The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-02-05

to him than all the virtues Of which
other women were capable, and whilst
Mary Tudor would have given him
crown, he found It sweeter far TO ac-
cept ignominy for Ursula's sake.
Perhaps something OF all these
thoughts which went on In his mind
was reflected In his face. for Mary. who
had been watching him keenly. said
after awhile with q tone OF bitter re-
sentiment:
.My lord. know that your silence
over this mysterious affair Is main
shield another :. /. woman !.
Il have considered. replied wsssex
FIRMLY, "and entreat your Majesty
May. It's who entreat." she inter-
rupted him yehemently. Let us look
facts In the face. my lord, Think you
| we all are fools to believe n your cock
and-bull story? A woman was seen
that night flying from the Palace
across the terrace who was she
| whence did she comet !. /.
| None Of the watch could see her face
and the louis were too stupid to run
after her ~. but TIL ere are those
within this Court at this moment who
win swear that that woman was ur-
/ sula Giynde."
| Strangely enough this was the first
time, since that fatal night, that this
| name was actually spoken In Wessexs
hearing; e seemed TO sting him like
| the cut Of lash across his face. For
that one brief instant he lost his icy
self-control and Mary saw him Vince.
! Ursula has been questioned" she
continued but che remains obdurately
silent. Believe me, my lord. you waste
your chivalry In defence OF q wanton.'
But already Wessex had recovered
| himself.
| your Majesty IS mistaken" he re-
Joined calmly. II know naught of
Lady Ursula Glynde, and I defend no
one by confessing my crime
YOU'LL not persist In that insensate
| confessfon?"
| Twill not be necessary, your Ma
| jesty; my Judges have II IN fnN. writ
1 by mine own hand"
you'll recant It,"
why sll ould II Twas done willing
| ly, in full possession OF all my facul-
ties. under no connpulsion."
You'll recant it!' she persisted OBJ
stinateiy.
why should n"
because ask 1t Of you,' she said
with great gentieness. because I. /. !"
She rose from her chair, and came
closer to him. Then as he, respect
fully would have risen too. she PLACED
q Obtaining hand upon his sh ouider.
Listen. my lord" she sad, "for I've
moment when foolish prejudices and
mock modesty should stand In the way
Of so great an issue I would
throw my soul, my future life. my
chances Of paradise, on that one stake
your innocence :"
Your Majesty :"
Nay pray you. do not waste these
GNr akAn
lions, which TIL not believe
There's not a sane man in this country
who thinks you guilty Yet on
this confession your Judges and Peers
viii condemn you to death /. must
condemn you, SO that the law of Eng
land Is satisfied, and you, my lord, will
suffer death with a lie upon your
lips"
"The TRUTH" repoined wessex flrmiy,
"twastI killed the Marquis de Suarez."
"A lie. my lord. q iis," protested
Mary passionately, "the first you've
ever told, the last you'll be allowed TO
breathe But let it pass -.
I'll not torture your pride by forcing
you to repeat that monstrous tale again.
the cowardiy lips OF that hussy
OH If were q man A King like
my father! ia have her broken
on the wheel tortured on the rack,
whipped. lacerated, burnt. but I'd have
the truth from herr
wessex took her hand in his. She
was trembling from head 70 foot. The
inward, real Mary Tudor had risen to
the surface for this one, brief moment.
All the cruelty In her which in after
life made this wretched wouian's name
the by-word of history seemed just
them to smother her very womanhpod,
her every tender thought. At the
touch Of Wessex's hand she paused sud-
denly. shamed and in tears. that he
should have seen her like this.
Before she came, you said many
sweet words to me-" she murmured, as
II trying to find an excuse for her ter
ribIe outburst. "Ahl l know /
know - she added. with a bitter
tone OF melancholy. you never loved
me how could you? Men
like you do not love an ill-favored crea-
ture like me, old, bad-tempered
with something Of the brute under the
had affection for me once. my dear
lord and an nnimpassioned love
can bring happiness sometimes
would soon make you forget these last
terrible days and :"
Her voice had sunk down very low,
almost to a whisper now, the hand
which he still held N his own trem.
pASN NAOAcHNyB oh0 0N~ONsS ONAAthS
hot
"And no one would dare to whisper
Ill of the King consort OF England"
He turned to her; she was standing
beside him. her hand imprisoned in his.
her face bent so that he could not meet
her eyes. But there was such an in
nin.ty of pathos in the attitude Of this
donineering, naughty woman, wilfully
humbling her pride before her love,
that with a tender feeling OF rever
ence he bent the knee before her and
tenderly kissed her hand.
"Ah, my sweet Queen" he said with
gentle sadness, II am and always will
be your most devoted subJect--but do
you not see how impossible 1t is that
/ should accept this great honor which
you would deign to confer upon me-"
you refuse? Is 1t that you have
not one spark OF love for me?"
"I have far too much generation for
my Queen than to allow her to sully
her fair name. If being avowedly
guilty were acquitted by your Ma
jesty's desire, 'twould be said the Queen
had saved her lover and then
married g felon."
al would stake mine honor, that no
one shall dare :"
Honor is already lost my queen,
once 1t is at stake"