The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-18

She had drAWn nearer 70 nm, anu for the first time since the conn mencement of this terrible tragedy of errors. one corner of that veil of im- penetrabie mystery was lifted from her eyes. She did not make even a remote guess at the truth as yet. but vaguely she became aware that she and this man whom she loved were at some deadly cross purposes, were playing at some terrible hide-and seek, wherein they were stalking their life and happiness. There was some thing in his look which suddenly re- yeaied to that unerring female in- etinct in her, that his bitterness. his cruelty. his nhsudts, had their rise in a heart overburdened with hopeless passion. He the most perfect gen tfeman. most elegant courier of his time, did not even try to curb his tongue, when speaking to her. who had never wrcnged him, and who had nobiy saved his life. when he must know that she had done 1t out of dis interested seif-sacrifice.
 Did he know that2
 The question struck at her heart with sudden, overwhelming power. the look on him, his whole attitude told her in vague, undefinable, un-un- dersta andable way that 1t was herself whom he loved; that he despised ner for something she had not done, and vet he spoke to her, when he signed after an illusion.
 ~y.onfession of what7-You are mao' my lord.' she repeated wildly.
 aAyel mads" he said bitterly; mau
 when feel the magic of your eyes stealing honour away!.. mad, indeed, for. with d fellow -creature's blood stiii warm upon that dainty hand, l long to fall on my knees and cover is "ieh kisses.n
 Ills voice broke almost with a soo' now that at last he had given utter- anca to that which had weighed on his soul all these days. He loatheo her crime. yet loved her more passion ateiy than beforei ohl eternal mys- tery of the heart of manl
 "Rlood on my hands?" she retorted violently: you are mad, my lord. .... mad. |. eayi--A mans bloodf.. Did you not. then. kill Don Miguel to save her whom you Ioved?... did you not suffer disgrace, prepare for death. ail because of her?.... Did l lie Tor youI give up mine honour. mine aAl For you7. Is 1t who am mad, my lord,
 .sNay, and you will have 1t so, fair one" he replied. trying to steady his voice which still was trembling, Us I am mad! I'll believe anything, doubt everything, mine eyes, mine ears. the memory of you. as l saw you chat night. I'll try to remember only that I owe you my life. such as II Is and let my senses be gladdeneo at the thought that you are oeau1i- full"
 Ursula watched him with wild burn ing eyes. Was the truth dawning al last? She, as the woman. was bent on knowing what lay hidden beneath the expression of this debasing pas sion. He, as the man, had fought battle and lost; he loved her too mad ly, too completely. to tear her out of his life. His passion had become base; he deaplsed himself now more than he ever despised her, but he could no longer battle against that oyerpowerins desire to fold her to his, heart, to forgive and forget all save her beauty and magic of her pres
 But she--though loving as ardently aM he--wanted the truth above all. Never would she have accepted this degrading passion. which would have left her moreover bruised and ashamed. She mustered ID all her energy, all her prese4saa of fmind; 1t was her turn now to fht for happiness aud for non our.
 who knows what destiny Fate would have meter out to these two peo- pie, if anly she had been left free hand@ Would sKe have brought them to xether or parted them flnolly and forev- CT. The fickle jade smiled upon them for d moment or two. then allowed stron- ger hand to lead her away into bond age.
 So accurately had the Cardinal de Moreno calculated his chance of nnal success, that he himself was able to lead the Queen of England to the Great Hall. for the approaching eere- mony, at the very moment when Wes- sex and Ursula were on the point or one another.
 Ursula had just uttered an energetic and momeutous;
 My Iordl...."
 J She had stepped away from him. ana was looking him fearlessly in the face. to question and cross-ques- Lion until she understood everythlns. when the door was suddenly opened and Mary Tudor appeared. escorted by some of her ladies. and accompanied by His Erninence. the Spanish envoy.
 It was the stroke of relentless sword across the Gordian knot which she had sought to unravel. She had 5nfy just made up her mind to stake her all upon a final throw or the oice -an explanation with Wessex. He was still completely deceived. She could see that what she already more than guessed, he had not even begun to suspect The idea of gigantic mis- had not entered his brain; she would have brought 1t be- lore him, made him understand. .... md Fate suddenly said Noi
 Fate, or that cruel hand which pull d the strings that brought all puppets forward on thls momentous stageY The Cardinal had darted a quick. anx- ous look on Wessex and then had | smiled with satisfaction. Ursula | ,aught both look and smile and also hat sudden hardening of the Cardin- IFS clever face and knew that her last | chance had gone.
 Wessex had seemed relieved when | he Queen entered, and Ursula knew hat never again would she be allowed | 70 see him alone, never again would he be able to speak to him undlsturb- l ,d.
 .sNothing flies more quickly than an | Huston when 1t is on the wing"
 Nothing! save happiness. ... when 1t begins to slip slowly away, l md tired hands are too weak to retain