The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-13
CHAPTER XII. Infrigues.

when w WeSSc1, dGCOuiPdHiSa by htS friend. reached the room which so late Iy was echoing with merry girlish laughter, he was met by page. deputed by the Duchess of Lincoln, to present her excuses to His Grace for her non-appearance.
 Nay. marry, this is the bravest comedy ever witnessed" laughed the Duke, when the boy had gone.
 What. my lord?" asked Everingham with seeming unconcern.
 "A comedy. friend. in which the Queen, Her Grace of Lincoln. you, and His Eminence the Cardinal. all play leading roles"
 'T don't understand"
 Well done man! Nay! I know not yet which of you will win. but this I know, that whilst do my best to whisper sweet nothings in Her Majes- tvs ear, you are pleased, the Cardinal is furious, and the Duchess of Lincoln discreetly keeps my affianced bride out of my way"
 For this at least your Grace should be grateful" rejoined his friend with a smile
 Grateful that other people should guide my destiny for me? Well, per haps! 'Twould certes have been un- gallant to flee from danger, when danger takes tho form of a future wife. I cannot picture myself saying to a lady: Madam, honor demands that I should wed you and thus hath put it out of my power ever to love you But since the Lady Ursula is so unapproachable, marry!-methfnks I am almost free"
 "Perchance 'tls the lady herself who avoids your Grace"
 Nay! undoubtedly she does Poor girl! how she must hate the very thought of me! Her dear father. fear me. was wont to sing my praises in her childish ears; now that she hath arrived at years of discretion, my very name must have become an obsession to her. Obviously, even a convent must be preferable. Then why this mad desire to keep us apart? Mutual understanding would do that soon enough"
 The two men had once more turned to go back the way they came; slowly they strolled across the vast and lofty rooms and through the Great Hall. which, deserted at this time of day. was the scene of so much gaiety and magnifieence during the evening hours.
 Your Grace. methinks. must be mistaken" said Everingham after awhile; there is. at any rate on the part of your friends, no desire to keep you and the Lady Ursula apart; you are the best judge of your own honor. my lord. and no one would presume to dictate to you; but the most sensitive conscience in England could but hold the opinion that whilst the lady may feel bound by her promise to her father, you are as free as afr; free to wed whom you choose"
 By the mass! what an anomaly, friendi Free to wed! free to wear fet- ters! the most terrible chains ever de- vised by the turpitude of man"
 Marriage Is a great institution ."
 May! 'tis an evil one. contrived out of malice by prists and old maids to enchaiu a woman who would rather be free, to man who speedy becomes bored"
 May! but when that woman is a Queen2'
 Take off her crown and what is she, friend?" rejoined His Grace light Iy. "A woman!" %to be desired, of course, to be loved, by all means, but at whose feet we should only recline long enough to make all other men envious, and one woman jealous"
 Everingham drowned. He hated this flippant, careless mood of his friend. He did not understand it. To him the idea of such a possibility as a union with the Queen of England was so great, so wonderful. so superhuman almost, that he felt that the man who deserved such incommensurate honor should spend half his days on his knees thanking God. for such a glorious destiny.
 That Wessex hung back when Mary herself was holding out her hand to him, seemed to this enthusiast almost sacrilege.
 'But surely you have ambition, my lord?" he said at last.
 "Ambition? replied Wessex with characteristic lightheartedness, Yes, one!-to be boy again"
 Nay an you were that now, you could not understand all that England expects of you. The Queen is harass- ed by the Cardinal and the Spanish ambassador. Philip but desires her hand in order to lay the iron heel of Spain upon the neck of submissive England. Your Grace can save us all.