Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02

duchess expressed the most heartfelt sor-
row.
'I crave your majesty's humble par
don." she stammered in an agony OF
misery at this public reproof. Il"
Nay, duchess. 1 know the difficulty of
your task" rejoined Mary Tudor bitingly.
THE other ladies are docile and their be-
havior is maidenly and chaste. 'Tis not
always so with the Lady Ursula Glynde."
Mary's voice had been SO trenchant and
hard that it seemed to Ursula's sensitive
ears as If its metallic tones must have
penetrated to every corner Of the palace.
She gave quick, terrified look toward
the door. longing with all her might for
the gift to see through ITS massive pan
els-to know what went on within l.lat
inner closet where Wessex was waiting
and must have heard.
One pair OF eyes. however. had caught
that swift glance and noted the sudden,
obvious fright which accompanied it.
His .eminence had not taken his piercing
eyes from of the young girls face. he
nostrtl every CULVER of the eyelid.
What Mary Tudor only half suspected
what the good old duchess could not even
conjecture. that his eminence had already
more than guessed.
The delicate. rosy blush which suffused
the young girls cheeks, that indescribable
something which emanated from her en-
tire personality. the half-withered roses,
all told their tale to this experienced
diplomatist. accustomed to read his fell
low-creatures' thoughts. Then that quick.
apprehensive look toward the door had
confirmed his every surnise.
''She has seen his grace-he is closeted
in there!" were his immediate deductions.
And whilst Ursula met her majestys cold
glance with as much holiness as she
could command, and her grace Of Lin
coin lost herself In maze Of abject apol-
ogies. his eminence. seemingly uncon-
cerned, edged up to the low door, keep
ing the lock and handle thereof well in
view.
II crave your majesty's indulgence for
the child" the Duchess of Lincoln was
muttering "She meant no harm. I'll take
my oath on that, and she will, l know.
grieve over your majesty's disapprovai
Of her. She"
may. duchess" interrupted the queen.
sternly. Repentance is far from Lady
Ursula's thoughts and her behavior is
not. the thoughtlessness of moment"
your majesty" protested the duchess,
while Ursula threw her head back in
token Of proud denial.
1.-THE rumor has already reached u.s."
continued Mary, "of q maid of honor's
strange wanderings at night and in dis
guise outside the Durlieus Of the palace.
and that the maiden who SO far forgot
her rank and modesty was none other
than the Lady Ursula Glynde."
Again that quick. apprehensive glance
directed toward the closet door at mention
OF her name: a glance unseen to any one
present. save by his eminence's watchful
eyes. To him. it had revealed all that
he wished to know. while the queen.
blinded by her own jealousy. saw nothing
but rival whom she desired to humiliate.
''Wessex Is behind that door" unused
his eminence "She starts every time her
name is uttered-ergo. he made love to
her without knowing who she is.
1t was natural and simple. The 'ery
logical sequence of series of co-otdi-
mated thoughts. together with a shrewd
knowledge Of human nature.
How this little incident would affect his
own immediate plans his emincnce had
not vet coniectured. That it would prove
moment in doubt. Therefore. at mo-
ment when every ones eyes were fixed
upon the queen or Ursula, he quietly
turned the key in the lock of that closet
door, and slipped the key in his own
pocket.
After that he reioined the group Of
ladies. feeling that he could wait in peace
until the close of the dramatic little cpl
sode.
''The ,rumor-if rumor there was" Ur-
sula had retorted defiantly' is a 1aise
one, your majesty.
Indeed, child" said the queen coldly.
did you not then some days ago leave
the palace with no other companion save
weak willed Margaret Cobham?"
"Verily. l.
I'm order to visit. in disguise, or masked.
or cloaked-we know not-some puollc
entertainment, country fair. methinks?"
"Of truth. but
You do not deny that. meseems."
II do not deny it. your majesty.
meant no harm
"No harm! bark at the girl! Was there
no harm than in your meeting certain gen.
tlemen of our court. under circumstances
not altogether creditable to the fair fame
Of our English maidens."
Has. the Marquis de Suarez dared
May! We did not name the MARQUIS.
girl. or truth a gentleman Will dare
all once a maid forgets her own dignity:
But enough of this. 1 spoke word of
warning in your own interests. Inc
notwithstanding his eminences presence
has all the faults of his race. We warn
you to cease this intercourse. Whlch uoth
no credit to your modesty.
"Your majesty retorted Ursula. proud
and rebellious at this slight put upon her.
and forgetting for the moment even the
invisible presence OF the man she loVeo.
But Mary Tudor. though at times ca
pable Of noble and just impulses. was Tar
too blinded by her own passion to give UP
the joy Of victory over the girl who mad
become her rival. At any rate. Fate had
done one great thing for her; she was the
queen ruling as every Tudor had ruled.
by divine right. absolutely, unquestion-
She would not let the girl speak. she
would see her go, Inundated, with head
bent, forcibly swallowing her tears of
shame Mary only regretted this: that
Wessex could not be witness OF this
scene. .
She threw back her head, drew herself
I'D to her full height. and pointed PET
emptorily up toward the gallery.
'.Silence Wench." she commanded. "go.
And Ursula could not help but obey
Slowly she mounted the stairs. her heart
burning with defiance. To have angered
Mary Tudor further by renewed rebellion
would have been worse than madness; it
would inevitably have brought more ig-
nominy, and worse. perchancer upon her
self.
But the tears. which she tried In vain
to suppress, we're not caused by the
Queens harsh words, but by the terrible
doubts which assailed her when She
thought of Wessex.
Had he heard? r4e....
What would he think?
Would he understand the cause Of her
innocent deception. on would he believe
as indeed he must IL he heard them-the
evil insinuations so basely put forward
by the queen?
AS she found her way along the gallery
she heard Mary's voice once more.
''Duchess,<shn0ray you see that in fu-
ture a more1 lfict surveillance Is kept
over the young maids under your charge.
Lady Ursula's conduct has put me verify
to shame before the ambassadors OF for
eign courts
with sob Of impotent revolt Ursula
disappeared within the upper room.
The cardinal watched her until the door
closed upon her. and he was quite sure
she was we'll out Of hearing Then he