Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16

stood on the table. smoothed her
hair and Golf and forced her
lips to smile.
The next moment there was a knock al
the door a clash of arms. the souho vi
voices and two minutes late his grace VI
wessex was in the presence OF the queen
She held out her hand to him and ne
STONED to kiss it, This gave her time to
recover outward composure Her ioho
heart ached at sight of him, Tor lie
seemed so altered. All the gayety, the JOY
of life that buoyancy of youth ana ever
ready laughter which had always peeh i''S
own peculiar charm. had completely gone
from him: he looked Older. too. she
thought. whilst his step even hau 'o'' i''
elasticity. ~,
Mary motioned him TO a seat close De
side her She herself had wisely CHOSEN
so To mace her chair that the hSht lr"ih
the window while falling fuiI on HILL
left her own figure IN shadow Icy, =.
Il trust my lord. she began, WIN
trembling voice. that my guard at me
tower are showing you all the Difference
and doing YOU all the honor Which nave
- cnmmanded and that your every comfort
in that abode OF evil hath been well
looked to- ren,1ed
wessex. "far more than L deserve. me
kindness shown me by every one az .mt
tower hath been a source OIL the ueepeS'
happiness to me- 1r ;n
NAY, if / could began MAI
Then she checked hepeelf, determined
not to let emotion get the petter VI me-
ere she had told him all that she "'Sheu
NV lord OF wessex." she resumed
more firmly. will YOU try to THINK ina.
YOU are before sincere ana ot Hes;de
friend: not before your queen, out pesiue
woman who hath nought so mucn a. d.
heart as-your happiness-will you Try:
"Tbe effort will not be great he re-
piled with q, smile. Your ma1es.s N'''0
hess hath 6ft shamed me ere this
Then. if you value my friendship. my
lord reioined Mary vehemently, give ne
some ASSURANCE that tomorrow Deio ua
your Judge and your peers; you WI,
crave your ma3esty's most humble
naraon.'. said Wessex. Il have made
confession of the crime imputed TO i'e anu
can ..N 49, nv lord, this is madness. You.
the most gallant gentleman in Englanu;
you to have done a deed so foui as ~ou ~, u
shame the lowest cnuri: n o:.1ue-e a
grim farce If it were not SO 'err'o'e :"
'ra :Ssy. not tragedy. your ms,e s;,'y:
Better men than 1 have mace an;nn no
of their lives. 90. l pray vou' 'h'i'N "o
:.Think no mote of you. dear lord. said
Mary. with an infinity of reproach IN me-
voice. "Ah mes l think OF hausn, can,
since that awful night when tney e"hAe
and told me that you 49,.
There was a catch in her throat anu
nerforce she had to pause Oh! the IRONY
Of fate. The bitter satire OF that """'o'
god called Lore!
Wessex looked at this proud Tudor
queen with . deep reverence: IN WILL ,n
there was almost a thought OF PITY. .le
lonely midAie-aged woman. pass,U U ne
self-Willed, who loved him with all the
tenderness Of pent-up motherhood! 1e.:
try how he might he could only RESPOND
to her true affection with cold respec'
and deep. but unimpassioned gratltuose,,
Yet was not her worth ten tnousano1oiu
mere great than that of the wanton
whose image still filed his heart!
The~one woman he hOnored. the other
he must perforce despise. and yet-sucn
is the heart Of mamie was more READY
than ever to give up life. honor. great
name and still greater destiny. so tnaI
the worthless object of his whoie-nearteo
affection should be spared puoiic u's
grace. ,-r.,,.
He would not have named Ursula
Glynde in this chaste. virgin queen
presence, the very remembrance or that
awful night was pollution: Su. pt 1no,
memory. for it was the last which ne
had of her. 49,.
Mad. foolish. criminal, sublime love-
The sin OF the loved one was aearet ~
women were capable. and wnlie MARY
Tudor would have given him crown ne
found it sweeter far to accept lsnominS
for Ursulas sake.
perhaps something Of all these thoughts
which went on in his mind was rehected
in his face. for Mary. who had oeen
watching him keenly. said after a"hle
with a tone of bitter resentment:
MY lord. I know that your silence
over this MYSTERIOUS affair is main
tanned out Of chivalrous desire to shield
another-a woman. All. consider
Il have considered replied Wessex
firmly, land entreat your majesty
Nay! tits ! who entreat." she inter-
rupted him vehemently. Let us look
facts in the face my lord. Think you we
all are fools to believe in your cock and
bull story? A woman was seen that night
flying from the palace across the terrace. :.
who was she?-whence did she come! :
None of the watch could see her race anu
the louis were too stupid to run after
her-but there are those within this court
at this moment who will swear that that
woman was Ursula Glynde.'
Strangely enough this was the first
time since that fatal night. that this
name was actually spoken In Wessex S
hearing: it seemed to sting him like the
cut Of lash across his face. For that
one brief instant he lost his Icy self-con-
troll and Mary saw him vince.
Ursula has been questioned" she con-
tinued, but she remains obdurately 81
lent. Believe me. my lord. you waste
your chivalry in defense Of a wanton.'
But already Wessex had recovered him
self.
Your majesty is mistaken he rejoned
calmly II know naught of Lady Ursula
Giynde. and defend no one by confessing
ny crime.
you'll not persist in that insensate con-
fession?'
Twill not be necessary, your majesty:
my judges have it in full. writ by mine
own hand"
you'll recant it,"
why should I? Twas done willingly.
in full possession of all my faculties, uR-
der no compulsion.'
You'll recant it, she persisted obsti-
nately.
why should To-
Because / ask it OF YOU" she said with
great gentleness. because 7"
She rose from her chair. and came closer
to him Then as he, respectfully. would
have risen too. she placed OBTAINING
hand upon his shoulder.
Listen. my lord" she said. for I've
thought Of it all. This is not moment
when foolish prejudices and mock modesty
should stand in the way OF SO great an
issue I would throw my soul. my flu
ture life my chances OF paradise, on that
one stake-your innocence
Your majesty
Nay, I pray YOU. do not waste these
few valuable minutes in vain protesta-
tions which I'll not believe. There's not
q sane man in this country who thinks
YOU guilty. Yet on this confession your
Judges and peers will condemn YOU to
death-must condemn you, SO that the