The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-08
(Cpninued.)

Wessex did not reply at onSe. A. Everinghamss tone of rebuke. slight frown had contracted his forehead. ana tkat certain look of hauteur, never wholly absent from his face, at once became more apparent
 There was more than mere camara- derie between these two men; unity of thought. similarity of tastes and education, a great and overwheiming love for their own country together with mutual understanding and appre. citation had long ago knit the ties or friendship closely between them. It was generally admitted by everyone that Lord Everingham might venture on a ground of familiarity with His Grace. which no one else quite dared to tread.
 This time. too, after that instant's now and then seemed entirely to de- tach the Duke of Wessex from his surroundings, quickly disappeared again. The pleasant smile returned to the proud lips. he shrugged his should CTS. and said simply:
 s'Is the Queen of England piqued?"
 Can you ask?" rejoined the other with increased vehemence.
 Then he checked himself abruptly, feeling no doubt how useless 1t was to discuss such matters seriously Just now.
 "The only woman" he added. fall ing in once more with his friends lighter mood. ''the only woman whose blandishments His Grace or Wessex has ever been known to resist.
 And that with difficulty" concluded the Duke gaily "Bnt you see, friend, he added with much gravity. with a. Tudor you never can tell: you might lose your heart one day and your head the next"
 GNra~,, rusnr lo,aS vor too wells ' !" protested Lord Everingham.
 "She Is the daughter of King Harry VIII, remember, and would threaten me with the block or the rack at every indiscretion."
 He paused, then added quaintly:
 And I would commit so many.
 "A woman who loves always Ior- gives" urged his friend. "A woman, my good Everingha am, will forgive a grave infidelity* per haps! but not a number of little lndis- cretions. Mine" he added with light sigh, would be the little iDdiscre- tions"
 Queen of England has almost promised to wed the Spanish King" said Ever ingham bitterly.
 He watched his friend keenly as he spoke, and paused a moment before ne added pointediy:
 "'Twill be a proud day for the peers of England when they bow the n Knee r,s Wessex shrugged his broad shoulders. and turned to where pret- ty wench dispensing ale. to scarlet cloaked burgher formed a picture pleasing to his artistic eye.
 Everingham, somewhat proud or his own diplomatic skill, had noted, how ever. a certain stiffening of His Grace's figure at the vision which had been conjured before him.
 That of a Wessex bending the knee before a Spaniard.
 "You were away" continued Ever ingham, eager to goad his friend into speech, "and my Lord Cardinal and Don Miguel Knew how 70 oloW upon the flames of Mary's jealousy. Your influence can still save England, my lord" he added with great earnestness; "Iet not your enemies say that fear Of A woman keeps you from exerting 1t.
 '.Hm! do they say that?" unused Wes- sex quaintly. whilst smile whlcn almost might be called boyish, altered the whole expression of his serious face. By my faith! but they are right. Ones enemies usually are"
 He drew his friend away from the immediate vicinity of Jabbering crowd, into a dark corner formed by one of the booths. Everingham, think
  a graver train of thought, failed to notice the humorous twinkle of the eyes, which had so palpably struggled to the surface.
 "It is the fear of woman has kept me away from Court" he whispered solemnIy. 'but that woman is not the Queen of England"
 'Who is it, then"'
 'Tn your ear, friend" $'tis the Lady Ursula Glynde."
 Eyeringham could scarce suppress a movement of intense satisfaction. Lady Ursula. beautiful. exquisite Lady Ursula, was the one stumbling block on which the schemes of his faction might become hopelessly shattered.
 Wessex was nominally plighted to the lady True, twas an engagement undertaken by the ladys own tatner' without the consent of the parties chiefly concerned. But in Tudor Eng land there was a curious adherence to such solemnly plighted troths, which might have proved bar to the Duke sense of absolute freedom.
 If, however he looked upon this unnatural and monstrous pledge with the Iightness which it fully deserved if he considered himself at liberty to | break the imaginary bonds which held him to Lady Ursula. then the work of his partisans would become compara- | lively easy ,,
 They had always hoped and fully intended to overcome his Grace's s scruples in the matter. and fondly thought that they would succeed. But l since the Duke himself looked indit- l ferently upon his so-called troth, why Everingham himself was the first to feel the keenest satisfaction at the thought.
 You dislike the lady. then?" he asked, with unfeigned delight.
 q have never seen her." retored Wessex placidly. At any rate. not since she was in her cradle. cer- tainly didn't like her them
 She is very beautifuk'' remarked Everingham with a somewhat shame faced recollection of his previous ad- venture, but "* ."
 She might be veritable angel, yet she would frighten me"
 A mock shudder passed through his tall athletic frame. and taking his friends arm in his. he whispered con fidentaIly, Think of it, my lord! A woman whom duty compels one tc love* sBrrr!" Her own father pIighted our troth; am left compara- tiyeiy free, yet if I do not wed Lady Ursula she is doomed to end her days in a convent% ' . matter of honoi swhat?$ *Yet I" "I, who coulc love any woman ." he added en phatically, "be she Queen or peasant" sthat iss "hm!% eff I were really put to 1t" "find the very thought o my promised bride abhorent. She il the one woman in all the world whom I could never love. Never!| "I kpoN it. So ran away from Court, not be