Evening star., 1908-01-12
Copyright. 1907, By
EMMUSKA ORGY.

balls even. as in the best days of Kipg
Harry. Young people who had been only
temporarily sobered through the raging
political conflicts of the past few months
quickly reasssrted their desire to gayety
and splendor, and the queen herself,
somewhat softened with the joy of seeing
Edwards loyalty towards her, tacftiy
acquiesced in this return to the ancient
magnificence of her fathers court.
Moreover, there were the foreign am
bassadors to entertain. all eager to se-
cure the queens hand for their respective
royal masters, and in the meanwhile
equally ready to be impressed with the
luxurias of the English court and the
beauty and grace of its ladies.
The Duchess of Lincolns task was GER
tainly no easy one, since 1t involved the
keeping in order of a very attractive,
pleasure-loving, highly unruly. little flock.
So far however. nothing serious had
occurred to disturb her equanimity. The
maids of honor placed under her charge
had quickly succumbed to the charm OF
her grace's kindliness and were easily
ruled with the rod of good nature.
Some seedlings and lectures, an admoni-
ton now and then, or a threat OF more
severe punishment. had readily quelled
any incipient INSTRUMENTATION.
But since the arrf,'al of Lady Ursula
Glynde at the palace matters had become
more serious. The child Was so terribly
Independent, SO self-willed and unruly.
and with it all SO sweet and lovable. that
the duchess found all her seedlings Of abb
soutely ne avail.
Ursula defed her. then kissed and
fondled her. rendering her absolutely
helpless and defying her authority.
When it was discovered that the naugh-
ty child had. on the very day following
her majestys coronation, visited East
Molesey fair. masked and veiled and at
garet Gotham, her grace felt nigh to
having the palsy. But even that unseemly
escapade was nothing in comparison with
the terrible revelations which had re-
Gently come to her graces ears. One or
two rumors' had already gained currency
that one of her majestys maids of honor
had been seen alone and at night outside
the purlieus of the palace. So far. fortu-
nately, the queen knew nolning OF this,
nor had it been talked about among the
gentlemen of the court
Heavens above! If such thing were
to happen,
A scandal"' moaned the duchess pite-
ously, "a scandai in my department! On!
I shall never survive it! If her majesty
should hear of it, who is SO austere, so
pous-and with my lord cardinal staying
in the palace Just now-what would he
think of the morals of an English court!
oh! the naughty, wicked child! thus to
bring disgrace upon us all"
Some of the rumors anent Lady Ur-
sula's mysterious nightly wanderings had
already reached her; she had placed the
other girls under severe cross-examlnation
and finally ELECTED from them the con-
firmation of her worst fears.
Nay, madam rejoined Alicia. tardily
smitten with remorse, II feel sure she
means no harm. Ursula Is gay, madcap,
full of fun, out she is too proud to stoop
to an intrigue.
Aye! but child, she hath vanity" said
the duchess, shaking her gray curls, and
vanity is an evil counselor. And, remem-
ber. it's not the first time she has been
seen alone, at night, outside the purlieus
of the garden. The Lord protect US! /
should never survive a scandal
And your grace would believe me-"
added Barbara consolingly, II think tits
but bit of foolish curiosity on the Lady
Ursula's part
But her grace would not be consoled.
"Curiosity?-" she said. ALAS; 'tis an
evil moment when curiosity leads maid
en- out of doors at night-alone. Oh!'
And she made gesture of such hor-
ror there was such look OF stern con-
demnation in her kind old face. that the
two girls began to feel really afraid as
to what might befall that madcap Ursula
Glynde.
No one had ever seen the duchess actu-
ally angry.
They were all ready to take up the
cudgels for the absent girl now.
Nay! it's harmless curiosity enough"
said Alicia hotly. Ursula Is being very
badly treated"
Badly treatedr exclaimed her grace.
Aye! she is affianced to the Duke of
Wessex."
well! and what of it. child?"
What of it, retorted the girl fndig-
nantiy. 'she is never allowed to see him.
The moment his grace Is expected to ar
rive in the queens presence, 'tis Lady
Ursula. you may retire. / shall not need
your services today.
And looking straight down her pretty
nose. dainty Lady Alicia Wrenford pursed
her lips and put on the starchy airs of q
soured matron of forty.
The Duchess OF Lincoln threw up her
hands In horror.
''Fie on you, child!' she said sternly,
'mimicking her majesty"
'Tis quite true what Alicia says" here
nterposed Barbara, pouting; Everything
is done to keep Ursula out of his grace's
way. And we. too. are made scapegoats Of
this silly intrigue"
Barbara! I forbid you to talk like
that"
Il mean nothing disrespectfuI, yet tits
patent to every one. Why are we relegated
to this dreary old chamber this brilliant
afternoon. when my lord the cardinal and
all the foreign ambassadors are at the
palace? Why are we not allowed to join
the others at tennis or watch the gentle
men at bowls? Why are Helen and Mar
garet kept from seeing the jousts? Why?
Why? Why?"
She was stamping her little foot, eager,
impatient. excited. The duchess felt some
what bewildered before this hurricane Of
girlish wrath.
Because her majesty ordered 1t thus.
child" she said in a more conciliatory
spirit; ''she hath not always need of all
her maids of honor round her,
Nay! that's not the reason rejoined
Barbara, land your grace Is too clever to
believe st.''
"You are silly child and"
Then we are all silly. for It's patent
to us all. 'Tis Ursula who is being kept
willfully away from the court. or rather
from seeing his grace of Wessex. and in
order not to make these Vaccinations too
obvious. some of US are also relegated to
the background in her company"
And tits small wonder that Ursula
should wish to catch sight of the man
whom her father vowed she should wed
or else enter into a convent" concluded
Alicia defiantly.
: Her grace was at her wits ends. Too
clever not to have noticed that intrigue
to which the girls now made referen ce
she would sooner have died than owned
that her queen was acting wrongfully or
even pettily.
However for the moment, she was
spared the further discussion OF this un-
pleasant topic, for long, merry, girlsh
laugh was suddenly heard echoing through
the great chambers beyond.
Hush" said the duchess with reas-
sumed severity tbs that misguided child
herself Now remember. ladies. not
word of all this. / must learn the truth
about this scandal. and will set a watch
tonight. But not a word to her"
The next moment the subject of all this
animated conversation threw open the
heavy oak door of the room. She came
running In, with her hair flying In q de-
liciously mad tangle round her shoulders
her eyes dancing with glee whist above
her head she was, with one small hand.
nf ha