Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
CHAPTER Nv.
Friends and Enemies.

CHAPTER Nv.
Friends and Enemies.
In the meanwhile the two gallants were
returning from their visit to the witchs
tent.
one voice among the passersby inquired
eagerly:
| What fortune. sirs?"
I'm truth she hath strange powers
was the somewhat guarded response.
The two men stroled up to neighbor-
ing wine vendor and ordered some wine.
They had thrown their cloaks aside and
removed their masks. for the air was
close. The rich, slashed doublets. thus
fully displayed, the fine lace at throat
and wrist, the siken hose and chased dag
gers. all betokened the high quality and
wealth of the wearers
| Neither of them seemed much above
of man in the prime of life and in the
full enjoyment of all the good things
which the world can give.
! But in their actual appearance they pre-
sented a. marked contrast.
The one tall and broad-shouldered, forid
of complexion and somewhat reddish
| about the hair, with small. pointed beard;
| the other short, slender and alert with
| keen, restless eyes, and with sensuous
| lips forever. curled in a smile of thinly-
yelled sarcasm.
Though outwardly on most familiar
terms together. there was distinctly ap-
parent between the two men an air of
reserve and even of decided. If perhaps
friendly. antagonismL
We'll. milor Birmingham" said the
Spaniard after awhile, what say you to
| our adventure?"
|
piled Everingham with studied gallantry.
THAI my prophecy proved correct; the
mysterious necromancer was no proof
against Spanish wiles; she unveiled at a
snEN srom Don 'Micusl. Marcalts de
Suarez the envoy of his most Catholic
majesty
"Nay!' rejoined Don Miguel, affecting
not to notice the slight tone of sarcasm
in his friends pleasant voice, II scarce
| caught a glimpse of the wench's face.
The tent was SO dark and her movements
were SO swift"
There was a moments silence. Lord
Everingham seemed lost in meditation.
you are thoughtful. milor.' remarked
Don Miguel. Have the geni of the Moon
conquered your own usually lively
sp!rits?"
Nay, was thinking of the curious re-
semblance,' unused tEveringham.
"A resemblance?-to whom?''
las you say, the tent was dark and the
wench's movements swift, yet could see
| that, though coarsely clad and ill-kempt,
that witch, whom they call Mirrab, is the
court beauty, the Lady Ursula Glynde.'
1.-The fancee of the Duke of Wessex"
exclaimed the spaniard, 'impossible!"
NAY, my lord" rejoined Everngham,
grace's fiancee as yet. They were children
| in their cradles when her father plighted
| their troth." +
| The Spaniard made no immediate reply;
with an affected: effeminate gesture he
was gently stroking his long black mus
tache. Everingham. on the other hand,
was cycling him keenly. with q certain
look of defiance and challenge. and, in a
moment the antagonism between the two
| men appeared more marked than before.
But gossip has it, said the marquis at
last, with assumed nonchalance. that
Lady Ursula's father-the Earl of Truro.
was it not?-swore upon his honor and
en- his deathbed that she should wed the
Duke of Wessex. whenever he claimed
her hand. or live her life in a convent.
Nay. 1 but repeat the rumor which has
reached me-" he added lightly Put me
right if 1 am in error. my lord. I am
but a stranger 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 bird
him in any way"
He took up his bumper. and, looking
long and thoughtfully into it. he said with
slow emphasis:
"If the Duke of wessex be inclined to
1t shall be none other than the Queen of
England. Whom may God bless and pro-
tect," he added, reverently 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 Miguel
with the same easy nonchalance.
He, too, drained his bumper to the dregs;
then he said quietly:
>"But that is where we differ. milor
His eminence the Cardinal de Moreno and
myself both hope that the Queen of Eng
land will wed our master, King Philip of
SPAIN"
Everingham seemed as If he would re-
ply. But with certain effort he checked
the impatient words which had risen to
his lips. Englishmen had only just begun
to learn the tricks and wiles of Spanish
diplomacy, the smiles which hide antag-
onism, the suave words which disguise
impulsive thoughts.
Lord Everingham had not wholly as
simulated the lesson. He had frowned i'm
patiently when the question OF the mar
rage of his queen had been preached by
the foreigner. It was a matter which
reused the temper of every loyal English
man just then; they would not see Mary
was beginning to feel her own independ-
ence; 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 her and proud of her de-
scent. and many of them had sworn that
none but an English husband should share
her throne with her.
With the same sarcastic smile still Turk
watched his friend closely the while. He
knew full well what was going on behind
that fiorid countenance. knew the antag-
onism which the proposed Spanish mar
riage was rousing just then in the hearts
and minds of Englshmen of all classes.
But he certainly did not care to talk
over such momentouS questions at
country fair with the eyes end mouths
of hundreds of yokels gaping astonish-
ment at him.
AS far as he was concerned the half
amicabe discussion WIS closed. He and
his friend had agreed to differ. Accord
ing to Spanish ideas. divergence in politi-
cal opinions need not interfere with pleas
ant comraderie.
With a genuine desire. therefore, to
Mfg3,l rose from his seat and IDLY
scanned the passing crowd
'Carramba!" he calculated suddenly
What is it?''
oar two masks" whispered the Span
lard. what say you, milor, shall we re-
sumo our interrupted adventure and
abandon the tiresome field of politics for
the more easy paths of gallantry?"
And without waiting for his friends re-