The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-12
N MARYS REIGN
By BARONESS ORCZY Copyright 1907 by Emmus ka orczy. a rights reserved nm Wmnk 0E 1EMh Mh HE RUM mmm VI HUEmMWMDMUn

ture husbandl" The Duchess of Lincoln nearly fell backwards in a faint.
 "Ursulaw she gasped.
 "Nayi that's not the secret" contin- ued Ursula quite unperturbed, flor that is town-talk. and everyone at Court knows that she won't let him see me. for fear he should fall in love with me. And my Lord Cardinal is furious, be- cause he wants the Queen to marry Philip of Spain. and he is wishing His Grace of wessex down there. where all naughty Cardinals go."
 "Childi childi .'
 But the days are slipping by. darl- ing" added the young girl. with just a shade of seriousness In her eyes. 'AlT these intriguers may fight as much as they like, but if do not wed His Grace of .Wessex, if he should be in- veigled into marrying the Queen. l must to the convent. My dear father made me swear 1t on his deathbed. when was beside myself with grief. and scarce knew what did. There is but one true gentleman to whom l would trust my child he said to me swear to me, Ursula, that if Wesse1 claims you not, that you will never marry anyone else. but spend your days in happy singleness in q convent Swear 1t, little one He was so ill, so dtdT, SWOTo anu
 The convent is the proper place for such a feather brain as yourself" con cluded the Duchess with as gruff 8 voice as she could command. But I do not wish to be a num-" protested Ursula. as tears began to gather in her eyes, "and do want to wed Wessex, who Is handsome and gallant and witty and |. and -. :" she. added coquettishly. ttxnyhA hA II not let mo go to a convent either. so
 
 She leant closer to the kind dowager and once mere whispered confdentially in her ear.
 "So. as the Queen is engaged in pray CTS for at least half an hour, I've sent His Grace word by one of the pages that the Duchess of Lincoln desired his presence in this charnber-here"
 But this was really past bearing 1T? exclaimed the Duchess in horror. "I7l. ., desire his presences i. !. Merciful Heavens! what will His Grace thinkT"
 Once more Ursula, like the veritable child that. she was. was dancing like mad round the room. now alone, clap ping her tiny hands together, then seizing one of her companions by the waist, she whirled with her rouad ond round, until she fell rask hreathless against the Duchess char. And sll tho while her tongue went prattling on. now talking at top speed, anon singing out the words in the madness of her glee.
 And he is coming. dear Duchess" she said. "He1l attend upon Her Grace at oncer these were his words to that pet of Q page. and he'll see me and and
 Now she paused, kneeling besi1e heF old friend, putting coaxing arms round the bulky figure of the kind soul.
 "But don't tell him my name all at once, Duchess, darling" she whispered entreatingly; let him fall in love with me without knowing that I am his af- ianced bride for that might prejs udice him against me. Just humble something when he asks my name. and let me do the rest. Give me another kiss, darling. Alicia Alicia" she cried in feverish anxiety, "is my ker- chief straight at the back? and . . | oh, my hair! ."
 Still in that same madly excited | mood, she ran to . small oval mirror which hung on one of the walls, close | to the great bay window. The Duchess, during that brief mo- ment's respite, tried to collect her scat tered wits.