-like, en-
twined and dropping. half hidden in the
tangle Of rudy gold
| AS Wessex gazed on her. his sword
dropped from his hand.
| 1T was shes She, as hellish vision had
shown her to him half an hour ago. in the
! great room wherein he had first kissed
her; weird and witlke creature. with
| eyes half-veiled, and coarsened, sensuous
lips. 1t was but vision even now, for
he could not see her very distinctly. his
eyes were dazed with the play. of the
moonlight upon his sword. and she. after
her second cry. had drawn back into the
| shadow. ..-.
not seemed very surprised at her appari-
ton. only somewhat veXed. as he eX-
claimed:
Lady Ursula. l pray you.
He placed his hand On her Should er.
1t was the gesture of a master. and the
tone in which he spoke to her was ore
of command.
II pray you 60 within" he added curt
ly. this is no place for women
Wessex's whole soul .writhed at the
words. the touch, the attitude of the man
| toward her; an hour ago. when he stood
! beside her. he would have bartered a
| kingdom for the JOY of taking her hand.
| She seemed dazed and her form swayed
peared to be conscious Of her garments.
for with a certain shamed movement of
tardy modesty she pulled apart Of her
draperies over her breast.
| Il wish to speak with him. she whis-
pered under her breath to Don Miguel.
| But the Spaniard had no intention Of
prolOnging this scene a second longer
than was necessary. 1t had from the
first been agreed between him and the
cardinal that the duke should not obtain
more than a short glimpse at the wench.
At any moment. after the first shock Of
| surprise, WesseX might looksmore calmly.
more steadily, at the girl. She might be-
gin to speak. and her voice-the hoarse
voice Of gutter-bred girl-would be-
tray the deception more quickly than
anything else. The one brief vision had
| been all-sufflcient: Don Miguel was salts
| fed. 1t had been admirably staged SO
far by the eminent manager. who still re-
manned out Of sight. II was tor the young
man now to play his role skillfully to the
| end
| Gomez he said peremptorily.
| He seized the girls wrist whispered
a few words in her ear. which never
reached her dull brain and half led, half
dragged her. toward the door.
Wessex broke into long. forced laugh
which expressed all the bitterness and
| anguish Of his heart.
| Oh: the humiliation of it all! Wessex
suddenly felt that all his anger had van
ished. The whole thing was so contemp-
tible, the banality of the episode SO low
and degrading, that hatred fell away
from him like mantle. leaving in his
soul sense of unutterable disgust and
even Of abject ridicule. His pride alone
was left to suffer. He who had always
held himself disdainfully aloof from all
the low intrigues inseparable from court
life. who had kept within his heart a
1everent feeling of chivalry and veneration
| for all women, whether queen or peasant.
constant or tickle. for him to have sunk
| to this,-One of a trio of vulgar mOunte-
| banks. one Of two aspirants for the favors
! of wanton.
OF trickery. of deception. he had not
one thought! How could he have? The
events Oh inc past lIOuio iid0 phCPoiC
him for this scene. and he had only a
| brief vision. in semi-darkness. while ev-
erything had been carefully prepared to
blind him completely by this dastardly
! trick.
by our lady" he said at last. with
| that same bitter heartrending laugh, 1.-The
| interruption was most oppcrtune, and
we must thank the Lady Ursula for her
timely Intervention. What? you and l.:
my lord. crossing swords fo- that" and
he oA u}fn a gesture of unutteraDle
scorn toward the swaying figure of the
woman. "A farce. my lord farce!
Not a tragedy
He threw his dagger on to the floor
and sheathed his sword. just as Don
Miguel had succeeded IN pushing the girl
| out of the room and closing the door on
her.
| The Spaniard began to stammer an
apology.
| II pray you speak no more Of 1t. my
! lord said the duke cOldly, tbs / owe
you an apology for interfering In what
| doth not concern me. AS his eminence
| very pertinently remarked just now, hos
| pitality should forbid me to fly my hawk
| after your lordship's birds. Ny congratu-
lations my lord marquis"' he added with
| a sneer. your taste, l perceive. Is UNI
erring. Good night and pleasant dreams!
He bowed lightly and turned to go.
| Don Miguel watched him. until his tall
figure had disappeared behind the door.
Then he sighed a deep sigh OF satisfac-
| ton.
| An admirably enacted comedy" he
unused, "a thousand congratulations to
his eminenoe (,arramba! this Ii the best