The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-15

n v 1a her step ashore. She shrank away from him as from viper who had stung her and might sting her again: not understanding his attitude, nor the motives which had led him to suggest to her the lie that saved Wessex, she yet knew by instinct that this purple clad, benevolent person. this kindly and corteous diplomatist, was a thing of evil which had first polluted and then killed her love
 I His Eminence smiled--a kind, indu1g- ent snile--when he saw the quick look or horror in the young girls face. and he said very gently:
 l Will you not allow me, my daugh- ter, to accompany you to your apart mentsr The Queen, remember. hath conhded you to my charge; I wish to see you safely in her Grace of Lin- l coin's care. :"
 Your Eminence does me too much honor" she said coldly. T can find my way alone through the Water Gal Iery.
 Yet Her Majesty, n1eseems will not allow her maids of honor to walk un- attended in this part of the grounds. ' he added. with a slight touch of benev- olent sarcasm.
 My comings and goings have ceased to interest Her Majesty" rejoined Ur- sula quietly. and am no longer of sufficient importance to require watch ing, or to demand an escort.' | Well! as you will. my daughter. It Is not for me to force my presence upon you. though. believe me. would have wished to serve you" I He was about to beckon his retinue who had stood respectfully aside dur | ing this brief colloquy, when. with a l quick. wholly unexpected movement, the young girl placed her hand upon his arm, and forced him once more to turn and face her.
 Your Eminence would wish to serve | me?" she said. speaking rapidly, and with a strange peremptory ring in her voice.
 Can you doubt it. my child7" he re- | piled urbanely.
 l "No" she said firmly, flor there is | that between your Eminence and me which if known to the Queen of Eng land would forever ruin your position in any Court of Europe | You would find 1t dificult :" he | began. whilst slight look--oh! mere shade-of fear seemed to creep into his eyes.
 ''Nay!I was not thinking of betray- ing Your Eminence, nor the trap which you set for me. into which I was full willing to fall. merely mentioned | EeCIGL awakening of your own conscience and because I have need of a service from you"
 T will endeavor to fulfill your be- nests, my chi1d.'
 T desire three words with His Grace of Essex this afternoon" | My child. =" he ejaculated. with still tone of nervousness perceptible in his voice, and a trace of that newly 1 sawExu NR l..- r. look which he cast upon her. l But she seemed quite elf-possessed, and almostt commanding. as one who had the right to demand obedience. The Cardinal did not quite know how to read her character at this moment. There was no doubt that if she chose to betray the part which he had played in her voluntary self-immolation, there would be plenty of people at the Eng | fish Court only too ready to believe her, or at any rate to seem to do so. | The Queen of England herself would | lend a willing ear to any tale which would release her from her promise with a semblance of honor to herself. His Grace of Wessex stood fully ex- onerated now. and in the face of so much humiliation the Cardinal would find 1t impossible to demand a fresh trial; whilst Mary Tudor had probably
 
 ry King Philip of Spain!
 On the other hand was it not dan- gerous to allow an interview to take place between Wessex and Ursula? In a flash the Cardinal reviewed the sit- uation. and weighed all the conse- quences of the two courses thus opened before him: acquiescence and negation, andt with his usual quickness of intel lect he decided that acquiescence would hA Aon b pfa Al xrya the time in which he could obtain the Queens actual signature to her pledge. Once that was done Mary Tudor would never go back on her royal sign man. ual. In any case, not much harm could be done in a brief interview. Both Wessex and Ursula were 50 far from guessing the truth, so ignorant of the tangled meshes of the intrigue in which they were still being held, that it would undoubtedly require the tes- timony of a third person at least to bring daylight into the black shadows of the mystery.
 Therefore, His Eminence. after these few seconds of serious thought, re- sumed his kind. suave manner. and, ! dismissing all fears from his mind, placed his services with alacrity at Lady Ursula's disposal.
 But I fear me-" he added reflective ly. "that you place too much reliance upon my humble powers. His Grace of Wessex is not like to listen to mo. | and meseems that you could more cas- lily obtain an interview with him through your own influence, which just now should be boundless, if the Duke has any gratitude in his heart"
 Your Eminence seems to be the prime mover in this drama of puppets" rejoined Ursula drily. "and the Queen will put every obstacle in my way un-' less your Eminence interferes." (COntinued TOmorrOw0