Evening star., 1908-01-26
Copyright, 1907. by
EMMUSKA ORGY.
All Rights Reserves.

Everngham warmly Look around this
great hall al this moment. Now that tie
foreign ambassadors have departed do
YOU aught but friends" Nay more.
aGherents. partisans. faithful subjects. an
you choose he added significantly.
Friends today" unused his grace. "ene-
mics perhaps tomorrow.
Impossible
Even if-but by the Lord Harry. this
is no time TO talk OF my Affairs 7ejoined
. Wessex light t-heartedly. Farewell friend.
and God speed. Harry. make your bow 10
the most loyal man in England-youH not
see his like until he return from Scotland.
In your ear. my dear lord. ! pray You be-
MOI astonished IL when that happy event
| uality occurs you find me no longer
free man. Come. Harry. shall We bid him
adeu at the gates"
He linked his arm in that Of Evering-
ham. fhe group of gentlemen parted u let
! him pass. then closed behind. him. and
| followed him and his friend out or the
| hall. Every one was glad OF diversion
| from the oppressive atmosphere of tue
last lew hours. Many murmursd: God
bless your grace" he passed through
the brilliant assembly exchanging word.
! a merry jest with his friends. courteous
bow on gracious smile with the casual ac-
Cuaintancas.
His popularity at this moment was at
| its height. Nothing would have caused
| greater joy i'm England than the announce
! Hltit ol Ills pilSntpu tfOtil TO the IGesN-
Yet If these gentlemen who so eagerly
pressed round him. he escorted his
] dearest friend through the hail. had bsen
! gifted with the knowledge or their fellow
creatures. innermost thoughts, they might
i have read in slis grace'S heart the open
i ing chapters OF "A romance which would
4 have changed their enthusia SIN into bitter
1 disappointment. They would have seen
/ that in that heart wherein they hoped tn
| see their queen enthroned there now
/ rpi iIn Al Ilf t1,sas
| girl dressed in shimmering white. with
ruddy golden hair falling loosely about
her shoulders and deep. dark eyes now
1 blue. now gray. now inscrutably black.
the mirrors of pure, innocent Joyous
soul within.
As for Everingham. all his desire 10
warn Wessex had vanished with the LAT
ters lightly spoken allusion TO tale Incl
dent of the afternoon. He was now only
conscious Of desire to get away and
/ thus leave events to shape their course,
according to the dictates OF my lord ear
/ dinai.
Everything was ready for the departure.
! The gentlemen who composed the mis-
sion sent by Mary Tudor to the Queen
Regent of Scotland were proceeding 10
I Edinburgh by water. They would ride tn
Greenwich tonight. then embark In the
early dawn.
! The horses were paving the ground inn
patiently. every one had assembled in
! the Fountain court. which presented an
animated and picturesque spectacle, with
4 the crowd OF servants and the numerous
| retinue which was to accompany the
Earl of Pembroke to Scotland 4 number
Of torch bearers lent fantastic aspect to
| the scene. for a lively breaZe had sprung
up. blowing the fitful flames hither and
thither, bringing into bold RELIEF now the
! richly caparisoned steed Of one or the
noblemen now the steel helmets of the
military escort. anon throwing everything
into deep. impenetrahle shadow while
touching with weird. red light some gro-
tesque vane or leaden waterspout the
walls Of the palace.
! The Earl of Pembroke took long fare
we'll from his grace OF WesseX. Himself
/ one of the most fervent adherents of the
duke. he was longing for a word. prom
/ Use. however vague, that the much-de-
sired alliance would indeed soon take
place.
Wessey fingered some time beside Ev~
| eringham He seemed strangely 10th to
part from his foRdest friend just now
/ The crowd around him were chatterinE
natural exhilaration OF manhood at sight
OF this goodly cavalcade and the sound OF
clattering arms. the champing of bits
ard quick. sharp calls TO assemble.
Then. at given moment one OF the
bays of King Henrys presence chamber
| appeared al the window. \ shout of
welcome was raised such as could only
come from faithful and loyal hearts.
! Mary was surrounded by some of her
| ladies. The strong light OF the room was
behind her, SO that she appeared as .
| silhouette. dignified. rather stiff in her
! corseted panier of rich brocade. her head
slightly bent forward if in anxious
search of some one in the crowd
''God bless our queen" said the Duke
Of Wessex. loudly, and the words were
taken up again and again by 200 lusty
| thrcats. gentlemen and servants all alike,
and the cry echoed against the massive
walls OF old Hampton Court like SOL
emn prayer.
Not a few voices then added: God
| bless his grace of Wessex"'
| The queen had recognized the dukes
| voice. When she --eard this. second cry
every one noticed that she pressed her
hand to her heart as if overcome with
emotion. Then she waved an adieu from
the window and hastily retired within.
! The signal for departure was given.
few belated gentlemen quickly sprang TO
the stirrup-Everngham being among the
| last. With a deafening noise Of clatter-
| ing steel the military escort led the way.
| the halberds cleaning like tongues %
| fame in the torchlisht as -the men-at-
arms lowered them in order to pass
| through the gates.
| Then followed the Earl OF Pembroke
with Lord Everngham by his side. and
| the other gentlemen OF the mission in
| close proximity. The retinue of servants
completed the cortege.
Some Of the younger men followed the
cavalcade on foot through the gate ana
| thence across the base court even as far
/ as the bridge and beyond The older
| ones. however began 10 disperse. With
| a sigh the Duke of WeSSeX called TO his
| dog which had followed the exciting pro-
| ceedings with the keenest canine on
| thusia SIN.
! "Ah. Harry. old friend he said. with
a tinge of sadness. why did not Provi-
dence fashion my grace into some hum
| bier personality? You and ! would have
| been the happier. methinks.
Harry Plantagenet yawned ostentatious-
| ly in acquiescence. then lie blnkel, and
seemed to say. as If in echo of his mas
| ters thoughts:
Marry. but there are compensations,
you know"
"Only since this afternoon" commented
| his grace under his breath. as he finally
| turned his steps in the direction OF his
| own apartments.