The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-04

(Contfnued.l
 "Rut gossip has 1t. said the Marquls at last, with assumed noncnaianc, ', athat I.ady Ursula's father--the Earl of T,ruro. was 1t not7--swore upon ms honor and on his deathbed that she should wed the Duke of Wessex. when ever he claimed her hand, or live her iife in a convent. Nay! I but repeat the rumor which has reached me. ne added lightly. Put me right 1T am in error, my lord. am but stren- ger and have not yet had the honor of meeting His Grace"
 "Bah! said Everingham impatiently. His Grace Is in no humor to wed; nor do the Earl of Truro's deathbed vows bind him in any way"
 He took up his bumper and look ing long and thoughtfully into it. he said with slow emphasis:
 If the Duke of Wessex, be inclined to marry, believe me, my lord Mar ouis, that 1t should be none other than the Queen of Englandl Whom may God bless and protect" he added, reverent- ly lifting his plumed hat with one hand, whilst with the other he held the bumper to his lips and tossed down the full measure of wine at one draught.
 Amen to that!" responded Don Mig uel with the same easy nonchalance.
 He, too, 0falneQ ms bumper " thS dregs, then he said quietly:
 But that is where we differ. niior. His Eminence the Cardinal de Moreno and myself both hope that the Queen of England will wed our master, King Philip of Spain."
 Everingham seemed as if he would reply. But with certain effort he checked the impatient words which had risen to his lips. Englishmen had only uN.IR~ nH wiles of Spanish diplomacy which dis guise impulsive thoughts.
 Lord Everingham had not wholly as- simulated the lesson. He had drowned impatiently when the question of the marriage of his queen had been preached by foreigner. It was a matter which reused the temper oi every loyal Englishman just then: they would not see Mary, Tudor welded ming to feel her own independence: her children would not see her under another yoke.
 Mary. in spite of her Spanish mother was English to the backbone. Tudor like. she had proved her grit and her pluck when opposing factions tried to wrest her crown from her She was Harry's daughter. Her loyal subjects were proud of Ger descent, and many of them had sworn that none but an English husband should share her throne with her.
 With the same sarcastic smile still lurking round his full lips. the Span- lard had watched his friend closely the while. He knew full well what was going on behind that fiorid coun- tenance, knew the antagonism which the proposed Spanish marriage was rousing just then in the hearts and minds of EngIishmen of all classes.
 But he certainly did not care to talk over such momentous questions at a country Fair, with the eyes and mouths of hundreds of yokels gaping astonish- ment at him.
 As far as he was concerned the half amicable discussion was closed. He and his friend had agreed to differ. According to Spanish ideas. divergence in political opinions need not inter fere with pleasant cameraderie
 With a genuine desire, therefore. to change the subject of Aconversation Don Miguel rose from his seat and idly scanned the passing crowd.
 "Carramba" he calculated sudden
 What is it7"
 "Our two masks" whispered the Spaniard. What say you. milor, shall we resume our interrupted adventure, and abandon the tiresome field of poli- tics for the more easy paths of gall lantry?"
 And without waiting for his friends reply, eager. impetuous, fond of in- trigues and mysteries, the young man darted through the crowd, in the di- rection where his keen eyes had spied a couple of hooded figures. thickly yelled, who were obviously trying to pass unperceived.
 Everingham followed closely on the young Spaniard's footsteps But'the sun had already sunk low down in the west. Outlines and silhouettes had become indistinct and elusive. By the time the Marquis de Suarez and this English friend had elbowed their way through the throng. the two myster- ious figures had once more disappeared