The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-06
fContinued.)

(Continsed.)
sBut I will save YOU" cried Mary
with ever-increasing vehemence, lin
spite Of yourself, in spite OF your con-
fessions, In spite Of all these lies and
Receptions. I'll save you Tn the
very teeth Of your judges and your
peers. and proclaim to the whole world
that I saved you--guilty or not guilty.
proud gentleman or felon, because my
nanne Is Mary Tudor. and that there 10
no law In England outside my will
Pride, and passion almost oeautinea
her. Her love for this man was the
one soft, tender trait In her strange
and complex character. but Tudor-itke
she would have her way, she would
rule his destiny. command his fate, tear
and destroy everything around her, 30
long as her caprice held sway. But he
had suddenly risen to his feet and stood
confronting her now. tall and erect,
with a pride as great. as obstinate as
her own, a naughty dignity which
neither Queen, nor destiny, neither sor-
row. disgrace. nor fear had the power
eyre that dishonor fall upon US both.
your majesty" he said drmly, the last
Duke Of Wessex win lie in suicides
grave"
Her eyes were fixed upon him. and
this supreme battle. fought BY his pride
against her passion, allowed her to
read his innermost thoughts. He had
nothing to hide from her now, not even
his love, miserable and desperate as 1t
was: but he wanted her to know that
not even at this fateful moment, when
he stood 'twixt scaffold and crown.
did he waiver in the firm resolve which
had guided him throughout his life.
He would not become the tool and
minion Of Tudor Queen--loving
enough now, but endowed with all the
vices and all the arrogance of her
race; he would not barter his life in
order to become the butt Of coptending
political factions, the toy Of ambitious
parties. battered by. some, hated by
most, despised by all! A courtier, q
lapdog, an invertebrate creature with
out power or dignity!
BAIL the hangman's rope was less
And Mary, as she read all this in the
expressive eyes which met hers fully
and unwaveringly, realized that her
cause was lost. She had staked every
thing on this one final appeal, but she.
q Tudor, had struck against an obsti-
macy greater than her own. She could
not natter, she Gould not bride, and he
was--by the very hopelessness OF his
present position--beyond the reach OF
threats or punishment
He saw that her heart was admitting
that she was vanquished. The hard
meas within him melted into pity.
believe me, my Queen" he said
gently, ''the memory OF your kind words
will accompany me to my LIES end, 1t
win cheer me tomorrow and sustain me
to the last. And now, for PHYS sake"
he added earnestly, may 7 entreat your
majesty to order the guard and
let me goT
THAT is not your last word, my
lord" urged Mary with the insistence
OF d desperate cause. ~ think 1. :"
Il have thought--much," he replied
quietly. Life holds nothing very
tempting at best. does AZ? The honor
Of the Queen Of England and mine own
seif-esteem were too heavy 9 price to
pay for so worthless tribe"
Nary would have spoken agaiu, but
Just then there was 3 discreet knock
at the door twice repeated. She had
perforce to say;
aEnter?T and the next moment q
page-in-waiting stood bowing before
what ID it?' she demanded IS
~rhe Lord High Steward has arrived
at the palace. your majesty" announced
the pases 4'and the lieutenant OF the